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Jerome “JYD” Williams
Popularly known as Junk Yard Dog or JYD, Jerome Williams is an American former basketball player and revered fan-favorite who last played for the NBA’s New York Knicks and BIG 3’s team POWER.
Williams was first recognized for his remarkable basketball skills on his Magruder High School basketball team. After high school he attended Montgomery College of Germantown where he earned his Associates Degree. He then attended Georgetown University where he graduated in 96’ on the Deans list with a degree in Sociology with a minor in business and theology. Jerome was then drafted in 1996 out of Georgetown University by the Detroit Pistons (https://www.nba.com/pistons/), playing with them for over four years and becoming one of their key reserves. It was during his time with the Pistons that Williams was nicknamed Junk Yard Dog (JYD) by Rick Mahorn and Grant Long, appropriately so for his “hard work” and “hustle.” After playing for the Pistons, Williams went on to play for the Toronto Raptors (https://www.nba.com/raptors/), beginning February 22, 2001 – something Jerome was so ecstatic about that he drove immediately from Detroit to Toronto after receiving the news. Spanning from 2002-2003 with the Toronto team, Williams averaged an astonishing 9.7 points per game – turning him into a notable and undeniably valuable key player. It was in December of 2003 when Williams was traded again to the Chicago Bulls (https://www.nba.com/bulls/), averaging 6.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game from 2003-2004. During the offseason of 2004, Williams was traded yet again to the New York Knicks but was offered a front office job and or coaching job by the team in 2005 as a result of being granted NBA’s new Allan Houston rule – which prompted Williams to announce retirement from the court. He then became the NBA’s 2nd global ambassador and joined the MSG network to Executive produce his 1st hit TV show, “Make it Hot.” On January 25, 2006, he rejoined the Raptors as their community representative. His love for Toronto is unique and always reciprocated – as Jerome was always greeted by the city with a standing ovation whenever he’d return. Jerome is now still an NBA Global Ambassador, President of the JYD Project’s Shooting for Peace initiative, CEO of IP FAMBA, an NIL tech company that helps all student athletes on their journey to the pros and beyond and owner of his own coffee brand called Peace and the Coffee Bean. He has currently authored four books and is finalizing his 5th entitled Role Players which aims to encourage people to maximize their opportunities in life. He resides in Bethesda, Md. with his wife Nikkollette of 24 years. He has (4) children Gabby, Giselle, Jeremiah and Sherae, two of whom have both graduated College (Gabby is a Georgetown University graduate & Sherae is a Arizona State graduate) Giselle also attends Georgetown University and plays volleyball. Jeremiah attends middle school currently at the Woods Academy.
