EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., July 31 -- Just over a month after he announced his retirement, veteran center Jayson Williams officially was waived by the New Jersey Nets.
Williams, who missed the entire 1999-2000 season, elected to give up his latest comeback and announced his retirement on June 28.
Acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in 1992, Williams is the Nets' fourth all-time leading rebounder (3,328) and holds the team's single-game record for offensive rebounds with 17.
Williams, 32, shattered his right leg and suffered partially-torn cartilage in the knee in an on-court collision with teammate Stephon Marbury on April 1, 1999 in a game against Atlanta. The following day, Williams had surgery for a displaced tibial plateau fracture that required the insertion of a metal plate and five screws in his leg.
After experiencing increased pain and swelling in the leg while in rehab, Williams underwent arthroscopic surgery last September to remove a bone fragment in his knee that caused irritation. Four months later, a test revealed that Williams was having trouble developing enough strength in the joint for the elevation and lateral movement required to play basketball.
However, Williams, determined to play, appeared to be days away from attempting a return last March when he broke his left foot during a team practice. He landed on a teammate's foot while attempting a jump shot and suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal.
One of the NBA's best rebounders, Williams was through two years of a six-year, $85 million contract and will receive full payment for the remaining four years. Hr was waived after the Nets should were denied a $3.8 million salary cap exemption.
Though he was undersized for a center, the 6-10, 245-pound Williams averaged 8.1 points and 12.0 rebounds in 1998-99, but played only 30 games and battled injuries throughout his career.
In the 1997-98 season, Williams averaged 12.9 points and 13.6 rebounds and made the All-Star team but also missed 17 games with an abdominal strain and a broken thumb. He averaged 13.4 points and 13.5 rebounds but sat out 41 games with a series of ailments in the 1996-97 campaign.
Originally a 1990 first-round pick of the Phoenix Suns, Williams was traded to Philadelphia before playing a game and spent two seasons with the 76ers before being dealt to New Jersey.
