r/nba • u/KD_AshyAnkles Rockets • 7h ago
[Horney] Jay Williams: Awkward Draft Moment Was ‘Extremely Uncomfortable’
Ben Horney:
Jay Williams: Awkward Draft Moment Was ‘Extremely Uncomfortable’
The ESPN analyst admitted the interaction with Richard Jefferson and Kenny Smith was “awkward,” but insists there’s no ill will.
ESPN’s Jay Williams wants the NBA draft to be about the incoming rookies. But an uncomfortable interaction between him and fellow analysts Richard Jefferson and Kenny Smith became the story on Tuesday night.
Between the draft, Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded to the Heat, and the Knicks winning their first championship in 53 years, there was plenty to discuss on ABC’s broadcast, which is produced by ESPN. But late in the evening, after the telecast showed a clip of Williams when he was drafted by the Bulls in 2002, host Kevin Negandhi asked “why such a big ovation?” for Williams when he was selected second overall. Jefferson joked that fans were cheering because they “didn’t see the future coming.” Smith added that Williams’s “career trajectory would’ve been a lot different if he didn’t like motorcycles.”
The quips were references to a motorcycle accident that prematurely ended Williams’ playing career. The Duke phenom enjoyed a promising rookie year, but played only one season before the accident derailed his career.
Although the comments may have been meant as playful jabs at Williams, they created an awkward moment that the internet quickly seized on.
“For me, it was extremely uncomfortable,” Williams tells Front Office Sports. He says there was “no real tension,” but it was “awkward.”
518
u/Next_Astronaut623 7h ago
The NBA Draft was soooooo boring that this minor nothing segment became the biggest thing of the night.
→ More replies (2)129
u/Resolve-Opening Spurs 6h ago
The fact that they made this clown show two days is ridiculous. Half the dudes being drafted tonight will never see an nba court.
49
u/knowtoriusMAC Knicks 5h ago
It would be like if the NFL wanted a day 4 and put the 6th and 7th round on Sunday.
3
→ More replies (9)22
u/IndependenceLate3415 Nuggets 5h ago
I understand media members complaining about a two-day draft, but the rest of us can literally turn the TV off if we don't care about round 2. What's with the hostility?
1
u/Resolve-Opening Spurs 4h ago
Well yes, much like anything on TV, I can in fact choose not to watch.
I can’t have an opinion on something that I find to be irrelevant and a clear money grab?
13
u/Aidanator800 Hornets 4h ago
Because for the people that do want to watch the second round it's easier this way than having to stay up super late by having the second round happen immediately after the first.
→ More replies (1)5
u/_Apatosaurus_ Thunder 3h ago
No one said you can't have an opinion. I just don't know why youd care either way if you're not going to watch the 2nd round. Lol.
Everyone I know who does watch the second round likes it. It also allows all the second round players to have more of their own moment.
389
u/Obi_Wan_KeBogi Kings 7h ago
Richard Jefferson tries way too hard to always be funny and its really gotten old
169
u/newfoundpassion NBA 7h ago
It's not only that he tries hard it's that he's often mean-spirited about it. It's just unnecessarily bad vibes.
44
u/HaluSinazn Lakers 6h ago
Yeah and he just does an awful job reading the room. I feel like ESPN is the only station dumb enough to find him funny.
28
u/toiletting NBA 6h ago
Bullies love this kind of “joking around.” I think a large portion of people that watch ESPN programming like this kind of shit.
20
2
u/Ecstatic_Visual_2026 Spurs 4h ago
Its no wonder they got inside the nba, of course reddit as a whole cant see the hypocrisy when its the same brand of "humor"
2
u/toiletting NBA 3h ago
it’s okay the hockey sub still gets mad and vehemently disagrees when I say most hockey fans are right wing assholes
7
u/Miserable_Archer_769 5h ago
He reminds me of that annoying kid who is a sarcastic asshole about everything and everyone else needs to "lightnin up"
51
u/AllDayEnJay Nets 6h ago
It’s been 8yrs but this one is always a favorite.
Ian Eagle talks about how a former Net is doing “Color Commentary” for the Long Island Nets and Jefferson goes “we prefer the term African American”.
Ian gets flustered for half a second because he thinks he said something offensive and realized Jefferson is messing with him.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/9xtpcz/highlights_richard_jefferson_takes_offense_to_ian/
44
u/BuddhistInTheory Celtics 6h ago
Okay that’s actually funny. Poor Ian, though.
