In an article published by Dime Magazine yesterday, the under-performing Williams made it clear he's not happy living in New York, and still goes back to Utah (the city where he spent the first five and a half seasons of his career) every summer and much prefers the lifestyle there.
“I’m not going to lie. I don’t really feel so much like a New Yorker. I grew up in an apartment in Texas where you could send your kids outside like ‘yeah, go play in the sun.’ Here it’s more challenging. The process of getting them into school is a nightmare. Even private schools where you pay are an ordeal. In Utah, you just send your kids to the first public school in the area because they’re all great. Truth is, we enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle and going back to Utah every summer. It’s a relief to take that timeout. No traffic. No crowds. My daughters still have their friends there. There’s a big backyard. They go to the pool; the playground and they jump on the trampoline. Kids running wild and free here…? I don’t think so.”
When asked how a 'New Yorker' is defined, Williams pissed off a few million people.
"New Yorkers are tough. Or at least they think they are.”
This brings up an even larger question for me. Clearly this type of commentary coming from the man who was acquired to be the franchise's cornerstone is disconcerting - but is it wrong?
Members of the media often complain about athletes who give canned, shrink-wrapped, sterile answers to every question. When an athlete does speak their mind, and it's something unexpected - they get roasted.
While I respect the honest of Deron Williams to state that he doesn't think New York is a great fit for his family, I also realize that it was probably a stupid decision to say that a month or so out from hitting the hardwood at the Barclays Center.
Message boards and social media have already erupted with calls of "TRADE THAT FAT BASTARD" or "Can we please get Derrick Favors back?
Williams has a massive contract where he is due $40 million over the next two seasons, and has a $22.3 million player option for the 2016-2017.
Considering he will be hard pressed to earn half of that come 2017-2018, it should be expected that Williams will look to play out the string; but since that contract is nearly untradeable, perhaps Williams is letting us all know that he is so unhappy with his quality of life that he is willing to opt out early.
One thing is for sure. If Williams thought life was hard in New York before, buddy ain't seen nothin' yet.
Bravo Deron - you brave, stupid, sunamabitch.
