| | Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jayson Williams, a star rebounder
whose career with the New Jersey Nets was undercut by injuries,
retired Wednesday.
The decision by the quick-witted, 32-year-old center came 14
months after he broke his right leg and tore up his knee in a
collision with a teammate.
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| Williams |
"Jayson did everything he possibly could in rehabing and trying
to get well so he could play," Nets president Rod Thorn said
during a conference call. "It just hasn't worked out. He has done
everything he possibly could."
In a statement released by the club, Williams said: "This has been a hard choice for me. I loved playing
basketball, I loved being a Net and I loved the fans in New Jersey.
"I believe strongly in our ownership's commitment to bringing
our team up to championship quality -- and I wanted very much to be
a part of that effort. But I know from the pain in my knee and what
my physicians have told me that my injuries won't allow me to
return."
"We are very saddened by it because not only was Jayson a
terrific basketball player but he also brought the intensity and
brought a work ethic to the game as well as a rebounding skill that
I think every team needs," Thorn said. "Jayson has so many
intangibles that you cannot replace."
Williams has not played since the collision with Stephon Marbury
in a game against Atlanta on April 1, 1999.
He attempted a comeback late last season but he broke his left
foot while landing on the foot of rookie teammate Evan Eschmeyer
during practice.
The retirement, expected for weeks, came hours before the Nets
were to take the first pick in the NBA draft. Thorn said the Nets
had planned to make the announcement on Tuesday, but they held off
because Byron Scott was hired as coach.
Thorn said there was no urgency to announce the decision on
Williams on Wednesday, but since the retirement was common
knowledge the club chose to make it official.
"There needs to be a closure about it," Thorn said. "He
obviously couldn't play. You all know him. You know how much he
wants to play and if there were any chance he could play obviously
from Jayson's standpoint, he would pursue it. He had pursued it."
New Jersey has petitioned NBA league office for an injury
exception, which would give the team about $3.8 million more salary
cap room.
The team will have to wait until April 1 to petition the NBA to
have Williams declared a permanent medical disability, which would
totally remove his salary from the team's cap.
Williams, who always could be counted on for a joke in the
locker room, is in the second year of a six-year, $85 million
contract.
The team will honor the contract, Thorn said, adding insurance
will pick up a huge chunk of that if Williams was declared a
permanent medical disability.
Williams played at St. John's and spent his first two NBA
seasons in Philadelphia. He was traded to the Nets in 1992 for a
couple of second-round draft picks.
After being dogged by injuries in his first three seasons,
Williams started to blossom in 1995-96 when he started a run of
four straight years in which he averaged more than 10 rebounds a
game.
He was named an All-Star in 1997-98 when he averaged 13.4 points
and 13.5 rebounds. He was averaging 8.1 points and 12 rebounds when
he was injured. | |
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