© 2024 New Hampshire Public Radio

Persons with disabilities who need assistance accessing NHPR's FCC public files, please contact us at publicfile@nhpr.org.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN OUR GRAND PRIZE OF $35K TOWARD A NEW CAR OR $25K CASH!

Former Basketball Star Jay Williams Chases A New Dream

Basketball player Jay Williams attends the "Belief" New York premiere at TheTimesCenter on October 14, 2015 in New York City.  (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Basketball player Jay Williams attends the "Belief" New York premiere at TheTimesCenter on October 14, 2015 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

With the second overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Jay Williams, the National Player of the Year from Duke. Williams was touted as the next Bulls superstar.

But two months after finishing his first season, Williams nearly died in a motorcycle crash.

It took Williams two years and over 10 surgeries to get back on the court. He ended up in the NBA D-League where he found a coach who believed in him.

Martin Kessler spoke with Williams about his unique path for NPR and WBUR’s Only A Game.

Reporter

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.