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When Sean Williams and the Texas Legends left the Sioux Falls area this past Sunday, the team left with a loss while Williams skipped town adding to his list of off-the-court problems. Williams picked up two misdemeanor charges regarding possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia while he and the Texas Legends were visiting the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
After false allegations in the incident's particulars consisting Williams' involvement were first reported , Bernie Lee, Williams' agent, provided clarity on the situation with a statement. As it stands, Williams is being charged with the two misdemeanors, however, with the versatile big man's off-the-court history, the charges alone are surely not helping Williams' case to make it back into the Association.
Williams is currently averaging NBA D-League career lows, 5.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. In 27 games with the Legends last season, Williams posted impressive averages, 15.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per contest. Williams' highlight in the NBA D-League was arguably in the 2010-2011 season when he finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year, and earned All-NBA Development League Third Team honors.
Since the 2008-2009 season, Williams has spent time in the NBA Development League every season, and when Williams signed with the Legends on December 12, the talented post presence seemed to be en route to another successful D-League campaign. However, Williams has had a disappointing 2012-2013 season based upon his previous standards.
Williams' off-the-court issues stem back to his collegiate years at Boston College where he was suspended twice in his 3-years at the school for multiple rules violations. After being selected 17th overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 2007 NBA Draft, Williams' career as a Net would be marred with off-the-court problems ultimately leading to his release from the team in 2010.
Williams was in Orlando during NBA Summer League the past offseason as a member of the Celtics, and averaged just 4.2 points, and 2.2 rebounds in 13.0 minutes. Also this offseason, Williams was traded to the Houston Rockets, but released by the end of the summer.
The defensive skills in which Williams' possesses are what have drawn interest from NBA scouts and executives over his career. Williams can rebound efficiently and also provide reasonable scoring. NBA teams are always on the look out for a player with the capabilities in which Williams has been able to showcase over his career. Yet, his ongoing off-the-court persona and actions have been a severe deterrent, and given his latest run-in with authorities, they continue to still be an issue.
With Williams' numbers decreasing this season, and now the added off-the-court distractions providing more question marks for NBA teams, Williams must turn his career around starting first with his off-the-court problems. At 26-years-old, Williams still has time left to get his game and life together in order to prove to teams that he is worth another shot. But as history has shown with Williams, the 6-10, 235 pound forward/center remains more of a liability than a prospect.