Former point guard Jason Williams was known for his out-of-this-world ball handling ability and his highlight reel passes.
Williams started his career with the Sacramento Kings being drafted 7th overall in the 1998 draft out of Florida.
His style of play earned him the nickname “White Chocolate.”.
During his rookie year, the PR department of the Sacramento Kings gave him the nickname.
Williams says he was not bothered by the nicknamed and continued on with his career playing at a high level.
Williams talks about the nickname here.
Jason Williams on the origin of the "White Chocolate" nickname… #KGArea21 pic.twitter.com/UGljSpSaQW
— KG's Area 21 (@KGArea21) February 3, 2017
He enjoyed three seasons with the Kings before being traded to the Grizzlies — the team with whom he actually spent his last season.
After his first stint in Memphis, he joined forces with Shaq and Dwyane Wade in Miami for three seasons where he won his only NBA title.
After the 2008 season, and due to several injuries, Williams actually retired briefly before joining the Orlando Magic the very next season.
His time with the Magic only lasted one season, and the 2010-2011 season, his final one, was spent with three different teams: Orlando, Toronto, and, finally, Memphis.
After his seasons with the Miami Heat, Williams was mostly a reserve averaging only about 13 minutes per game, but in his prime, he was known as a flashy, pass-first point guard with a competitive spirit.
White chocolate was a walking bucket@55buckets pic.twitter.com/UFnGToGaA1
— White Bball Pains (@WhiteBballPains) December 19, 2020
Why Was Williams Never An All-Star?
Williams finished his NBA career in the top 100 in assists and 3-pointers, yet was snubbed as an all-star every year.
Known as one of the best passers in the league, Williams was often over-shadowed by other league stars in their prime.
These players included: Steve Nash, Stephon Marbury, Vince Carter, Steve Francis, and Kobe Bryant.
For most of Williams’ prime, he played for bad teams.
For example, he played on two teams in Memphis that only won 28 and 23 games in consecutive years.
Life After Basketball
When his NBA career ended, Williams was one of the hottest commodities in Ice Cube’s 3-on-3 league “Big 3”.
He joined Rashard Lewis’s “3 Headed Monsters” team, but he injured his knee in the very first game of the season and never returned.
Williams’s life outside of basketball is not as flashy as his behind the back crossovers and no-look passes.
He is very private when it comes to personal matters, but he has been candid in expressing how important his family is to him.
He even has his three children’s names tattooed on his forearm.
His son, Jaxon, 18, is also a basketball standout like his father playing for Windermere Prep in Florida.
Jason Williams’ son Jaxon RISING UP 🚀 (via @55buckets) pic.twitter.com/36J0Z9LxIS
— Overtime (@overtime) February 11, 2020
His post-NBA life has not been near as exciting as his basketball career, but it is safe to say that Jason Williams is enjoying every minute of it spent with his wife of 18 years and his kids.
Both Jason and Denika are active on social media platforms where they often share their love for each other and their family.
While we may not have seen the absolute best of White Chocolate due to injuries, his wife and kids are getting to see the best of their husband and father in retirement.
Front Office Job?
Williams continues to be one of the most popular players in the Sacramento area.
A fan recently tagged Williams in a tweet about him joining the Kings’ front office and he replied with interest.
“I’m ready,” Williams said.
I’m ready!!! https://t.co/9kord1xdFG
— Jason Williams (@55buckets) May 22, 2020
Will we ever see Williams in the front office for the Kings or any other organization?
Only time will tell, but we know that anything is possible with a man once known as “The Greatest Show On Court.”
He was one of the best it was a pleasure to watch him.
Jason Williams might end up being the best point guard coach in the history of the nba if someone would just call. him. There are things he can teach about skill development, developing offensive passing lanes, monitoring defensive passing lanes, left-hand handles and passing, court vision, court awareness, clock awareness, moving defenders with his body, pass fakes, and his eyes…joy and passion for making team mates better. COMPETITIVE SPIRIT… this man is a gifted, highly skilled professional basketball player, who has mastered all of the games fundamentals and then polished his own style. Almost every point guard in the league could benefit from watching him play, and listening to what he sees when he sees it. He is a twice, maybe thrice-in-a-lifetime player… and anyone that has seen him play knows it. It takes a visionary to see the potential that Jason could bring to young point guards, and 90% of the old timers too. People need to wake up. Take a chance on a genius.
What you just said could not be said any better. If i was an NBA team and just spent a bunch of money on a talented PG and paid Jwil to come and mold him it does not get any better. Better yet i would have him spend time with the ones team are looking at and give us the best way to go.
One of a kind talent! Black or white chocolate, his game was PURE SWEETNESS!
J Will made Kings basketball “showtime” each time he played. Him with Vlade were true champions even though the Kings as a whole were not. Gee, those were the best times.
A longtime fan of j-will (Sacramento, CA) I might be the only fan to get the same dragon tattoo on the left arm and the panther on the right. I play similar too. Was the the best athlete in prison recently, arguably of course… Especially in there, everything’s an argument.