'White Chocolate' Jason Williams Appreciative Of Opportunity To Visit The Philippines Again
NBA Legend Jason Williams was here in the country to headline the recently concluded NBA 3X Philippines 2023 presented by Mountain Dew. It's really fitting to have him at the annual basketball tourney since his style of play has influenced many hoopers around the globe.
During the media scrum on Day 3 of the event, he was asked about his perspective on Pinoy style basketball.
"For sure, they're very competitive, very physical," Williams said. " I just like how hard they play and they play unselfish."
Switching gears to questions related to his NBA career, he shared his thoughts about his time playing for the Memphis Grizzlies under coach Hubie Brown.
"Man, he was just a great coach, you know. For me, I don't know how other players feel, but for me, I'm the kind of guy that needs to be pleased and refusing to be strict, don't give me no leeway or anything like that. He was just strict and a great coach and all you want to do is win, too," the Former Grizzlies point guard recalled.
He was also asked about the story of his jersey number 55, though he did switched to different jersey numbers in his career. Williams wore number 2 in 2001 - 2005 (Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies), number 44 in 2009 - 2011 (Orlando Magic) and number 3 in 2011 (Memphis Grizzlies).
"When I was a freshman in college, we started three guards and one of them wore 50, the other one wore 52, so I chose 55," explained the flashy point guard dubbed as "White Chocolate."
During his stint with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2001 - 2005, Williams and Dr. Bob Wallace of the UT Medical Group founded a social and charitable organization known as the "We Will Foundation." It's a charitable foundation that aims to help children get treatment for craniofacial deformities. He briefly talked about the foundation he co-founded back in 2003.
"Yes. You know, they're just for kids with facial deformities that we just tried to take care of those – the people that are pretty unfortunate and not able to get surgery and things like that," Williams explained. "So, we're just trying to look out for the kids."
Things would turn around for White Chocolate on August 2, 2005 when Williams was one of the players involved in one of the biggest trades in the NBA that sent him to the Miami Heat. Since joining a the Heat, he won his first NBA championship playing alongside Shaquille O' Neil and Dwyane Wade at the expense of the Detroit Pistons.
"Oh man, that was the best time of my life, you know! Winning a championship in the NBA, that was what we all play for, "Williams quipped with excitement. "That's all, what we all dream for. That's what we all work our whole life for. And to finally reach that, I mean, it's kind of unexplainable."
Jason Williams was genuinely grateful for the opportunity to visit Manila for the second time, especially at an NBA Philippines hoops event. In retrospect, Williams played with a team of ex-NBA players in an exhibition game against PBA Legends held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena back in 2012.
In fact, he was still amazed of how popular the NBA is in the Philippines and Filipino hoops fans still love him.
"It feels great, man! Again, I'm just amazed that – how big fans that the NBA has over here, let alone myself," the NBA Legend said with a smile. "But I'm just appreciative for the opportunity."