Mar 9, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Former NBA player Jayson Williams at the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Jayson Williams: I’ve caused a lot of pain in my life. I accidentally, recklessly, took a man's life. I went to prison for being a coward. And I just… We called the police in 11 seconds, 911, to help him, but I went to prison not for the accident, but for the cover up. There's no feeling in this world, Jim, like taking something that a man ever going to have, what he has, taking him away from anything that… a future. So, what makes me happy is something that when people go through ‘Rebound’ and I see the light go on and they're working on their addiction or when they go through ‘Rebound on the Road’ right here with all these trucks and they come out of re-entry and they coming back into society from being homeless or needing another chance. Cuz if I told you I needed a second chance from you, Jim, I don't need a second chance. I need another chance because I'd be a hypocrite. I've been through my second chances. I need another chance. And we don't ever know when that light's going on.

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When pressed on who would win in a one-on-one matchup, Williams didn’t hesitate. “I’m taking the killer! I’m taking MJ. Yeah, it’s going to be a close score. They’re two of the best that ever did it. But that boy is strong, you know? LeBron is STRONG. But if I say MJ, LeBron might get mad, and if I say LeBron, Michael and Charles Oakley are going to get mad. I can’t win this one! I’ve been in enough trouble in my life!” ScoopB.com | Mar. 31, 2025

The Last Dance documentary gave fans a glimpse into the ‘98 All-Star Game locker room, where Michael Jordan famously spoke about a young Kobe Bryant. But as Jayson explained, there was more to the story. “Well, you know Michael is the loudest one in the room, right? He was coming in there letting us all know he wasn’t going to take the ball out because in the All-Star Game, when you take the ball out, you don’t get it back. He was just saying, ‘I want the ball and I want it every time!’ He was looking to create an enemy on the court so he could go out there and do what he’s gotta do. He’s MJ, baby! He’s the best who ever did it. You agree with that, right?” ScoopB.com | Mar. 31, 2025

Jayson Williams’ lone All-Star appearance came in 1998, at none other than Madison Square Garden. It was a night filled with memories, but one moment stood out above all—the presence of Larry Bird. “I remember walking into the locker room and seeing Coach Bird there,” Jayson recalled. “When I first came into the league, he must’ve lit me up for 45 points. I wanted to get in the game, and he kept saying, ‘Put the rookie in! Put the f—-n’ rookie in!’ So when I got there to the locker room, he just looked at me and said, ‘Your minutes are on the board.’ That’s how you know when you’re going to play. I looked at him and said, ‘Thanks, Coach,’ and he goes, ‘You f—-n’ rookie!’ 25 years later, he still remembered!” ScoopB.com | Mar. 31, 2025

Zach Lowe: Trivia: Steven Adams leads the league w/ a 19.3% offensive rebounding rate. Only 3 players have cracked 19% over a full season (minimum: 1000 mins), per @Basketball-Reference: Moses Malone (3X), Dennis Rodman (2X), Jayson Williams (2X). Rodman's '94-95 figure -- 20.8% -- is No. 1 all-time. Twitter @ZachLowe_NBA | Nov. 28, 2022

The sisters each accused Williams of neglect and emotional and verbal abuse and said the power forward, who once signed a six-year, $86 million deal with the New Jersey Nets, failed to provide adequate financial support. ESPN | Oct. 21, 2022

The daughters of former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams have denounced St. John's for its decision to induct their father into the school's athletics hall of fame because of accusations of neglect in their lives following his role in the 2002 fatal shooting of a limousine driver. Tryumph and Whizdom Williams wrote open letters that they planned to send to St. John's that said the school should be ashamed for his induction into the class during Saturday's homecoming weekend. ESPN | Oct. 21, 2022

A condo fire started this morning inside a unit owned by a former NBA player. Jayson Williams, who played the for the 76'ers and the Nets, says he was not home at the time of the fire, which resulted in about 20 people having to be evacuated from the building in Delray Beach. NewsRadio WFLA | Oct. 12, 2021

“I have a disease that tells me I don’t have a disease in being an alcoholic,” said Williams in an interview with CBS Local’s DJ Sixsmith. “I have to wear myself out every day. I’m doing outdoor adventure therapy at Rebound. Through the grace of God, I finally found something I’m really good at. I’m great at helping people beat their addiction. It’s a tough business, but a rewarding business. The hardest part is February 13 when Mr. Christofi accidentally lost his life by my recklessness and the stuff that I did to be a coward that day. That is the roughest thing. Alcohol and ambien was my thing. I have to work on me dealing with my past.” CBS New York | Jan. 25, 2020

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Former Nets star Jayson Williams: I went to prison for being a coward

Reporting by Staff, HoopsHype / Hoops Hype

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