Last night’s NBA draft saw 30 players selected in the first round and realize their lifelong dreams.
Despite the overall happiness coursing through the night, there were a few awkward moments, including an audio incident involving Dirk Nowitzki and a strange exchange between a couple of NBA analysts discussing former Duke and Bulls’ guard Jay Williams.
The NBA World Reacts to Richard Jefferson and Kenny Smith’s Jay Williams Exchange
ESPN played a clip of Williams being drafted by the Bulls with the second overall pick back in the 2002 draft.
Williams was an all-time great college player. He led Duke to a championship in 2001, was named the 2002 National College Player of the Year, and was a two-time consensus first-team All-America.
Williams had a disappointing start to his career, but still made the All-Rookie second team and was a starter for a large portion of his Bulls’ career.
Unfortunately, in June of 2003, Williams crashed his motorcycle into a street light in Chicago. He had no helmet on and suffered a fractured pelvis, a severed main nerve in his leg, and three torn ligaments in his left knee, including the ACL.
Another issue for Williams is that riding a motorcycle violated his contract. The Bulls selected Kirk Hinrich in 2003.
Williams tried to make a comeback with the hometown Nets in 2006, but played only three G League games.
After they showed the clip, ESPN’s crew had some surprising things to say after they heard what an ovation Williams had.
Richard Jefferson: “They also didn’t see the future coming, so they were cheering…”
Jay Williams: “Wow…”
Kenny Smith: “His career trajectory would’ve been a lot different if he didn’t like motorcycles.”
Jefferson: “I guess everybody that goes to Duke isn’t that smart.” https://t.co/eBT56Z8RTl pic.twitter.com/9dCmYORrpJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 24, 2026
“They also didn’t see the future coming, so they were cheering kind of preemptively… I’m sorry,” Jefferson said.
“Wow…” Williams responded.
“His career trajectory would’ve been a lot different if he didn’t like motorcycles,” Smith said.
“Yes, I wrote a book about it, I bet everybody to the punch,” Williams explained.
Jefferson responded: “I guess everybody that goes to Duke isn’t that smart.”
The NBA World did not seem to be fans of this interaction and let that be down.
Veteran writer Richard Deitsch said: “As it came across as a viewer: That was a helluva an awkward exchange with Richard Jefferson and Jay Williams.”
As it came across as a viewer:
That was a helluva an awkward exchange with Richard Jefferson and Jay Williams.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) June 24, 2026
Another veteran writer, Jeff Goodman, agreed.
“You better know someone damn well to say something like this,” Goodman said. “And judging from Jay Will’s reaction, he doesn’t have that kind of relationship with Richard Jefferson. Just a bad, bad look.”
You better know someone damn well to say something like this. And judging from Jay Will’s reaction, he doesn’t have that kind of relationship with Richard Jefferson.
Just a bad, bad look. https://t.co/qgHFx2zyTF
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 24, 2026
Many simply wondered if Jefferson and Williams are friends, which would explain the interaction.
“Are they friends like this?” Trev Schmidt asked. “This feels like a helluva shot.”
Are they friends like this? This feels like a helluva shot https://t.co/L8ReKD204q
— Trev Schmidt (@HolySchmidt51) June 24, 2026
Others took it a step further. “Richard Jefferson just seems like a bad person,” Matt del Rio wrote.
Richard Jefferson just seems like a bad person https://t.co/N1o67DBQaT
— Matt del Rio (@mdelNBA) June 24, 2026
J French summed it up well. “One of the more uncomfortable TV interactions maybe ever,” French said.
One of the more uncomfortable TV interactions maybe ever https://t.co/AekH5v2Y4j
— J French (@JFrench__) June 24, 2026
Despite the exchange, it’s good to see that Williams found a place in the league (although he has largely focused on college basketball) after his devastating injuries.
