On June 29, 2001, at a press conference held at the Downtown Marriott Hotel, the Memphis media and viewing audience was introduced to new Grizzlies point guard Jason Williams. An excerpt of the transcript of the news conference follows:
Sidney Lowe: We're just happy we were able to get Jason on our ball club. He's gonna be certainly a great addition and probably change as many lives on the floor, as you can imagine. As we had conversations earlier and I told him something that he may not have known. You look at that Sacramento ball club and people talked about the best passing team in the NBA, no one realized who the guy was that started that. And we now have him our team so certainly just happy that he's here.
Q: Jason, Billy talked about having fun, did you have fun last year?
Jason Williams: I think I had fun. I don't think I ever will allow myself not to have fun while I'm playing. Cause I think if I do that than I think I need to do something else. You know there were some bumps in the road but still I still had fun. You gotta have fun when you're out there on the court.
Q: Are you kind of glad you have a fresh start?
Jason Williams: Uh, I mean, kinda, a little bit. You know I mean I'm very excited to be here in this city and play for this organization. But at the same time I'm sad to be leaving Sacramento too because that's all I've known since I've been in the league. But I think once I get here and get accustomed to the city and my new teammates everything will be fine.
Q: Is this your first trip to Memphis?
Jason Williams: First time ever.
Q: What do you think?
Jason Williams: I'm back in the country, I know that.
Q: Can you comment about that (recent vote approving NBA in Memphis)? Can you go ahead and settle in, and get to work?
Billy Knight: We were already doing that anyway. Because we felt in our minds that it was a foregone conclusion that it was gonna happen. We felt comfortable that, otherwise we wouldn't have brought the whole draft process and all the other things. The people we trade for, the people that we plan to have on the team next year. We wouldn't of started all that here, in Memphis, if we didn't feel comfortable that it was gonna happen. Sure we're glad that it's got the final step done, but we felt that it was like a step - that you're walking and that foot is up in the air and it's about to be placed down - it's gotta come down. So we felt that it was a step that was inevitable.
Q: Jason, how difficult do you think it will be, this is a whole new team that's being put together, for the player's to come together?
Jason Williams: It might depend because I don't think even with the team that starts in training camp it could be totally different before All-Star break. You know these guys are going to do the best they can to get the best players for themselves and our team. So, you know I think it will be easy once we get all our guys together because we're only out there for one reason and that's to win.
Q: Can it be easier since it's a new team and like you said everybody does want to him - because you have a common goal as opposed to personalities popping out?
Jason Williams: I don't know if it's gonna be easy. But we're all doing what we want to do and that's playing ball and that's easiest for us, obviously. We just gotta put our minds together and do what we gotta do.
Q: What do you think about the other players - Battier, Gasol, and Lorenzen Wright?
Jason Williams: Well, I really haven't had a chance to play with any of the guys. I have played against a lot of them and I'm looking forward to play with all of 'em.
Q: Where's home for you?
Jason Williams: West Virginia.
Q: What's this about Memphis and the back country?
Jason Williams: That's what I said, I'm back to the country!
Q: You have the reputation of having some razzle-dazzle and this is a new franchise in a city that's never had a sports franchise. One of the things the team is gonna have to do here is build up a following. Do you think that your style of play is gonna help in that?
Jason Williams: Style of play plays a role but I think the bottom line is winning and when you win that's gonna put people in the seats.
Q: You and Nick come from Sacramento and that's an organization that's already gone to the playoffs. Of course, you hope you can carry that experience and that help over to a new franchise starting here in Memphis?
Jason Williams: I don't expect us to go to the playoffs this year; that would be ridiculous for anyone to say. But it ain't like we're not gonna try, we're still gonna try to get to the playoffs and win as many games as we can. Just try to win two this year, four next year, and six the next.
Q: Billy said they're going to an uptempo game, that's your kind of game...?
Jason Williams: I think that is and I think a lot of the players, especially today want to play that way and we're grateful to have a coach that is gonna allow us to play that way. A lot of coaches in the NBA I don't think would let me play the way I'm capable of playing but I'm just thankful and happy to be here.
Q: Did you feel it got that way in Sacramento?
Jason Williams: I think it was that way my first year but the second two years I think some people started talking amongst the organization and things went south from there.
Q: Do you think some of the stuff that went on off the court may have affected what some of the coaches, what they thought about you as a player on the court?
Jason Williams: I want to say no because I think Rick Adelman was a better person than that. Some of the things he did with his coaching ways I didn't agree with and I'm sure some of the things as I did as a player he didn't agree with. But as a person I think he's a great guy and everybody who's in that organization are great people but you know it's just like two bull heads colliding.
Q: Was it frustrating to you being in the fourth quarter of the game and not being able to get in there...?
