Former Cleveland Cavaliers center, John “Hot Rod” Williams is battling cancer and is currently on life support. According to The Plain Dealer’s Terry Pluto, Williams is in the intensive care unit of a hospital near Baton Rouge, La., where he grew up and currently resides.
The 6-foot-11 Williams was a second-round draft pick of the Cavs in 1985 and became Cleveland’s sixth man most of his time with the team. Williams played nine seasons with the Cavs and — along with Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance and Craig Ehlo — helped make Cleveland one of the elite teams in the East during the mid-1980s and early ’90s. Those Cavs teams could never get over the hump though, often thwarted by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Although his career was winding down, searching for big-man depth, the Phoenix Suns traded Dan Majerle for Williams in 1995. Williams would play three seasons with the Suns and one more with the Dallas Mavericks before retiring at the end of 1998-99 season.
Over his 13-year NBA career, Williams averaged 11 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 blocks. He is second in Cavs’ franchise history for blocks with 1,200.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
