Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 11:28 am  |  36 responses

Back at Work

JWill’s return has fans White Chocolatized again.

by Sean SweeneyJason Williams & Rafer Alston

The best Jason Williams moment never happened on the court. And it wasn’t the time he called his own team the worst in the League.

Remember in 2005, right after Williams’ Memphis Grizzlies were swept out for the summer by the Suns? A reporter in Memphis decided a good idea was to write about how the Grizzlies didn’t care how their season ended. Of course, JWill had to be at the forefront. Williams said on the eve of the sweep that basketball wasn’t everything. He still had his family.

The reporter called him out, went after the guy averaging 17 points on 53 percent shooting and over 5 assists against the MVP from Phoenix.

So Williams had to shut him up.

“You ain’t writin’ nothing homeboy! You ain’t writin’ nothing!”

People might ask, “That was his best moment? What about that time he put Stockton on skates? Or that move when he had Shawn Bradley grabbing air with that over-the-shoulder, not-even-gonna-pretend to look pass?”

Everyone has a story, a favorite move or commercial. That’s what makes the Whit Eboy who he is. And that’s probably why most of you are reading this. There’s no entertainment like Jason Williams entertainment.

In the Magic’s season opener on Wednesday against Philly, Williams shook off a few quick turnovers to drop 15 and 5 off the bench. He had the pull-up 3’s going, the quick dashes to the rim and the pick-and-roll dimes.

Still, it’s a long way from the spring of 1999. The NBA isn’t coming off a post-MJ lockout. Nas ain’t Escobar anymore. And we have a black president now. But, Jason Williams is back for another go-round. The kid who never wanted to grow up is about to turn 34 years old. The point guard who was once the single most popular player in the League isn’t even starting anymore, seemingly content to earn 10-15 minutes a night as Jameer Nelson’s backup.

He has been starting for so long – he’s been out for the opening tJason Williamsip in all but 30 of his 679 career games before this year — that it’s unusual, almost depressing, to watch him sit on the bench chatting with JJ Redick while VC and Dwight Howard are out there just pleading for some lobs.

After being unable to detach himself from the hardwood during his time off, Williams says he came back because his love of the game was too strong. He would rather fit in as a reserve than say good-bye to the NBA forever.

“Of course I care about my role,” Williams said. “If I didn’t care then I wouldn’t know what my role was. I need to come in and help run the team, take open shots and just bring energy.”

What happened to the “Good Ol’ Boy?” What happened to the Pistol Pete comparisons, No. 55 and purple hyperflights? Was it age? Hubie? It all came and went in a flash. You blinked, you missed it.

Coming into this year, the Magic have legitimate title aspirations. For all of the positive moves they’ve made in the offseason, those old guys in Boston and the Diesel-fueled Cavs have stolen the limelight. Maybe Orlando did overachieve last year. Perhaps they can’t expect to catch some of the same breaks again –the deterioration of KG’s knee and Cleveland’s inability to make any adjustments.

But, Howard is still a baby with a lot more growing to do. Nelson is back running the show. And their bench is so much deeper. Instead of Tony Battie shooting elbow jumpers, it will be Ryan Anderson.

Turkoglu is a nice player and obviously, Vince Carter is not the most reliable guy. But, there’s no way this team shouldn’t at least be the favorites to get out of the East.

In comes Williams, with a year of rest to kill the knee tendonitis and legs looking nothing like those of an 11-year veteran. I knew all those 4th quarters spent watching Tony Delk and Bobby Jackson would eventually do some good.

No offense to Anthony Johnson, but I think Stan Van showed all he needed to when he attempted to bring back Nelson for the Finals. A tandem of Skip and Johnson wasn’t scaring anyone in Los Angeles. With Williams as the backup now, there will be no slowdown. JWill is here to do what he’s always been best at: feed his people.

His numbers in the preseason, albeit in more limited minutes, were decent: over 5 points and 5 assists with another high assistJason Williams-turnover ratio.

“I just wanted to get back [to playing basketball],” he said. “And I’m just thankful that I got a chance to do it here.”

