Bulls' guard Jay Williams breaks leg in motorcycle accident
Associated Press
CHICAGO - Chicago Bulls guard Jay Williams slammed his newly bought Yamaha sportbike into a pole, breaking his leg and creating uncertainty about the future of his basketball career.
"He's OK, but to the extent of the leg injury, we don't want to speculate," team spokesman Tim Hallam said.
Williams, 21, reportedly struck a pole in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood Thursday evening while riding the red and black motorcycle. Team spokesman Brandon Faber said Williams recently bought the bike.
Williams was being treated at the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago and underwent surgery Thursday night.
"The last thing on our minds right now is basketball and the foremost thought on our minds is that of Jay's health," Bulls general manager John Paxson said in a statement Friday. "We respect the privacy of the family and as time goes on we will be waiting for the family and doctors to report to us on Jay's status."
The Bulls provided no further details on Williams' injuries. A spokeswoman at the hospital on Friday referred all inquiries to the Bulls, and phone messages left at the home of Williams' family were not immediately returned.
"I'm not worried about the team or what this does for our future," Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said. "I'm just worried about the severity of his injury for his career. We just have to wait and see. Our thoughts are with him."
Chicago Police spokesman Wayne Frisbie said officers have been unable to interview Williams because the hospital is denying them access to the point guard.
The Bulls got the first-round draft pick from Duke last year. He averaged 9.5 points last season.
Williams ranks eighth in the league in triple-doubles and 12th in assists and turnovers. He earned a career high 26 points and 14 rebounds in a 45-minute performance against the New Jersey Nets on Nov. 11, 2002.
Williams won the starting point guard position after an intense battle with Jamal Crawford. However, the two played well toward the end of last season and had vowed to build on that momentum next season.
"I'm kind of in shock," Crawford said. "Jay and I were really looking forward to playing together and making some noise next season. Like everybody else on the team, I just hope he's OK and recovers quickly."
Associated Press
CHICAGO - Chicago Bulls guard Jay Williams slammed his newly bought Yamaha sportbike into a pole, breaking his leg and creating uncertainty about the future of his basketball career.
"He's OK, but to the extent of the leg injury, we don't want to speculate," team spokesman Tim Hallam said.
Williams, 21, reportedly struck a pole in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood Thursday evening while riding the red and black motorcycle. Team spokesman Brandon Faber said Williams recently bought the bike.
Williams was being treated at the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago and underwent surgery Thursday night.
"The last thing on our minds right now is basketball and the foremost thought on our minds is that of Jay's health," Bulls general manager John Paxson said in a statement Friday. "We respect the privacy of the family and as time goes on we will be waiting for the family and doctors to report to us on Jay's status."
The Bulls provided no further details on Williams' injuries. A spokeswoman at the hospital on Friday referred all inquiries to the Bulls, and phone messages left at the home of Williams' family were not immediately returned.
"I'm not worried about the team or what this does for our future," Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said. "I'm just worried about the severity of his injury for his career. We just have to wait and see. Our thoughts are with him."
Chicago Police spokesman Wayne Frisbie said officers have been unable to interview Williams because the hospital is denying them access to the point guard.
The Bulls got the first-round draft pick from Duke last year. He averaged 9.5 points last season.
Williams ranks eighth in the league in triple-doubles and 12th in assists and turnovers. He earned a career high 26 points and 14 rebounds in a 45-minute performance against the New Jersey Nets on Nov. 11, 2002.
Williams won the starting point guard position after an intense battle with Jamal Crawford. However, the two played well toward the end of last season and had vowed to build on that momentum next season.
"I'm kind of in shock," Crawford said. "Jay and I were really looking forward to playing together and making some noise next season. Like everybody else on the team, I just hope he's OK and recovers quickly."
