The NBA doesn’t forget the standout players, no matter what era they came in. Even if they didn’t make an All-Star team, certain players have managed to draw a crowd because of how electric they are when they take the floor. Recently, Nike paid tribute to this former NBA icon.
Which Former NBA Icon Jason Williams is Getting His Due?
ESPN’s Nick DePaula revealed that Nike will re-release a popular shoe from Jason Williams, a point guard who played in the NBA from 1998 to 2011.
“BREAKING: NBA legend Jason Williams has officially re-signed with Nike,” DePaula revealed via his X account. “‘White Chocolate’ will be the face of the upcoming Nike Hyperflight Retro for the 25th anniversary of the patent leather cult classic sneaker … and will host a SNKRS launch event this weekend in LA.”
BREAKING: NBA legend Jason Williams has officially re-signed with Nike. 📄✍️
“White Chocolate” will be the face of the upcoming Nike Hyperflight Retro for the 25th anniversary of the patent leather cult classic sneaker — and will host a SNKRS launch event this weekend in LA. pic.twitter.com/OWGCM0SMNO
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) February 12, 2026
Williams himself has confirmed this during his appearance on the “Sole Retriever” podcast.
“I’m back with the fam.”
Jason “White Chocolate” Williams confirms that he’s signed a new deal with Nike ahead of his Hyperflight PE release ☑️
📹 @hoopinghollerin pic.twitter.com/Jc5TukIc6Y
— Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) February 12, 2026
Williams never made an All-Star team, but his playmaking abilities made him one of the league’s biggest standouts in his first few years in the NBA. The peak of his popularity was when he played for the Sacramento Kings from 1998 to 2001, where he was known as “White Chocolate” because his fancy passing made him look like a streetball player.
His popularity in the NBA declined after he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. However, he got some headway again when he helped the Miami Heat win their first title back in 2006 as their starting point guard. He never quite achieved franchise-player status, but Williams had his own fanbase back when he played.
Furthermore, Nike re-releasing his shoes shows that it never quite died down (YouTube has multiple videos featuring his craziest passes, which helps with that) and will definitely reach those who grew up watching him way back when.
It’s easy to forget players who never made an All-Star team, but Williams was definitely a unique NBA entity back when he played. His passing dazzled many fans when he first entered the league. It is a shame that his calling card never quite translated into All-Star or All-NBA recognition, but many remembered when Williams played, and now he’s getting the tribute he deserves.