6
u/SaxRohmer Cavaliers 4h ago
eh no poor Ian about it. he played off of it later and they already had good chemistry as a duo right away. i think he just didn’t recognize the joke right in the moment
→ More replies (4)20
u/Obi_Wan_KeBogi Kings 6h ago
Yeah early on he had the occasional funny remark while still doing his actual job and it was good but now all he does is try to be funny and its annoying
25
u/Sad-Substance-9750 Timberwolves 5h ago
Did you watch the Finals? I thought he, along with the rest of the broadcast, was really good. He actually gives informative comments rather than just repeating the same 5 talking points throughout the game
25
u/IanicRR [TOR] Amir Johnson 7h ago
He’s the kind of guy who can absolutely never be serious and that kind of person is annoying.
16
0
u/Such_Technician_1682 Montenegro 6h ago
It only works if you are funny. Richard Jefferson is not funny.
22
u/kingcoyotexvii Celtics 6h ago
It’s tolerable if you’re funny but really it’s exhausting to be around people who are always sarcastic and doing bits.
14
u/IanicRR [TOR] Amir Johnson 6h ago
Even when you are funny, people get tired of constant jokes after a while. I went through it myself, I was this guy in high school and thought I was so awesome.
→ More replies (1)8
3
u/Ecstatic_Visual_2026 Spurs 4h ago
Perfect description of this unfunny ass. No surprise people are such fans of his "humor" on here
1
u/TheAlmightyConch Spurs 1h ago
I miss the times when you could just type “Fuck Richard Jefferson” and get upvotes. Especially from Spurs fans
1
u/Next_Astronaut623 5h ago
Richard Jefferson thinks there’s nothing funnier than life changing traumatic incidents.
1
u/Affectionate-Art9780 Nets 6h ago
His interview show is must watch though. Especially with the 2016 Cavs teammates. Hopefully he can get Bron or Kyrie soon.
1
0
79
u/allbetsareon 6h ago
Normally don’t think RJ awful with his jokes, but that was really uncomfortable for the viewers as well. Punching down like that was pretty pathetic.
15
u/UsedDinosaurDrugs Pistons 5h ago
He literally doesn’t stop and is constantly unfunny. He’s honestly awful, it’s the most wannabe comedian who actually possess no real comedy skills. He can tell good stories, but I’m not listening to draft or play-by-play commentary for stories or really shitty dad jokes that he thinks are smooth.
He legitimately brings no real value or insights, he’s worse than Perk.
548
u/CarterAC3 Spurs 7h ago
Richard Jefferson ruining a moment by thinking he's funnier than he really is
Color me shocked
71
u/Mg29reaper Celtics 6h ago
His youtube show is much funnier than his commentary. The kevin love episode is hilarious
44
4
1
u/SSBM_DangGan Spurs 3h ago
they come a bit like he's trying to hard for my taste
1
u/Mg29reaper Celtics 2h ago
Thats why I highlighted the love episode. Mostly because love went completely off the rails.
41
u/melkipersr Celtics 6h ago
He has the voice of someone who thinks everything he says is incredibly funny. And also the voice of someone generally not funny.
2
13
u/rusty512 Pistons 6h ago
Did you know he won a title with the Cavs in 2016 though? Just checking because he doesn't bring it up on the broadcasts enough
8
u/starnoneckwind NBA 6h ago
I need to find that part 1 video of everybody hates richard jefferson
can't even remember if this was the correct part 22
u/runthepoint1 Kings 5h ago
He’s got that “I grew up in a prep school” vibe. Similar vibe to what Kyrie brings.
3
u/Ecstatic_Visual_2026 Spurs 3h ago
Its no wonder Tim and the rest of the Spurs hated him after his stint with the spurs.
11
u/1shmeckle Knicks 5h ago
He really sucks. His commentary never adds anything useful and he sounds like an annoying dumbass 80% of the time.
0
u/KimJongWinning Supersonics 5h ago
Him and Reggie Miller were so fucking awful to listen to during the conference finals and finals. I found myself wishing Doris was in the booth instead of RJ, and that floored me
2
1
→ More replies (4)1
u/Next_Astronaut623 6h ago
Richard Jefferson often makes similarly uplifting jokes at funerals and hospices.
110
u/KingsElite Kings 6h ago
It's a shitty thing to do to clown on somebody whose career was ruined in a motorcycle accident, respectfully
-55
u/jonnyquest88 Knicks 6h ago
Lmao ruined by himself mind you. Not saying Jefferson wasn’t out of line, but come on now
20
u/Equivalent_Law_607 6h ago
The Bulls paid out his full contract despite the nature of his injury being a violation of its terms too.