Williams has acknowledged on numerous occasions that he wanted to play in Orlando for a while. One of his collegiate stops was at Florida. And he trained for the draft in Orlando, staying in Magic player-turned-staffer Nick Anderson’s house. Orlando is home.

The Super Cracker is turning into the final phase of his career. He warns White Chocolate might be, no is, dead. Yet, there is bound to be a lot of excitement in Orlando this year with a team that has a chance to sneak up on everyone again. Any Magic fan will take that.

And there was Williams in the Magic’s final preseason game. During an absolute beat down of the “improved” Atlanta Hawks, EBoy came flying down the middle on a three-on-two fast break. One behind-the-back bounce pass to a streaking Matt Barnes for a lay up later and we all got the answer we’ve been searching for.

It’s still there somewhere.

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  • Eboy Posted: Nov.5 at 11:39 am
    That’s my BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • snasty10 Posted: Nov.5 at 11:45 am
    I still watch his highlights on youtube

  • Mo Charlo Posted: Nov.5 at 11:45 am
    Him and Vince Carter make their draft class the class that could have been.

  • snasty10 Posted: Nov.5 at 11:46 am
    and still rock his hyperflights

  • LeoneL Posted: Nov.5 at 11:49 am
    Slick as ever.

  • Randy Brown Posted: Nov.5 at 11:56 am
    Nice article. “once the single most popular player in the League”, was he the most popular in jersey sales? Just asking

  • Pve84 Posted: Nov.5 at 12:30 pm
    YES! I don’t understand why so many people didn’t consider Orlando to be the favorites to come out of the East prior to the season–they just won the Eastern Conference Finals. Sure, the Celtics have a healthy KG and added Wallace and Daniels, but almost everyone in Boston is a year closer to retirement as opposed to many players in Orlando being a year further into their prime. Sure, the Cavaliers added Shaq and a billion other role-players, but Lebron still represents the ENTIRETY of their offense and Mike Brown is still Cleveland’s coach whereas Orlando retooled with Vince Carter and what could be the scariest bench in the league. Suffice it to say that Orlando is due a little more respect.

  • TheD Posted: Nov.5 at 12:58 pm
    You got that right Pve84. But as for me, I kinda like the no respect thing for the Magic. They’re a team that plays better when there’s something to prove and they’ll be proving it all season long. I think Charles Barkley’s the only TV commentator to come right out and say the Magic are better than what people are saying.

  • Bruno Posted: Nov.5 at 1:02 pm
    this’s the only time I think I’ll agree with anythin’ eboy says, cause J-Will is for me behind Gary Payton my favorite PG

  • j4zzm4n Posted: Nov.5 at 1:25 pm
    j-will is entertainment pure and simple i look forward to the v.c white choco-oops

  • Th3_R3al_Chris Posted: Nov.5 at 2:00 pm
    This he have the “WHIT EBOY” tattooed over on his fingers? Looks that way from the photo. Orlando had a good pick up here. I truly was hoping for the Knicks to sign him as I wanted to see what he was capable of in the 7SOL D’Antoni offense. I also wanted him to back up Rondo in Boston and make the Celtics unstoppable. J-Will’s is that dude!

  • Rusty Posted: Nov.5 at 5:08 pm
    forgive my ignorance, but can someone explain why it is whit eboy instead of white boy?

  • Joel O's Posted: Nov.5 at 6:05 pm
    @Randy Brown: I think his jersey outsold MJ’s in the post-MJ world for a season or two.

  • DP Posted: Nov.5 at 7:03 pm
    yeah I always wondered why they called him whit eboy as well. He is the reason my number was 55 back in 9th grade. The guy was so slick and smooth back in the day I wonder if he and C-webb would have stayed together how things would have turned out. No worries for me though because Brandon Jennings is in the League and he has passes just like eboy. play wit it.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.5 at 7:27 pm
    The Jason Williams moment you all seem to forget is him being a racist, homophobic, Anti-Asian w!gger you all love so dearly. I never understood the hype that he garnered. Actually, now I do.
    And its Whit Eboy because you only have four knuckles showing when you ball your hands up into fists. The idiot wanted “white boy” tatted on his knuckles, but sadly, the ‘e’ of the ‘white’ had to carry on to the next hand.

