Jason Chandler Williams

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Jason Chandler "White Chocolate" Williams (born November 18, 1975 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a basketball player in the NBA. He grew up in Belle, West Virginia, a small town less than 10 miles from Charleston, and graduated from Dupont High School, a now-defunct institution in Belle. In his senior year, he started in basketball alongside sophomore Randy Moss, who would go on to become a superstar in the NFL. Williams attended Marshall University where he played for coach Billy Donovan. When Donovan accepted the head coach position at Florida, Jason Williams followed him to Gainesville.

Related Topics:
November 18 - 1975 - Charleston, West Virginia - NBA - Belle, West Virginia - Randy Moss - NFL - Marshall University - Billy Donovan - Florida

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There, Williams led the Gators as their point guard. Almost single-handedly, he beat the eventual champion Kentucky Wildcats with a barrage of three-pointers at Rupp Arena.

Related Topics:
Point guard - Kentucky Wildcats - Rupp Arena

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Later that season, Florida would suspend Williams from the team for breaking unspecified team rules.

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Williams declared himself for the NBA draft. The Sacramento Kings picked Williams with the 7th pick in the 1998 draft. Williams did not attend the draft but accepted an interview via satellite from Orlando.

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With the Kings, Jason Williams turned the team into a playoff contender, along with Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic.

Related Topics:
Chris Webber - Vlade Divac - Peja Stojakovic

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In 2001, the Sacramento Kings traded Williams to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Mike Bibby. However, the team relocated to Memphis prior to the 2001-02 season. In his first season for the Grizzlies, Williams held together a team low in talent. With head coach Sidney Lowe, they improved insignificantly. In 2002, General Manager Jerry West lured Hubie Brown out of retirement to coach the team. Almost instantly Brown impacted the team positively. The team improved by a franchise record 28 wins in Brown's first season.

Related Topics:
Vancouver Grizzlies - Mike Bibby - Sidney Lowe - Jerry West - Hubie Brown

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In 2003-2004, the Grizzlies defied all expectations. The team coalesced behind Williams, Pau Gasol, coach Brown and GM West. The team won 50 games and for the first time made it to the NBA Playoffs as the sixth seed in the West.

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On August 2 2005, he and teammate James Posey were two of thirteen players involved in the biggest trade in league history that saw them being dealt to the Miami Heat in exchange for shooting guard Eddie Jones.

Related Topics:
August 2 - James Posey - Miami Heat - Eddie Jones

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Williams is known as "White Chocolate" due to the fact that he reportedly plays an African-American style of basketball, despite being a Caucasian. He is also known to have frequent tattoos.

Related Topics:
African-American - Caucasian - Tattoos

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