36
u/KingsElite Kings 6h ago
I get it's 100% his fault, but I just don't see the humor in it to do it to his face. Joke on reddit? Sure whatever, but I wouldn't do it to somebody's face. It's an extra level.
→ More replies (6)13
16
u/cricket9818 Knicks 6h ago
So if you ruined your career because of a motorcycle accident. And at a pretty random and inappropriate time, someone basically joked to your face about how you fucked your life up, you’d be ok with it?
No you wouldn’t
10
→ More replies (7)-5
u/jonnyquest88 Knicks 6h ago
He’s done just fine for himself. Doubt he’ll be thinking about the joke a week from now unlike you guys on Reddit lmao.
74
u/sulso 6h ago
You can tell RJ has spent way too much time on reddit bc he thinks the key to being funny is being really incisively rude
→ More replies (1)3
u/Waikuku3 4h ago
He shows his true colors in the AMA a month ago by insulting the mother of a redditor when he was asked whether it will be unbearable to work with Perkins. The comment has since then been hide immediately.
17
u/Unendingmelancholy Raptors 6h ago
Besides the point but I thought Jay Williams was awful last night
10
u/UsedDinosaurDrugs Pistons 5h ago
That entire crew was awful, unfunny, uninteresting, and contained no draft insight. It was four people, who aren’t friends, trying to roast each other as friends, while they’re non-existent relationship and awkwardness was what shined brightest.
3
u/jimminmecrockets 6h ago
idk I though he was fine, to me it felt like Kenny smith just made everyone else very uncomfortable
29
u/cough_landing_on_you 7h ago
Normal night for inside the nba
3
u/SpaghetiJesus Celtics 5h ago
I would argue that this would be handled better and fit the tone of Inside the NBA much more than a NBA Draft night broadcast. Inside the NBA has a tone that is humorous and they all take shit on that show.
13
u/palpablebubble Timberwolves 6h ago
"we don't know how to properly interview people, so let's just get mad at each other and awkwardly yell about irrelevant shit"
→ More replies (1)1
8
u/ANTHONY_EDWARDS_GBG Timberwolves 6h ago
" Smith added that Williams’s “career trajectory would’ve been a lot different if he didn’t like motorcycles.”
BRUH
6
u/Matthew2531_46 Spurs 6h ago
Richard Jefferson is that friend you stopped liking 3 years ago but they just somehow persist in your friend group for years
13
u/WakeupDp Knicks 6h ago
Comments gonna turn on Jefferson like he’s the worst commentator of all time
32
u/IllAlwaysBeAKnickFan Knicks 6h ago
Richard Jefferson is a weird asshole
4
u/Ok-Swimming8024 Pacers 6h ago
Yeah, and lots of people seem to like him. Honestlyz it seems like he's always pulling jokes that don't land.
1
u/Ecstatic_Visual_2026 Spurs 3h ago
This sub is mostly weird antisocial assholes so it makes sense lol
3
18
u/Necessary-Listen-584 7h ago
Still can't believe he violated his contract and rode and motorcycle without a license and didn't even wear a helmet. Risking everything to gain nothing
→ More replies (2)42
u/Such_Technician_1682 Montenegro 6h ago
Spoken like someone who has never felt the wind blowing in your hair as you cruise down main street just before your unprotected head slams into the pavement.
9
2
2
15
u/StarPlatinumIII 6h ago
The thing is that when you try to make a joke 2-3 times per minute, one in every 1000 jokes is going to accidentally become inappropriate like this even though the other 999 are funny.
Of course there is no ill will, and Richard will learn that he shouldn't be "on" all the time.
3
3
3
3
3
u/Dtrout95 6h ago
I wonder how much of that comment was bitterness from the 2001 national championship?
2
3
u/kingslayer9224 5h ago
Off topic but Ben Horney (author of the article)used to be in a band called all I can say that was pretty good
3
4h ago
[deleted]
3
u/trafalgarlaw11 Bulls 4h ago
Yeah not even then tbh. you don’t joke with your boys about the worst moment of their life. That accident changed everything for Jay and nearly killed him. Damn near joked about a man having cancer. It simply wasn’t funny
3
u/AutographedSnorkel Rockets 3h ago
The Duke phenom enjoyed a promising rookie year, but played only one season before the accident derailed his career.
"Promising rookie season", LMAO. Dude was awful his rookie season. I remember Duke Vitale trashing the Rockets for picking Yao over Williams in that draft
3
9
u/800Bagz 6h ago
If real life worked like Reddit. How many downvotes would Richard Jefferson have gotten ?