Jason Williams: Yeah, I think that would be true to any player. You know everybody wants to be in the game but I'm not the coach, I'm the player I just gotta listen to the coach.
Q: The uptempo/fast break style begins with rebounding, who do you see starting that off....
Sidney Lowe: Obviously, Lorenzen. We're gonna count on him to be a big force on the boards as well as Stromile Swift. I think those two guys both play, certainly play above the rim. They're both very athletic. We have guys that can rebound and big guys that can run. I think if they want to get easy baskets, then they're gonna have to run because this gentleman to my right, he's gonna push it. I think that's gonna help those guys to get out there even faster.
Q: Give us a preview of your rookie camp? What your goals are, etc.?
Sidney Lowe: Well, it's an opportunity for us to look at our guys. Obviously, our rookies coming in as well as Stromile Swift. An opportunity to get a jump-start on this thing in terms of how we're playing. It gives us an opportunity to look at some other players, guys that haven't been able to make the league but might be able to fit in there somewhere and be a piece to a ball club to do some of those small things that you need. We're not looking for a guy in this camp that's gonna give us 20, 25 points. First of all that's hard to do and we're not looking for that. We have people that are gonna get that done. We're looking for- maybe there is someone that's just standing out that can fit into our ball club.
Q: Talk to us some more about your style of play and how it appeals to fans?
Jason Williams: Well to some fans I think they like it, but to other fans, like fans of the Pete Carrill era, I don't think they're big fans of my style of play. But, I really don't play for the fans, I'm playing for myself, and for my coaches, and for my teammates. Whatever I can do to help my team win that's what I'm willing to do. Some people say that I'm fancy - like a behind the back pass to me might be easier for me than you throwing a regular chest pass. You know I just do things the easiest way for me.
Q: Have you watched much tape of films of Pete Marovich?
Jason Williams: I haven't watched as much as people have expected I have but I've seen my share.
Q: Talk about being in Memphis, this town is crazy about the Grizzlies...?
Jason Williams: I think it's a fresh start for the whole franchise. We're going to a new city, we're gonna have a lot of new different players and faces around. We're gonna come out and play hard and just hopefully give the fans what they want.
Q: What was your initial reaction when they told you you were traded?
Jason Williams: I was kinda happy but like I said earlier I was disappointed to be leaving Sac and my teammates that I was so close to there. But like I said I did it once there and I can do it again here.
Q: There were rumors that you asked to trade, were those true?
Jason Williams: Yeah it was true. I think I didn't ask to be traded it was more of a suggestion. I think that that would have been the best thing for me because Coach Adelman and I you know we weren't on the same page, for what reason I don't know but I'm just happy to be here.
Q: What about Chris Webber, do you think your leaving will effect his decision on coming back?
Jason Williams: I don't know. I hope not. I want him to do what's best for him. I don't want him to do what's best for the Kings or what's best for me, I want him to do what's best for him and his family.
Q: How do you feel about being in a town that's never had a professional team before?
Jason Williams: That's a tough question for me because where I am from a lot of the stuff is new to me too. All these NBA cities a lot of times it was the first time I had been there my rookie year. This is new for me; I'm along for the ride just like you guys. It could be great.
Q: What do you know about this city's history with basketball? Anything at all?
Jason Williams: Sidney Cole, I played my freshman year Marshall with him, went to Memphis State. That's it.
Q: What do you think about the players you'll be playing with, drafted, etc.?
Jason Williams: I think they did the best job they could and I really don't know anything about the players. I think it's hard to tell how good a player can be or how good they are until you get to play with them so I'll have to answer that question in a couple months.
Q: When will that be? When will you be back in town with the rest of the Grizzlies?
Billy Knight: Training camp starts in the fall. I think the exact date is at the end of September - the 28th or 29th. That's when training camp starts. That's when the day it is we begin to practice as a unit.
Q: That's not a lot of time before the season?
Billy Knight: Nope.
Q: Jason, what do you feel you need to work on.
Jason Williams: Every part of my game. I think each year people tell me - the most things I heard - good players add something to their game every summer to get better. I agree with that but I think you need to work on everything and just try to make everything a little better each summer. I think that's better than trying to make just one part of your game stronger.
Q: Are you ready to be a leader?
Jason Williams: I think so. I don't think I have a choice and I think I'm ready to accept the role because I think I know what it takes to win. I'm not really a vocal leader but I think I'll lead a lot by example but now that I think I'm going to be thrown in a role as a leader than I'm going to have to be a little more vocal.
Q: Do you think it will take awhile for the team to develop chemistry, especially with your style?
Jason Williams: No, I don't think so. I'm just gonna go out and play ball. People say I'll hit people in the head and you know I get hit in the head with the ball sometimes too. So, that's just part of the game.
Q: What makes Chris Webber such a hot commodity on the free agent market?
Jason Williams: 25 & 15. He's just a great player. God bless him.