Jerome Williams (basketball) facts for kids
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| No. 13, 11, 3 | |
|---|---|
| Power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | May 10, 1973 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| High school | Col. Zadok Magruder (Rockville, Maryland) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 206 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26th overall |
| Selected by the Detroit Pistons | |
| Pro career | 1996–2005 |
| Career history | |
| 1996–2001 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2001–2003 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2003–2004 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2004–2005 | New York Knicks |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 3,865 (6.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,743 (6.4 rpg) |
| Steals | 618 (1.1 spg) |
Jerome Williams (born May 10, 1973) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He played in the NBA from 1996 to 2005. People often called him "Junkyard Dog" or "JYD" because of how hard he played. Jerome Williams played for the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, and the New York Knicks.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Jerome Williams was a star player on his high school basketball team at Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School. After playing college basketball at Georgetown University, he was chosen by the Detroit Pistons in the 1996 NBA draft. He was the 26th player picked that year.
Time with the Pistons and Raptors
Williams played more than four years with the Detroit Pistons. He became an important player who often came off the bench to help the team. On February 22, 2001, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors. He was very excited to join his new team. He even drove straight from Detroit to Toronto when he heard the news!
Fans in Toronto really liked him because he always played with a lot of energy and effort. In the 2002–03 season, he had his best scoring year with the Raptors. He averaged 9.7 points per game, mostly as a starter. In 2003, Jerome Williams also appeared in a Disney Channel movie called Full-Court Miracle.
Moving to the Bulls and Knicks
In December 2003, Williams was traded again, this time to the Chicago Bulls. He played in 68 games for the 2003–04 season. He started 44 of those games. He averaged 6.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
In 2004, he was traded one more time to the New York Knicks. When he joined the Knicks, he played less often. He usually played about 17 minutes per game, coming off the bench.
Retirement from the NBA
On August 15, 2005, the Knicks decided to let Williams go. This was to help the team save money. Less than two days later, he announced that he was retiring from playing basketball. Jerome Williams played in 587 games during his nine seasons in the NBA. He averaged 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Life After Playing Basketball
After retiring from the NBA, Jerome Williams continued to be involved with basketball. He joined the NBA's "Basketball Without Borders" program. This program helps teach basketball and brings resources to countries around the world. When he returned to Toronto as a player for other teams, fans always gave him a standing ovation.
The "Junkyard Dog" Nickname
His famous nickname, "Junk Yard Dog" or "JYD", was given to him by Rick Mahorn. This was during his early days with the Detroit Pistons. The nickname came from his hard work and hustle on the court. Williams sometimes even referred to himself as "JYD."
Community and Coaching Roles
On January 25, 2006, Williams rejoined the Toronto Raptors. This time, he was their community representative. He also had a small acting role in the Canadian TV show, Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye. He played a character named Otis Washington.
Williams also worked in youth basketball coaching. He was the Director of Player Development for the Findlay Prep basketball team. Later, he became an assistant coach and then the head coach at Findlay Prep. He stepped down as head coach in 2014.
Today, Williams still helps young people through basketball. He is the President of The Young3, which organizes 3-on-3 basketball tournaments for kids aged 9–14. He has also helped create a digital education program called Shooting For Peace across North America.
See also
- In Spanish: Jerome Williams para niños