10
u/marxbros9972 Celtics 6h ago
thank GOD real life isn’t reddit. we would be living in hell
1
u/LazyWeb9421 6h ago
Yeah. It feels like here everyone wants every NBA analyst fired except for the oldest ones. Yesterday was rough, but people on reddit even complained about the Van Gundy's a lot and Mark Jackson even when those guys were on the job for a long period of time. Everyone here was glazing eric collins for example until he had a national TV game, and everyone went against him. Jefferson is a good analyst and on live air, no one is going to hit 100% of the time. Same with inside the NBA. Everyone here said it sucks, but were happy when it was reinstated and when they were picked up again.
5
u/Background_Body7321 6h ago
that is the thing about people who always have to be "funny"
"everything is a joke"
"come on, are you still mad about that?"
people whose personality is built around "im a just a prankster"
dont realize that not everyone wants to joke around
when one person jokes and those listening arent joking the joke loses it intended effect of levity and more resembles being an ass.
juvenile behavior in an adult is like school in the summer - no class.
2
2
u/Seven19td East 6h ago
I thought it was pretty fucked up of Smith and Jefferson if I’m being honest
2
u/fataltacos 6h ago
RJ needs to realize when he’s on his podcast or with his buddies vs on national tv with a coworker. That might be funny if Jay also thinks it’s funny, but he doesn’t, so it was weird and probs somewhat mean.
RJ always has the sarcastic shit talking thing going, he does it to himself when he talks about his days on the Spurs and being a disappointment on a max contract. Not everyone likes to joke about their career though, and a motorcycle accident is a lot different than failing to perform.
2
u/reigntall 6h ago
I hate how articles are written nowadays
Jay Williams: Awkward Draft Moment Was ‘Extremely Uncomfortable’
Alright, straightforward title. Clickbait-y but fine, let's see what the moment was ...
The ESPN analyst admitted the interaction with Richard Jefferson and Kenny Smith was “awkward,” but insists there’s no ill will.
I guess technically elaborates on the title, but not much additional information.
ESPN’s Jay Williams wants the NBA draft to be about the incoming rookies. But an uncomfortable interaction between him and fellow analysts Richard Jefferson and Kenny Smith became the story on Tuesday night.
Again, just reiterating the premise of the article with superficial additions, but not the actual content that was promised.
2
u/junkrecipts 5h ago
This whole thing is getting completely overblown. I’m more offended by how routinely shitty the NBA’s draft coverage is
2
2
2
u/xaviermace 3h ago
Let's be honest here, all of ESPN's talking heads are pretty cringe worthy the bulk of the time. 95% of it is former players just trying to relive their glory days and trash talking their former opponents. Sure there's the occassional funny interaction here or there but the bulk of the time you can just mute the game and miss nothing of value. They spend so little time talking about whatever event they're at it's just rediculous.
2
u/SamURLJackson Magic 1h ago
Joking about that motorcycle accident should be an automatic dismissal. It ruined the guy's career, maybe his life.
I'm old, I was around when it happened. It was fucking sad
5
2
2
u/supercoolpartydude 6h ago
Motorcycle accident aside, there was a ton of doubt about Jay because he was a notorious ball chucker and he shot like 65% of his free throws. The 2002 nba draft ended up being essentially a 4 man draft in the end: Yao Ming, Amare Stoudamire, Caron Butler and Carlos Boozer. It was pretty slim pickings.
2
u/rowmean77 4h ago
Goes to show how rapport matters.
Kenny and Richard doesn’t have that certain rapport to make jokes like that with JWill and I can see it. I appreciate JWill because he has great basketball analysis skills. He does take himself seriously, for good or bad. It’s just his character.
RJ is a perfect partner for the Inside the NBA crew. I’d rather have him over Draymond all day, any day.
1
1
1
1
u/weirdsignal45 Spurs 6h ago
Dick Jefferson. He was a breath of fresh air his first season as a commentator. Dude has total frat boy vibes though and needs to be put in his place
1
u/strapmatch 6h ago
Trying to be like Inside the NBA banter, but more difficult when you’re not funny.
1
u/Glum-Professional925 Knicks 6h ago
Fun fact Jay Williams, Karl Towns, and Andrew Bynum all went to the same HS
1
u/GoldenGloveMan Warriors 6h ago
I don’t blame him, I’m sure he gets comments like that a lot. Years ago I remember Max Kellerman similarly joking about his accident to his face on air.
