Injured Deron Williams Criticized Brooklyn ‘Non-Fans’

Somewhat fittingly, Mavs point guard Deron Williams is unlikely to play against the Nets due to injury; he spent three oft-injured years in Brooklyn. But, beyond that coincidence, Williams still made news by calling out “non-fans” in New York City.

Williams first made news by discussing how difficult his time in Brooklyn was. “It took a lot out of me, man, those three years. Some of the hardest in my life,” Williams told Yahoo Sports of his time in Brooklyn. “Made me question if I even wanted to play basketball when I was done with that contract.”

“It’s cool. There’s a lot of people, I guess, who aren’t built for New York,” the guard continued. “New York is not for everybody.”

He also spoke to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, where he discussed the challenges of returning to the New York environment.

“I’m sure I’ll get booed,” Williams told ESPN.com. “Those Brooklyn fans, they expected more out of me. I expected more out of myself. Injuries are tough, man. Somebody that’s been injured year after year, they can attest. They take a toll on you physically. It takes a toll on you mentally.

“Add that to the New York media and the fans — or I should say the non-fans, the ones that don’t pick you up — it all takes a toll on you. I think it definitely took a toll on me, but that’s what happens when you get paid that money and you don’t produce like it.”

Nets fans were reportedly planning on bring missing person posters to the game in Williams’ honor. With these comments, they’ll surely be waiting for him with even more anticipation.

 

Photo: Deron Williams #8 of the Brooklyn Nets in a game against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center on March 15, 2014 in Washington, DC. Photo by Keith Allison, via Wikimedia Commons