Biography Padlet Timeline by

#1 Before the accident

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-02-08 16:36:37 UTC

Jay Williams was showing off his new gear for his motorcycle to his friend Kevin. Kevin told Jay to not ride it because of the dangerous things that could happen. There was also a time when Jay was riding with his buddies and one of his buddies wheels did something wrong and he went flying. Jay was scared, but never thought about it like that. He was riding his motocycle. Something happened with the wheel and Jay was focusing on pressing it back down. But he didn't realized what he was about to run into.

Evidence #1

"'You shouldn't be riding that thing' he said. 'Kevin, I shouldn't he doing a lot of things' I said. A few minutes later, I was bleeding to death" (10).

#2 After the accident

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-02-08 16:40:37 UTC

Jay crashed into a pole. He was screaming Kevins name in hopes to getting his attention. Kevin quickly ran to him and said he was going to be okay. Jay never felt this kind of pain before. It was so horrible, he would not wish this pain on his emimies. After the ambulence arrives, Jay was worried about his injuries knowing he ruined his career. He asked Kevin for his phone so he can make a call. He stayed calm and called his parents saying he was in an accident and that they need to come over here quickly.

Evidence #2

"I began screaming Kevin's name over and over again. I was in so much pain and unable to move, from my midsection down. I was certain that I was paralyzed" (13).

#3 The hospital

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-02-08 16:40:47 UTC

Jay asked his docotor if he was going to play again and they wern't sure on how to awnser so that made Jay lose a little hope. His parents came to visit him and Jay appolagized to them. Jay had weird experecies such as him waking up upsidedown. His coach came to visit one day and told Jay that he was going to play again. His coaches words made him feel better and a little more confindent.

Evidence #3

"'I'm never going to play again' I began to sob. ... 'Give this back to me when you play again, because you are going to play again' (25).

#4 Flashback

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-02-13 17:38:42 UTC

Jay talks about his childhood and he mentions about his absuvie dad who is now a better person. During his childhood he loved basketball and always played outside. One time he was playing basketball with these older kids and they stole his ball. Jay eventually told his dad about it and his dad told him to go get it back and he did. His dad thought Jay to stand up to himself.

#5 College decision

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-02-15 19:17:25 UTC

Jay was thinking about which college he should go. His parents even helped him with the search by interveing different coachs and what kind of school and basketball program they offer. He was going to stick to going to Rutgers, but he scheduled a trip down south to meet with Duke's coach, Mike Krzyzewski. After their, talk, Jay was committed to Duke when the coach mentioned that a guy name Todd Billet was going to take his spot if he didn't commit. Todd Billet was ranked higher than Jay, but Jay was Coach K's first choice.

Evidence #4

"I was going to lose my sport here to Todd Billet. And it wasn't something I was losing at all-I was Coach K's first choice-but somehow it felt like a competition. ... 'Dad, I think we should commit'" (61).

MLA Citation

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-02-15 19:17:45 UTC

Williams, Jay. Life Is Not an Accident: A Memoir of Reinvention. Harper, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2017.

#6 Freshman

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-02-27 21:56:11 UTC

He landed ready to start his career. The first workout they did was a lot of running on track. Jays confindence went down since he didn't think he was going to do great in this level of basketball with all this screaming, drills and workouts. He eventually got used to it and had a great freshman season. Duke won the national and that was Jays goal.

Link #1

https://collegebasketballexperience.com/members/jay-williams/

#7 Draft desicion

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-02-27 21:56:29 UTC

Jay was projects 1st pick in the NBA draft. Jays parents were talking to different coach and asking what they can provide for Jay and the other people on the team that would help them. He was eventually got drafted to the Bulls with the 2nd pick in the NBA draft.

#8 Bulls

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-13 17:07:16 UTC

Jays rookie season wasn't the best, but wasn't the worst. He played against very good players and had more losses in a month span of time than his whole career in duke.

Link #2

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Jay-Williams/Summary/434

#9 Rehab process

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-13 17:07:33 UTC

The flashback is over and now it's back to the healing process. He could barely move is his and he barely walk. One day he was feeling a pain he never felt before in his leg and he had to get another surgery. This surgery caused him to start over his process to walk again. During this rehab process, Jay had a lot of surgeries.

Link #3

https://www.futureofpersonalhealth.com/mental-health/jay-williams-shares-his-story-of-depression-and-addiction/

#10 Marriage

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-18 17:19:01 UTC

Jay was very in love with Noelle and so he decided that he wanted to marry her even though he was still months in rehab. He went out to buy a ring and it costed a lot of money.

One morning, they had a picnic at Duke Gardens and when Noelle was unpacking the food Jay pulled out the ring asked if she would marry him and she said yes.

