Jason Williams
The seventh overall pick in 1998 whose number 55 jersey became a top-five seller during his rookie season with the Kings.
Jason Chandler Williams, known as 'White Chocolate,' was the seventh overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 1998 NBA draft. In his rookie year, the Kings—with newcomers Williams, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and Peja Stojaković—turned into a playoff contender. That year, Williams' number 55 jersey was among the top five sellers of all NBA players. He played for the Kings from 1998 to 2001 before being traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies.
- Nickname
- White Chocolate
- Jersey Number
- 55
- Status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Williams' time with the Kings was marked by his unorthodox, creative style of play. He regularly made behind-the-back, no-look, and half-court passes. In the 2000 Rookie Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend, Williams made a no-look, behind-the-back pass off his elbow to Raef LaFrentz. 'I did it so you all wouldn't ask me to ever do it again,' Williams said. His nickname 'White Chocolate' was started in his rookie year by Stephanie Shepherd, a media relations assistant with the Kings. 'I came up with that name because of his style,' Shepherd said. 'He has flash and pizazz. The way he does things with the ball is incredible to me.'
In Their Own Story
On February 28, 2001, during a Warriors game at the Oakland Arena, Williams allegedly shouted racist slurs at Michael Ching, a Golden State Warriors season ticket-holder, and several other Asian Americans seated beside him. The NBA levied a $15,000 fine on Williams for cursing at fans. Nike changed a planned advertising campaign featuring Williams as a result. Williams has since apologized for the incident. By 2001, the Kings had concluded that Williams' behavior made him more trouble than he was worth, and general manager Geoff Petrie was concerned that Williams had not developed into a more complete point guard. In June, the Kings traded Williams and Nick Anderson to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Mike Bibby and Brent Price.
Reader's Guide
Williams' Kings tenure (1998–2001) was brief but memorable. He was suspended for the first five games of the 2000–01 season for failure to comply with his treatment obligations under the NBA's anti-drug program. The NBA does not release details of violations of the anti-drug program. On the court, his flashy passes and creative style made him a fan favorite, with his jersey ranking among the league's top sellers. Off the court, incidents like the 2001 fan altercation and concerns about his development led the Kings to trade him after three seasons. This period established Williams as a uniquely entertaining player whose unorthodox style defined his early career.
Did You Know?
- Williams' number 55 jersey was among the top five sellers of all NBA players during his rookie year.
- His nickname 'White Chocolate' was coined by Stephanie Shepherd, a media relations assistant with the Sacramento Kings.
- In the 2000 Rookie Challenge, Williams made a no-look, behind-the-back pass off his elbow to Raef LaFrentz.
- Williams was suspended for the first five games of the 2000–01 season for failure to comply with his treatment obligations under the NBA's anti-drug program.
- The Kings traded Williams to the Vancouver Grizzlies in June 2001 for Mike Bibby and Brent Price.