Some of you youngens just having watched the above video might not believe what you just saw, that what was just pictured above had to be some miracle of digital video editing.

A white point guard? A white, flashy point guard? A white, flashy point guard that could dunk, showboat and trash talk with just about anyone in the league?

Yes. Yes. And, yes.

Let me say this.  There's no reason, besides some boredom and the beauty of Youtube, that I mention Jason Williams today.  But, that doesn't mean it's not fun to watch him do his thing.  I still can't figure the pass at the 2:50 mark.

The man who started his collegiate career at Marshall and finished it at Florida (not at his own pace--he was suspended permanently for drug use after three prior suspensions) was no myth. Jason Williams (not the Dukie, not the one charged with killing someone) was a white point guard that defied the way white players stereotypically played. Matter of fact, with his fancy style of play, Williams defied the way most NBA players since Pete Maravich played the game, bringing streetball flair and flash to the hardwood of the NBA.

                
Now that I'm done waxing poetic about Williams, let's keep it real.

White Chocolate was popular as hell his rookie year. His jersey was in the top 5 in the league in sales, he made Sports Center almost every time the Kings played, and he helped transform the Kings (along with Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakavic) to contenders. That they weren't able to get over the Lakers had likely more to do with happenstance and Doug Christie being, well, Doug Christie, but that's neither here nor there.

Besides all of this though, Williams wasn't a good player, at least not when he was at his most fun. In his three years in Sac-town, his minutes during the regular season were always higher than they were in the playoffs. He averaged over 2 turnovers a game in those years, highlighted by a robust 3.7 per in 99-00. Not so great, if you look at it that way.

But, what I loved about Jason Williams, J-Dub, J-Will, White Chocolate, was that he wasn't on my team.  His maddening inconsistency and wild decision making never hurt my team.  I was just happy that as a fan I got to watch him play, and make people look silly playing the game they'd played for their whole lives.

WC did things I've never seen done before in the NBA, and I doubt I'll see again.  So for that, Jason Williams, I say, thank you.