Jerome Williams

Popularly known as Junk Yard Dog or JYD, Jerome Williams is an American former basketball player and revered fan-favourite 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. He was then drafted in 1996 out of Georgetown University by the Detroit 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, beginning February 22 of 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, 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 waived by the team in 2005 as a result of the NBA’s new labor agreement – which prompted Williams to then announce a retirement from the court. 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 in Bulls or Knicks gear.

1996 – 2001 : Detroit Pistons

2002 – 2003 : Toronto Raptors

2003 – 2004 : Chicago Bulls

2004 – 2005 : New York Knicks

2017 BIG3: Team POWER

During his nine seasons as an esteemed NBA player, Jerome Williams played in 587 games with an impressive average of 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Williams became Director of Player Development for the Findlay Prep, basketball team before becoming Associate Head Coach, and then being promoted to Head Coach in the summer of 2013, continuing on until 2014. Apart from his regular on-court appearances; Williams is no stranger to making appearances on-screen, as well – having landed a cameo role in the 2003 Disney Channel Original Movie “Full-Court Miracle”, in addition to a small role in the Canadian FBI show, “Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye”.

A charitable man and Global Ambassador; Williams joined the NBA’s “Basketball Without Borders” program which aimed to teach the game of basketball as well as bring resources to underdeveloped areas in Africa, South America and Asia, among other places. Jerome once said; “When you teach kids, you want to make sure they do things they love to do. When you get that fulfillment in life, it automatically makes you a more joyful person”. Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams has contributed an accumulative 2 years (730 days) of community service time to the game of basketball. During the offseason of 2004, Williams was traded yet again to the New York Knicks but was offered a front office job by the team in 2005 as a result of the NBA’s new labor agreement – which prompted Williams to announce retirement from the court. He became the NBA Global Ambassador that very same year. He joined the MSG network to Executive produce his 1st TV show, “Make it Hot.” On January 25, 2006. 2007, 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 in Bulls or Knicks gear.

Jerome is now still an NBA Global Ambassador, President of the JYD Project, and Chairman/ CEO of IP FAMBA, an NIL tech company that helps all student athletes to the pros and beyond.

Listed below are Jerome’s personal basketball accomplishments and awards, as well as his community contributions to the sport:

NBA Awards

2005 – NBA Community Service Award
2003 – NBA Community Service Award
2002 – NBA Community Service Award
2000 – Fannie Mae Home Team Award
2003 – Awarded Letter from the President Bush Administration for service to youth across US
2005 – Over (5) Proclamations from cities including Detroit, Las Vegas, Toronto, New York, New Orleans, Memphis
2024 – White House Panel in Chicago

Community Service Contributions and Basketball Camps, Clinics:

2005 & 2006 –2 trips to the White House for his Community Service under Bush Admin
2000 – 1st NBA Ambassador to China, and NBA Ambassador to Beijing
2000 – 2017 – NBA Ambassador
2002 and 2015 – Basketball Without Borders – China, Shanghai
2003 and 2004 – South Africa – Basketball Without Borders
2003 – Was the Botswana NBA Ambassador
2009 – Canada, Calgary – U.S Sports Ambassador 09′ Envoy
2011 – Bahrain- U.S Sports Ambassador Envoy
2012 – Became NBA Fit Ambassador
2013 – Present – Became Las Vegas Chapter President
2007 – 2014 – Was a Findlay Prep Volunteer Coach for 7 years and Head Coach of the 2013 Season with over 13 NBA players graduated
2015 – Started up Shooting for Peace Programs which raised $1.9 Million in Scholarships form HBCU’s for high school students. The program is currently servicing over 35,000 students in the USA and is ongoing.
2017 –Voted NBRPA BOD
2018 – Became President of Young3.org; a BIG3 Program dedicated to giving youth more opportunities to play 3-on-3 basketball
Started the Williams Endowment Montgomery College Scholarship Fund that has gifted over 35 scholarships too local & International students
Dedicated over500,000 hours Dedicated to Community Service through JYD Project, Positive Shades of Black, NBA & NBRPA LV chapter
Authored Student Financial Literacy, Reading, Health and Fitness books & programs
Made over 1000 Hospital, orphanage and school visits
2024 Shooting For Peace Update; Over $10 Million in scholarships awarded to youth throughout the USA

Other Sports Ambassador Trips

2007 – Philippines – JYD Project
2009 – Israel- Sports Power
2010 – South America- Basketball Without Borders
2011 – Bahrain – U. S. Sports Ambassador
2012 – India – Sports Power
2015 – Belarus- Sports Power
2015 – Shenzengn, China – NBA Ambassador
2016 – Mexico City, Mexico – NBA Ambassador
2016 – Beijing, China – NBA Ambassador
2017 – Shanghai, China – NBA Ambassador
2017 – Nigeria, Africa – NBA Ambassador
2017 – Bafokeng, South Africa – NBA Ambassador
2017 – HaidaGwaii, Canada – NBA Ambassador
2017 — Saskatoon, Canada – NBA Ambassador
2017 — NewFoundland, Canada – NBA Ambassador
2018 — Beijing China – NBA Ambassador
2018 — Montreal Canada — NBA Ambassador
2019 — Rwanda Africa — NBA Ambassador
2023 — US Ambassador (8) Military Base Tour Africa, Middle East & Cuba

Some Hall of Fame Player Contributors Include:

1999 – (General Manager) – Wayne Embry – JYD Mentored By
2011– (Programs) – Tom “Satch” Sanders – JYD Mentored By
2012– Don Barksdale
2014 – Nathaniel Clifton, 67 yrs old, 544 Games
2017– (TV) – Rebecca Lobo 44 yrs old

Basketball Player Highs

1993 – Became JUCO State MVP
1995 – Lead Big East Conference in Rebounding & All Conf.
1995 – Made the USA Men’s College Team that won Gold
1996 – Made Elite 8, Big East All Conf. & NBA 1st Round Draft pick
2000 – Led NBA in offensive Rebounds
2001 – Runner-up 6th Man of the year
2017 – Finalist BIG3 Defensive Player of the year (at 44yrs. Old)
2017 — Led Team Power in Playoffs statistically in Pts & Rebs

Coaching Highs (Findlay Prep)

2008 – Volunteer Coach – Avery Bradley, DeAndreLiggins
2009 – Volunteer Coach – Tristian Thompson & Cory Joseph
2010 – Player Development Coach – Nick Johnson & Jorge Guertez
2011 – Asst Coach – Anthony Bennett & Christian Wood
2012 – Assc Head Coach – Nigel Williams-Goss
2013 – Head Coach – Kelly Oubre, Rashad Vaughn, Dillon Brooks, Jonah Bolden, O’Shae Brissett, Justin Jackson & Craig Victor
2013 – National High School Tournament Final Four
2018 — BIG3 Champions Team Power Assistant Coach
2018 — President of the BIG3’s YOUNG3 until 2024
2021 — President & Owner of Las Vegas TBL franchise