Playing for the Cavs in 2010 … Jawad Williams

This Hoop Scoop column appeared in The Japan Times in April 2010.

Persevering Williams making most of shot in NBA

By Ed Odeven

The NBA playoffs begin this weekend, which means – hallelujah! – the “real season” is only hours away.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, who racked up a league-best 61-21 record in the regular season, have one of the most gifted all-around players (LeBron James) in the game’s history, a future first-ballot Hall of Fame center (Shaquille O’Neal) and a strong cast of role players. This includes lithe 206-cm forward Jawad Williams, who paid his dues in far-flung outposts in Spain, Israel and the NBA Development League, as well as a successful stint with the JBL’s Rera Kamuy Hokkaido in 2007-08 before finally securing a regular paycheck from the Cavs this season.

Williams played in 54 games and averaged 13.7 minutes per game with a modest 4.1 points-per-game average and…