Jason Williams

White Chocolate, the flashy point guard who ran the Grizzlies' offense in their first Memphis seasons.

via Wikipedia: Jason Williams (basketball, born 1975) · see source

Jason Williams is an American former point guard who spent twelve NBA seasons, from 1998 to 2011, dazzling crowds with an unorthodox, improvisational style that earned him the nickname "White Chocolate". He arrived with the franchise in 2001, just as it relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, and spent four seasons as its starting playmaker, later returning briefly in 2011. When he left, he was the team's all-time assists leader, a mark since passed by Mike Conley. He also won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006 and played for the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic.

Quick Facts

Born: 18 November 1975
Birthplace: Belle, West Virginia, U.S.
High school: DuPont (Dupont City, West Virginia)
College: Marshall (1995–1996); Florida (1997–1998)
Draft pick: 7
Drafted by: Sacramento Kings
Career position: Point guard
Career number: 55, 2, 44, 3

Facts from the source article.

Background

Williams was born in Belle, West Virginia, and starred at DuPont High School, where Randy Moss was a teammate and USA Today named him the state's Player of the Year in 1994. He followed coach Billy Donovan from Marshall University to the University of Florida, setting a Gators record with 17 assists in one game before a suspension ended his college career. The Sacramento Kings drafted him in 1998, but by 2001 they had grown tired of his off-court issues. In June 2001 they traded him and Nick Anderson to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Mike Bibby and Brent Price, weeks before the move to Memphis.

Did You Know?

His number 55 jersey ranked among the NBA's top five sellers in his rookie year.
The 2005 trade that sent him to Miami involved thirteen players, the biggest in league history.
He was born on November 18, 1975.
He announced his second retirement on April 18, 2011.