James "Fly" Williams was born on February 18,1953 and is an American former professional basketball player.
18 Facts About Fly Williams
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Fly Williams played in the American Basketball Association for the Spirits of St Louis and for multiple teams in the Continental Basketball Association.
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Fly Williams played with some of New York's finest street players, including World B Free and Earl "the Goat" Manigault.
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However, due to poor attendance at Madison, Fly Williams transferred and completed high school at Glen Springs Academy, a prep school.
5.
Fly Williams was known for his play at Rucker Park and The Hole in Brownsville.
6.
Fly Williams averaged 29.4 points per game in 1973, fifth best in the nation.
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Fly Williams left college due to hardship and pursued a professional career.
8.
Fly Williams only managed to score 9.4 points per game for the Spirits.
9.
Fly Williams' scoring was erratic and he became known more for his showmanship than his scoring proficiency.
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Fly Williams's quirks were detailed in small part in Terry Pluto's ABA book Loose Balls, which included one getting into a fight at the pregame layup drill.
11.
Fly Williams did not play during the following year, after which the Spirits of St Louis were one of two teams, along with the Kentucky Colonels, to fold as a result of the ABA-NBA merger.
12.
Fly Williams ended up without a team despite some interest in retaining him in the league, but eventually the Philadelphia 76ers selected Fly Williams in the ninth round of the 1976 NBA draft, despite not signing him to a player contract.
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Fly Williams then played in the Continental Basketball Association and the Eastern League, but he failed to attract attention by NBA scouts.
14.
Fly Williams later played for a team in Israel, eventually admitting that his temperament probably predicated his lack of serious offers after the leagues merged.
15.
Fly Williams's career ended when he was shot by an off-duty police officer.
16.
In retirement, Fly Williams spent time working with disadvantaged youth and continued to play "streetball"; Fly Williams is listed as the number two athlete on the "50 Greatest Streetballers of All Time" by the Street Basketball Association.
17.
In May 2017, Fly Williams was arrested in Brooklyn, NY, and charged with being the alleged leader of a large heroin distribution ring.
18.
Fly Williams pled guilty and was released on parole in January of 2023.