  • Junior Posted: Nov.5 at 7:35 pm
    WHIT EBOY for each of the 4 fingers on each hand, just look at the photo, and that off-the-elbow pass in the rookie-soph game to peja was one of the sickest things i’ve ever seen

  • Junior Posted: Nov.5 at 7:39 pm
    sorry, that pass to lafrentz, not peja

  • Anton Posted: Nov.5 at 7:39 pm
    Greatest player in the league

  • Anton Posted: Nov.5 at 7:41 pm
    MVP

  • Rusty Posted: Nov.5 at 7:50 pm
    Thanks Teddy, Now I know why he is called that I respect him a little bit less.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.5 at 8:07 pm
    Racism is racism. Homophobes are homophobes. Tim Hardaway gets creamed by the entire USA for saying homophobic statements, yet for some reason Williams is free from any scrutiny. Go figure.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.5 at 8:14 pm
    Larry Bird gets ripped by the public for saying he used to feel disrespected when a white guy had to guard him; Michael Richards has basically had his comedic career ended because the public ostracized him for those racial statements he made at black audience members during a stand up routine; yet Jason Williams screams racial and homophobic slurs at some Chinese fans and NOTHING happens to him. DURING A GAME! Instead, people sweep it under the rug and start lauding him for his fancy passes. Complete and utter bullsh!t.
    Did I mention he is overrated?

  • rainman10 Posted: Nov.5 at 8:50 pm
    Teddy-the-Bear is overrated.

  • Cheryl Posted: Nov.5 at 9:28 pm
    I love that his career is being resurrected here in Florida. I would have liked to have seen him in a Heat uni, but with the Magic is all right with me.

  • onions baby onions Posted: Nov.5 at 10:08 pm
    Eff off haters…in the heat of any intense sports game ur more likely to say something disrespectful; u can’t compare him to craymer. ONe of the best all time pgs!!

  • Dave Posted: Nov.5 at 10:26 pm
    Props to Teddy.
    There’s a reason the Kings’ magical season had someone else running the point.
    In all fairness, though, his Yinka Dare highlight reel on ‘tube is mind-blowing.

  • Aussie Boy Posted: Nov.5 at 10:59 pm
    “Of course I care about my role,” “If I didn’t care then I wouldn’t know what my role was. I need to come in and help run the team, take open shots and just bring energy.”—- I rate jason as one of my favourite players ever… and i rate iverson in there too, so why cant iverson mature like this and find a role… he could win a championship if hes willing to put his ego aside… who wouldn’t like a energetic, experienced scorer coming off the bench on their championship team

  • Aussie Boy Posted: Nov.5 at 11:06 pm
    Jason Williams… Point God… The messiah is bach to “feed his people”

  • iLL wiLL Posted: Nov.5 at 11:13 pm
    Nice to see JWill back. Good times.

  • Anton Posted: Nov.6 at 1:02 am
    @ Teddy-the-Bear: didn’t you hear? Since Obama got elected, racism is over.

  • Danny W UK Posted: Nov.6 at 3:25 am
    As long as articles are published, nicknaming some ‘The Super Cracker’ racism is going nowhere…

  • Bigi Posted: Nov.6 at 3:33 am
    Welcome Back Boyyyyyy!!!

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.6 at 6:29 am
    I’ve already been called out for my proclamations regarding the Orlando’s return to GRAND FINALS glory…I still stand by it. NOW READ THIS NEXT SENTANCE CAREFULLY AND NOTE THE ACCURACY:
    This team looks to be the most improved, in terms of depth and solving their own internal shortcomings, of the 4 teams that made the conference finals from last year. You might need to read that a few times.

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.6 at 6:32 am
    This dude is amazing with the rock.
    Glad he’s still around the League.

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.6 at 7:37 am
    i didnt say that?! ^^^ but its true.

  • miller126 Posted: Nov.6 at 11:44 am
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxrTeFH1CXc
    “Jwill to Superman on 11/3/09″ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T82av6qXzc
    “Some preseason clips” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPady6yz1NE
    “Jwill shaking Skip to my Lou in NJ”

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