#11 Problem with parents

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-18 18:23:44 UTC

After the marriage Jays Dad wasn't so happy because Jay was still in rehab. Because of this he flew back to New Jersey. Jays mom felt the same too. She was telling Jay about how bad Noelle was as a person saying that she wouldn't help with the dishes and she just sat there watching TV. After a year or Jays mom flew back to New Jersey with his dad. Jay felt guilty because of the things he put his parents through just to marry someone during his rehab process.

#12 Marriage problem

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-18 18:30:31 UTC

Jay and Noelle were happily married until one day when Jay asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement before they tied the knot. Noelle was talking about her parents and didn't want to dishonor them by entering a marriage with a precursor for potential failure. She gave back the ring and went back to New Jersey. Jay wouldn't ship her stuff unless she came back and talked to him. Once she came back he put the ring back on her and he didn't care anymore about the prenup as long as they stay together. She agreed.

Evidence #5

"She gave me the ring back and left for New Jersey. I refused to ship her stuff to her unless she agreed to come back and talk. When she arrived, I put the ring back on her finger and told her I didn't care anymore about a prenup as long we stayed together. She agreed to stay and we were happy . . . again" (164).

#13 Progress

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-22 17:28:53 UTC

Jay is making great progress in recovery. Jay could shoot the ball and move around again. He can run one on ones, but it wouldn't be his best performance since he was still limping. He got interest from 2 teams. Miami and Houston. He got invited to the Houston court to do a 17 minute drill. It was really hard for Jay, but he still managed to do it.

Evidence #6

"When I finished the last spot and the buzzer sounded, I fell to the floor and did my best snow-angel impersonation. I couldn't move and struggled to catch my breath" (176).

#14 Back on track

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-27 18:23:00 UTC

Jay was going to practices with many teams and he was traveling and workout out a lot. There was teams that said that he wasn't ready and some teams like him. It was when he went to visit the New Jersey Nets and Jay was playing really good. In the end he sign a nonhuarenteed contract with the New Jersey Nets. He will be forced to fight for a spot during trapping camp.

Evidence #7

"...but everything felt right about that day. THere wasn't any limping, I was turnover free, I exhibited great shot selections, and my court vision was excellent. ... A month later, I signed nonguaranteed contract with the New Jersey Nets" (182).

#15 Preseason game

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-27 20:38:42 UTC

Jay was playing in the preason with the New Jersey Nets after almost fully recovering. His team was playing against the Celtics and he got some shots down. In the end, it turned out to be his last game in an NBA uniform.

Evidence #8

"After that night, I had a few good moments--the night we played the Celtics I made a couple of shots down. ... I was only playing the fourth quarters of games. ... In what turned out to be my last game in an NBA uniform" (187).

#16 NBA career over

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-27 20:43:42 UTC

Jay was sent to the coaches office where he knew what was going to happen. Jay had never been cut before and this was would be the first time. After the talk with the coach, he was cut and his NBA career was officially over.

Link #4

https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2635166

#17 Hurt again

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-28 16:27:14 UTC

Jay got hurt again when he was playing basketball with his friend and he fell on someone foot and sprained his ankle. He was rushed to the nearest hospital and was then sent to the Duke Sport Medicine Center. He was really dissapointed because he was at the same place 2 years ago recovering from his accident and now he's back again.

Evidence #9

"As I landed, my right foot came down directly on someone's foot. ... We rushed to the nearest emergency room, which was New York-Presbyterian Hospital" (192).

#18 Cut-Signed-Cut

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-03-28 16:46:39 UTC

Jay got called called by his wife saying that she can't marry him. He was so sad he took shots and went driving. He was sober and eventually got pulled over. He was going 35, but he said he was going 65 max. He eventually got cuffed and went to the station and he was released later than next day. He flew to New Jersey to talk to Noelle and that cut ties. After all that Jay joined the D-League and was finding his way back until he pulled his hamstring and hurt his groin. He was waived. He was going to a lot of things and Coach Johnson was a person he looked up too. He was positive again all until Coach Johnson passed away from a heart attack.

#19 Broadcasting

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-04-03 16:46:51 UTC

After knowing he will never make it back to the league. He tried broadcasting. He had to learn when to look at the camera or the other broadcaster and to think fast but talk slow. At first he didn't want to do broadcasting, but he wanted to stay close to the game somehow. He was on the broadcasting crew on CBS College Sports.

Link #5

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-basketball-broadcasting-how-jay-williams-became-superstar

#20 Forgiving

nguyevin001_2 — 2024-04-04 16:12:59 UTC

Jay talks about forgiving himself and that there are no accidents in life and everything is supposed to happen for a purpose. He thanks everyone who was been there for them especially his parents. His dad taught him a lot of things like that you have to forgive and accept the consequences.

Evidence #10

"'My life has always had a purpose' ... Because of all that I have been through, I never lose faith regardless of any challenge that lingers just around the corner' ... He has taught me how to be a good person, even if he was still figuring out how to be one himself" (248-250-251).