On a typical day, Jay Williams is one of the first Bulls to arrive at practice so he can hit the court early and try to wash away some of the many frustrations that his rookie season has offered.
On Sunday, Williams arrived early to talk with coach Bill Cartwright.
Their discussion centered on a published report that quoted Williams’ parents as saying their son didn’t feel he could approach Cartwright to discuss his frustrations and, earlier this season, had contemplated asking to be traded.
Both Cartwright and Williams were caught off guard, but with his typical bluntness, Cartwright offered his take on the issue.
“Jay is a man,” Cartwright said. “When you come into this league, you claim certain responsibilities that are yours. I know that he wants to do that. And I’m certain that if given time and people leave him alone to be his own person, he’ll be able to do that.
“But he needs time to learn how to be a good player in this league.”
The NBA is full of family members, agents and hangers-on who are protective of their connection’s best interests, sometimes at the risk of embarrassing the player.
Glen Rice never has quite recovered from his wife, Cristina, publicly complaining about Rice’s reduced offensive role as the Lakers marched to the 2000 title.
Antonio Davis berated Toronto reporters earlier this season for quoting his wife, Kendra, as she vented frustration after a Raptors loss.
And Doug Christie’s wife, Jackie, once held a news conference to demand her husband be traded out of Toronto.
Williams’ parents didn’t have negative intentions.
“Not at all,” said David Williams, reached Sunday in New Jersey. “We also told Jay to work harder. Nothing you appreciate is ever easy.”
Still, the situation could carry negative ramifications, especially for a rookie point guard trying to assert himself as a leader. Williams, who is an only child, could be viewed from the macho, athletic perspective as someone whose parents do his dirty work.
But judging by several discussions with Williams’ teammates, both publicly and privately, the situation doesn’t amount to much–fodder for occasional locker-room ribbing, but nothing lasting.
This is, after all, a young team, with nine players younger than 25, and one that has been chock full of controversy over playing time.
“Jay’s cool,” veteran guard Rick Brunson said. “Everybody respects him and his work ethic.”
Still, Williams is intelligent enough to know of the issue’s potentially negative ramifications, which is why he met with Cartwright and why he constantly works to earn his teammates’ respect.
“My parents are very protective of me,” Williams said. “When everything isn’t going great, of course they’re going to be worried about me. Sometimes you come home and you vent, but it’s nothing to the degree that I want to be somewhere else.
“It’s a frustrating season. I’ve lost more games in my life than I have ever before. That doesn’t mean I think [Cartwright’s] not receptive to what we’re trying to do.
“We’re trying to win. I want to win here. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Williams’ frustrations are hardly a new topic. In an interview after a preseason game in Memphis, Williams openly pined for the offensive freedom of his counterpart and former namesake, Jason Williams of the Grizzlies.
The rookie guard also has complained about his inability to adjust to shooting at the United Center, has lost more times in 36 games than he did in three seasons at Duke and has missed two of the last three games because of a sprained left ankle.
This is all part of the growing pains and learning curve of an NBA rookie.
“Jay’s a tough kid,” Cartwright said. “He’s pushing through. I’ve said this from the start of the year, but I think his second half will be better than his first.
“And our relationship is good. We communicate very well. Jay knows what’s expected of him. He’s a rookie. He’s learning. He’s gotten better since he’s been here. We’re asking a lot of him.”
As early as the preseason, Williams recognized that the transition would be a difficult one, both as a player and a leader.
“In the NBA, everybody has an ego,” Williams said then. “In college, you could get on everybody.
“At Duke, I could yell at you and then we’d come off the court and it was fine because it was in the heat of battle.
“Here, I don’t get on guys as much because a lot of things people take personally. You have to learn your way of leadership. It’s all about feeling out your teammates. It’s getting better.”
Williams practiced Sunday and expects to play Monday night against the Knicks, although Cartwright said a game-time decision would determine whether Williams or Jamal Crawford starts. Crawford practiced with the starters Sunday.
Williams is shooting just 38 percent this season. If nothing else, Cartwright has bent over backward to protect his rookie and allow him the leeway to make the mistakes that are part of this league’s steep learning curve.
All Cartwright wants is what’s best for Williams. In that regard, the two men agree.
And in this one: They want to win, and talk of anything else–rookie-of-the-year awards, off-the-court controversies–bores them.
The basketball court is where their best statements are made.
