BACKGROUND
After one season of college ball at Marshall and another at
Florida, Jason Williams applied for early entry to the 1998 NBA
Draft and was picked by the Sacramento Kings, the seventh overall
pick. He had a standout rookie season, leading the Kings in
assists and steals and ranking fourth on the team in scoring. He
was runnerup in voting for Rookie of the Year and a near-unanimous
selection to the All-Rookie First Team. A 6-1 point guard with
passing instincts and three-point shooting ability, Williams
started all 28 games for Marshall as a redshirt freshman in
1995-96 and averaged 13.4 points and 6.4 assists per game,
shooting .522 from the field and .380 from three-point range. He
sat out 1996-97 as a transfer after following Marshall head coach
and former NBA player Billy Donovan to Florida. He played 20 games
for the Gators in 1997-98, leading the team with 17.0 points, 6.7
assists and 2.65 steals before being dismissed from the team on
February 17 for violating team and athletic department policy. He
was leading the Southeastern Conference in assists, steals and
free throw percentage (.840) at the time of his dismissal.
Williams, who shot .441 from the field but .403 from three-point
range, had 31 points including 5-for-10 from behind the arc and
10-for-10 from the foul line against Texas and 26 points including
8-for-12 on three-pointers against Auburn. Williams had a
brilliant rookie season for the Kings, leading the team with 6.0
assists and 1.90 steals per game and 100 three-pointers and
ranking fourth on the club in scoring at 12.8 ppg. He was second
behind Vince Carter in the Rookie of the Year voting and was named
to the All-Rookie First Team, receiving 55 of a possible 56 points
in the balloting.
1999-2000
NOTES
Participated in the Schick Rookie Challenge during All-Star
Weekend Registered 23 points (4-8 3 FG) and 11 assists in a
113-110 win in Detroit on 2/2 Tallied 22 points and 5 rebounds in
a 107-103 win over San Antonio on 1/13 Notched 18 points and 18
assists in a 111-107 win in Cleveland on 1/4 Totaled 23 points and
8 assists in a 118-111 win over Dallas on 12/26 Posted 28 points,
6 assists and 5 boards in a 108-95 victory over Milwaukee on 12/21
Recorded 22 points and 8 assists in a 119-103 loss in Phoenix on
12/18 Notched 15 points and 12 assists in a 101-96 loss to
Portland on 12/11 Tallied 18 points and 12 assists in a 110-100
loss in Atlanta on 12/2 Totaled 25 points and 12 assists in a
110-105 victory over Houston on 11/21 Registered team-highs with
23 points (5-10 3 FG) and 10 assists in a 128-110 victory in
Houston on 11/18
1998-99
NOTES
Named to the 1998-99 Schick All-Rookie First Team after leading
the Kings in assists (6.0 apg, 17th in the NBA), three-pointers
made (100, 4th) and attempted (323, 2nd) and steals (1.90 spg,
15th) Led all rookies in three-pointers made and attempted, and
steals, and ranked 2nd in assists, 4th in scoring (12.8 ppg), 5th
in double-doubles (5), 8th in three-point percentage (.310) and
9th in free-throw percentage (.752) Posted a game-high 24 points,
5 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds in a 111-100 victory over the
Phoenix Suns on 5/2 Scored 19 of his season and team-high 27
points in the 3rd quarter, and added 4 assists, in a 105-97
victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on 4/23 Registered 19
points and a game-high 14 assists in a 102-98 victory over the
L.A. Clippers on 4/19 Scored 10 of his 20 points in the 3rd
quarter, adding a game-high 11 assists and 3 rebounds, in a 119-97
win over the Denver Nuggets on 4/17 Recorded a game-high 21 points
(5-9 3FG), 6 assists and 6 rebounds in a 112-106 overtime victory
over the Seattle SuperSonics on 4/6 Scored 12 of his game-high 24
points (4-5 3FG) in the 1st quarter, adding 6 assists and 3
rebounds, in a 111-99 win over the Phoenix Suns on 3/6 Totaled a
game-high 25 points, hitting 5-of-7 three-pointers, and 3 assists
in a 106-95 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on 2/19 Posted 22
points (5-9 3FG), 5 assists and 5 rebounds in a 112-95 victory
over the Phoenix Suns on 2/9 Made his NBA debut, registering a
game-high 21 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, against
the San Antonio Spurs on 2/5
