http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/272494.html
Brushing up around the paint
The Kings hope athletic big man Justin Williams can refine his skills
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:11 am PDT Saturday, July 14, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C7 (note: FRONT page sports in my edition, which didn't have the Artest stuff on page C1)
LAS VEGAS -- This is work? Forty eight minutes on the clock every couple of days, running and jumping on a playground just like he did growing up in Chicago?
Justin Williams is living the dream, having survived a most hectic rookie season and maintained his spot in the NBA after recently signing a one-year deal with the Kings.
Christopher Williams, on the other hand, was the worker.
Justin Williams' father wasn't around much before the accident -- working while the kids were home and sleeping while they were at school -- as the family scraped by.
Christopher Williams, a security guard, received a pay raise the most painful way after most of his body suffered third-degree burns in a chemical fire at the site of one of his jobs.
The company was sued for damages, and the Williamses suddenly were moving on up from one of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods to a life of more comfort.
Which is why Justin Williams laughs at the notion that his path to moving on up in the NBA is one of suffering. Being cut in the Kings' training camp last October in his rookie season and returning after a stint in the NBA Development League doesn't quite compare.
"I look at this as a blessing," said Williams, who was signed by the Kings last season as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming. "A lot of people are going through the same thing I'm going through, but they're not as fortunate to be in a situation I'm in. I'm starting on my team and getting a lot of minutes at the same time. I take it as a blessing."
Anyone who watched Williams last season quickly learned why he's known as a June bug, that spastic form of beetle known for its active movement and flailing wings. And so it was that Williams was a surprising subplot to an otherwise dreary second half for the Kings, aiding in rebounding with his boundless energy and bringing much-needed athleticism to a downtrodden group.
But in his second summer league, Williams has come out even hungrier. He posted double doubles in his first two games, dominating the boards as always and dunking with the sort of I-hate-this-rim attitude not typically seen in this setting.
"Every team needs someone who is willing to sacrifice his body and go get rebounds, a defending-type guy like that," said new Kings assistant Kenny Natt, who is coaching the summer-league team. "Obviously, his ability to run the floor -- which is something we'll implement in -- is going to help him because he's such a great athlete. He can run the floor and get easy baskets. I haven't seen any downside. I've been impressed with his effort and his concentration trying to do what we're asking him to do."
In this time of rebuilding for the Kings, Williams is the sort of potential-filled player they simply couldn't let slip away. The hope is that his game continues to evolve beyond the raw skills that are plenty attractive on their own. It's in his favor that he can play power forward or center, especially in light of the drafting of center Spencer Hawes out of Washington. And after a season in which only three teams had worse rebounding differentials than the Kings, logic is in Williams' corner.
"He's extremely athletic, very good around the basket, jumps out of the gym and loves to block shots," new Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "(But) he's someone who has really relied heavily on his athletic ability most of his life, and he has to learn some of the other nuances about basketball that will make him a much better player in the long run."
That has been the goal this offseason. Williams took a short respite for a month-long visit back home in Chicago before getting back to work with the Kings' staff. He rented a home in the Natomas area, waiting to buy until his deal was signed.
And so began the process of building on the 6-foot-10 frame with strength coach Daniel Shapiro. Williams said he reached 245 pounds before a flu bug during summer league took eight pounds off, this after he finished his college career at about 210 pounds. It did nothing to slow his play. He scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a victory over Team China last Saturday, had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a win over Washington on Tuesday and nine points and nine rebounds in a loss to New York on Thursday.
The job objective, in other words, is still being achieved for Williams, who grew from 6-1 to 6-7 as a prep before two seasons at Colby Community College in Kansas and two shot block-filled seasons at Wyoming.
Looking to move up in the world again, he's glad he won't be leaving Sacramento to do it.
"We've got some young guys doing good here, and I think I really fit in," Williams said. "There's no place I'd rather be."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Brushing up around the paint
The Kings hope athletic big man Justin Williams can refine his skills
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:11 am PDT Saturday, July 14, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C7 (note: FRONT page sports in my edition, which didn't have the Artest stuff on page C1)
LAS VEGAS -- This is work? Forty eight minutes on the clock every couple of days, running and jumping on a playground just like he did growing up in Chicago?
Justin Williams is living the dream, having survived a most hectic rookie season and maintained his spot in the NBA after recently signing a one-year deal with the Kings.
Christopher Williams, on the other hand, was the worker.
Justin Williams' father wasn't around much before the accident -- working while the kids were home and sleeping while they were at school -- as the family scraped by.
Christopher Williams, a security guard, received a pay raise the most painful way after most of his body suffered third-degree burns in a chemical fire at the site of one of his jobs.
The company was sued for damages, and the Williamses suddenly were moving on up from one of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods to a life of more comfort.
Which is why Justin Williams laughs at the notion that his path to moving on up in the NBA is one of suffering. Being cut in the Kings' training camp last October in his rookie season and returning after a stint in the NBA Development League doesn't quite compare.
"I look at this as a blessing," said Williams, who was signed by the Kings last season as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming. "A lot of people are going through the same thing I'm going through, but they're not as fortunate to be in a situation I'm in. I'm starting on my team and getting a lot of minutes at the same time. I take it as a blessing."
Anyone who watched Williams last season quickly learned why he's known as a June bug, that spastic form of beetle known for its active movement and flailing wings. And so it was that Williams was a surprising subplot to an otherwise dreary second half for the Kings, aiding in rebounding with his boundless energy and bringing much-needed athleticism to a downtrodden group.
But in his second summer league, Williams has come out even hungrier. He posted double doubles in his first two games, dominating the boards as always and dunking with the sort of I-hate-this-rim attitude not typically seen in this setting.
"Every team needs someone who is willing to sacrifice his body and go get rebounds, a defending-type guy like that," said new Kings assistant Kenny Natt, who is coaching the summer-league team. "Obviously, his ability to run the floor -- which is something we'll implement in -- is going to help him because he's such a great athlete. He can run the floor and get easy baskets. I haven't seen any downside. I've been impressed with his effort and his concentration trying to do what we're asking him to do."
In this time of rebuilding for the Kings, Williams is the sort of potential-filled player they simply couldn't let slip away. The hope is that his game continues to evolve beyond the raw skills that are plenty attractive on their own. It's in his favor that he can play power forward or center, especially in light of the drafting of center Spencer Hawes out of Washington. And after a season in which only three teams had worse rebounding differentials than the Kings, logic is in Williams' corner.
"He's extremely athletic, very good around the basket, jumps out of the gym and loves to block shots," new Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "(But) he's someone who has really relied heavily on his athletic ability most of his life, and he has to learn some of the other nuances about basketball that will make him a much better player in the long run."
That has been the goal this offseason. Williams took a short respite for a month-long visit back home in Chicago before getting back to work with the Kings' staff. He rented a home in the Natomas area, waiting to buy until his deal was signed.
And so began the process of building on the 6-foot-10 frame with strength coach Daniel Shapiro. Williams said he reached 245 pounds before a flu bug during summer league took eight pounds off, this after he finished his college career at about 210 pounds. It did nothing to slow his play. He scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a victory over Team China last Saturday, had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a win over Washington on Tuesday and nine points and nine rebounds in a loss to New York on Thursday.
The job objective, in other words, is still being achieved for Williams, who grew from 6-1 to 6-7 as a prep before two seasons at Colby Community College in Kansas and two shot block-filled seasons at Wyoming.
Looking to move up in the world again, he's glad he won't be leaving Sacramento to do it.
"We've got some young guys doing good here, and I think I really fit in," Williams said. "There's no place I'd rather be."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