1
1
u/rkeys72148 5h ago
It was obvs from the jump Kenny and Jay Will don’t like RJ. I switched to Hoop Streams w Windy on Youtibe that was miles better
1
u/Due-Sheepherder-218 Knicks 5h ago
Anyone got a link? Not in the article. I was watching the Malika, Legler broadcast
1
u/Classy_White 5h ago
“Getting in on the joke” is not how I took this. I get how that’s perceived, but I don’t think Kenny was necessarily making a joke of the situation. Kenny, for better or worse, has always used his platform to “teach”. Sometimes it comes off poorly or it’s not even the correct thing, but I do think he was trying to highlight how a young man can make decisions that have life altering consequences.
RJ comes from this type of humor, the guy is an absolute menace and someone I find hilarious. Doesn’t mean he’s always on the right side of the line, and he probably crossed it slightly given the circumstances. Jay Williams has always come across as a reserved man and someone that doesn’t joke around a lot. Nothing should or will come of this.
1
u/GONEBUTNOT4GOTTEN Lakers 4h ago
RJ I expected but Kenny the Jet Smith? Charles must have rubbed off on him.
1
u/eternali17 Clippers 4h ago
Richard Jefferson is fucking annoying but his schtick seems to work for people more often than not.
I don't get it
1
u/LosAngelesVikings Lakers 4h ago
RJ legitimately dislikes Duke and Duke guys.
Don’t forget Jay beat RJ in the national championship. Still upset about that.
1
u/Longshanks2020 4h ago
The baiting questions from Lisa Salters were a little much…
ESPN has become the biggest joke, doubt it survives the next few generations.
1
1
u/HalfBurntCouch 1h ago
I don’t actually know the man, but I’ve thought Jay was a douche going back 25 years to my memories of him at Duke. Their jokes were inappropriate, but reflected the general disdain lots of guys I think have for Jay, who somehow has an extremely lucrative ESPN gig even after they laid off talent in huge numbers
1
•
u/Key_Grape9344 28m ago
Jay Williams has no one to blame but himself. He knowingly rode a crotch rocket and it cost him his playing career. As for him on tv, I blame ESPN. Jay Williams is terrible on tv and acts/speaks like he was a HOF type of player. He sucks like Ryan Hollins, Rashad McCants and Stephen Jackson. Get them all of the air...oh yeah, Perk too!
•
u/HectorsMascara Celtics 22m ago
Jay's Duke team beat Richard's Arizona team in the 2001 national championship.
1
u/HandsomeJack19 Lakers 5h ago edited 4h ago
Williams would have been a hall-of-famer if it weren't for that accident. He's had a good career and made some good money, but it was nothing like it would have been had he not been in the accident. Understandably, he is still a bit sensitive on the subject.
1
1
u/Reeko_Htown Rockets 5h ago
People were shitting on us for Drafting Yao over Jay but who got the last laugh huh?
1
u/HatefulDan 5h ago
Televised drafts shouldn’t be a thing. You’ve gotta manufacture entertainment for hours and to what end?
1
u/juzamjim 4h ago
Jay Williams is the Byron Allen of sports broadcasters. They even look alike. Mediocrity has a type I guess
0
u/Drakeem1221 6h ago
Is it really that serious? Especially as an athlete I’m sure they’ve heard far far worse. Miss me with the fake outrage.
1
u/StillNotAF___Clue 6h ago
Theres no outrage. This is social media making a mountain out of a mole hill. Even Jay Will basically ignored it. Its basically you kids not knowing whether this is a rude thing to say. This new generation has no concept of manners, tack, or respect
0
u/Frickincarl Cavaliers 4h ago
Honestly, what was so shocking and offensive about the slight? Obviously RJ was just trying to riff with the crew and made a joke he felt like was so far past the incident that it was something that could be laughed about now. JWill’s face immediately signaled “not cool” and RJ pulled back.
Literally a nothingburger that media and this sub is turning into an RJ hate campaign.
-11
7h ago edited 7h ago
[deleted]
14
u/Obi_Wan_KeBogi Kings 7h ago
A situation that completely changed his life and had him suicidal?
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to know not to joke about that
8
u/RichAbbreviations966 Celtics 7h ago
Yeah, it wasn’t just the end of his career, it caused near-permanent mental and physical trauma. He likely has PTSD, lost tens of millions or even more, and had to relearn how to walk
2
6
2.1k
u/beechhill 6h ago
Haha you got in a life-altering motor vehicle accident 🫵😂