National Basketball Association

HP Hot Takeover: Jason Williams is the greatest magician of our era

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Last month, we wrote about our favorite players from the 2015 NBA Draft in a series called “My Sophomore Crush.” This month, we’re cooking up the hottest basketball takes imaginable for an entire week. Michael Jordan being the ???? will come into question, as will Smush Parker’s legacy with the Lakers and the future of the #TrustTheProcess 76ers.

Oh, and just so we’re clear, these are purely satire. Take them seriously at your own risk.

Since I was a young boy, I have always been intrigued by the subtlety involved with slight of hand and masterful illusions performed by magicians. The magnetic and enchanting aspect of these performances consistently draws me in; snatching my attention like nothing else. Of course, it’s all folly. None of it is truly magic, but that is what intrigues me more than anything.

The illusion of witnessing something other-worldly is the magical essence that captivates my imagination and gets me thinking, “How in the fuck did that just happen?!” There are few joys in life that match the pureness of curiosity — especially when that appetite is never satisfied with an answer.

For a while, magic was the only partial sustenance for this incessant appetite for a WTF moment in my everyday life. Then, when I was 14-years-old, a new magician emerged and he was a basketball wielding illusionist who was truly wondrous.

Jason “White Chocolate” Williams burst onto the scene with the fun-loving Sacramento Kings and was the ringmaster to one of the best passing teams in NBA history. On a nightly basis, there were behind-the-back passes, no look dimes, one-handed rockets and underhanded, full court alley-oops being tossed by this unassuming, blonde-haired white guy. Talk about magic.

Williams was an endearing fan favorite because he was just as reckless as he was invigorating to lay your eyes on. Few possess the confidence, bravado and utter disregard for chaos Williams portrayed night in and night out as the conductor of the bandbox known as Arco Arena. He saw openings before they were there, many times he hit his intended target when they didn’t even know they were open and he did it all with the flash and flair of a true superstar — a traveling, performing magician to inspire awe and wonder just as he was meant to do.

The delivery is the key here because performance is all about delivery. Criss Angel, David Blaine, David Copperfield, Derren Brown and Lance Burton have all mastered the art of a quality delivery. They are no less performing magic than they are persuading your eye and intellect to focus on one thing while their illusion is taking place.

Williams is the best magician of our era, because there is no illusion involved with his craft but there is a definitive magical essence as he bounces a ball in plain sight for all to see before whipping it behind his back to unsuspecting foes. Every one of these performers has a calling card of sorts. Angel performs physical magic, Blaine levitates, Brown is one of the premiere slight of hand specialists and Williams is no different. However, he only performed his unicorn trick one time.

Everything about this play is supernatural to the point people could easily believe Williams possessed magical qualities to make this happen. Does he have eyes in the back of his head? How does he know Raef LaFrentz of all people will even catch the damn ball?! What I see when I watch this clip — and I watch it at least once a week — are the fan reactions. I see fans standing in utter shock at the display. I see Lamar Odom’s face mouthing an “oh” as it happens. I see Dirk with open hands because he, like everyone else, thought that’s where the ball was going.

Ultimately, I see magic. And if you don’t see magic it’s likely that you are stuck in a world of traditional illusionists who prey on our minds while seeking to fulfill our insatiable need for the supernatural.