Duke legend, ex-Chicago Bulls guard and NBA analyst Jay Williams has spoken out about the ‘awkward’ on-camera moment he endured during ESPN’s draft coverage on Tuesday night.
‘For me, it was extremely uncomfortable,’ Williams told Front Office Sports, before adding that there is ‘no real tension’ with his ESPN crew.
The incident occurred during ESPN’s coverage of the first round on Tuesday in Brooklyn, where Williams was joined by co-analysts Richard Jefferson and Kenny Smith, as well as lead anchor Kevin Negandhi.
When a clip of Williams being drafted by the Bulls in 2002 was played, Negandhi noted the massive crowd response and asked his 44-year-old co-host ‘why such a big ovation?’
But before Williams could respond, Jefferson mused that the fans ‘didn’t see the future coming.’
‘Wow,’ replied Williams, whose career was famously cut short by a 2003 motorcycle accident.
Kenny Smith (left) and Jay Williams (right) appear during an awkward moment on Tuesday
Williams (left) and Jefferson (right) have played against each other and worked together
Smith wasn’t any more sensitive about the abrupt end of Williams’ NBA tenure, noting his ‘career trajectory would’ve been a lot different if he didn’t like motorcycles.’
This time Williams went along with the joke.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘That’s on record.’
Speaking to FOS, Williams explained he regrets that the moment distracted from the NBA Draft.
‘One of the things I hated about the moment is that, you know, a lot of times things get said and it becomes a viral moment, but I don’t like when the viral moment becomes about me when I’m there talking about these young people where the moment was about them,’ he said.
Although he failed to meet expectations as a rookie in Chicago, Williams’ NBA career really came to an end on Chicago’s North Side in 2003.
After slamming his Yamaha YZF-R6 into a streetlight, Williams was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis, a severed main nerve in his leg, and three torn knee ligaments. Williams, who was in violation of his NBA contract by riding the motorcycle, would undergo an extensive rehabilitation before ultimately turning to broadcasting.
‘I guess everybody that goes to Duke isn’t that smart,’ Jefferson said, sneaking a final jab into the segment.
Jay Williams shakes then-commissioner David Stern’s hand afrer being drafted in 2002
Williams (in white) and Jefferson (jumping) are seen during the 2001 NCAA championship
Williams wasn’t the only one who thought Jefferson and Smith may have crossed a line.
‘Damn,’ one wrote. ‘That’s harsh.’
‘Can’t stand Jwill but this is low,’ a fan followed.
Another pointed out that Williams’ Blue Devils beat Jefferson’s Arizona Wildcats in the 2001 NCAA championship.
‘Richard’s still a little bitter,’ they wrote on X.
Williams, Jefferson & Co. will be back at it on ESPN for second-round coverage on Wednesday night.
