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Interview with Corey "Homicide" Williams |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 15 May 2006 |
 For those of you that don’t already know about Corey “Homicide†Williams, get ready, you will. Corey is what basketball is all about. He owns the blacktop of Rucker Park in the summer, and the hardwood courts around the world in the winter. Earlier this season Corey had a brief stay with the Raptors, and spent the rest of the year in the CBA preparing for another NBA run.
ElevationMag recently talked to The King of NY, Corey “Homicide†Williams, about his moves from NYC street ball, to international league play, to the minors, and then to the league with the Toronto Raptors. If you think Homicide just does it in the summer at The Rucker, you’re lying to yourself. He kills ‘em all year long...
ElevationMag: Corey, for anyone who doesn’t know you yet, can you please tell us a little about yourself.
Corey Williams: The names Corey “Homicide†Williams, born and raised Bronx, NY. Some people say I’m the King of New York as far as street ball is concerned. Some people, not me. After college I came home and knew I had to get respect and credibility on the streets of New York. I have averaged somewhere between 30 to 40 points at any tournament in NYC. Any tournament, you name it, I’ve ran through it. Any guard I have faced I’ve come out with the better end of the stick. That’s basically what Homicide is about; destroying his opponent.
Emag: How did you get the name “Homicide�
CW: I got the name by my aggressive play and attacking and killing everyone in front of me, period.
Emag: You have played in many different professional leagues in the United States and all around the globe over the past few years ranging from China to the CBA. Which experience was the best for you in terms of getting ready to take the next step to the NBA?
CW: I think to be honest with you, a little of everything. I’ve played in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Sweden, summer leagues in Spain and Italy, USBL, CBA last season, and China. A little of everything had prepared me for the opportunity I had in Toronto.
Another thing that had really helped me was when I was in Denver I was working out at the Pepsi Center. So I was working out with the pros. Right there I knew I could play with the pros. There’s a difference from Rucker where only one pro comes out to play with nine amateurs. At the practice facility there were ten pros. You’re the only amateur. So holding my own there was the icebreaker for me. So once I went to Toronto it wasn’t like I was going into a position where I’ve never played with the pros before.
Emag: Two summers ago I made the trip Uptown to watch you play against Ron Artest at Rucker Park. Would you say that experience also prepared you for the NBA?
CW: Matching up with Ron Artest might have helped me the most because that was the hardest 20-plus I’ve ever had, ever. He ripped me, blocked my shot four or five times, but I kept coming at him. That’s the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. I don’t really even talk about that game because no one is going to believe it. No ones going to believe when I crossed, came through the lane and dunked the shit outta the ball. You’re the only guy that’s going to believe that Mike.
Emag: And he has about five inches on you…
CW: We’re talking about 6’8†240 lbs. You see what he do to Paul Pierce. We’re talking about Corey Williams going against an NBA all-star. I was not supposed to get 20-plus points, but when I saw I can do it to him I knew I could do it to anyone.
Emag: What’s it like as an American playing overseas?
CW: It’s different man. You have to adapt to a culture you know nothing about most of the time. The language, food, styles, customs, everything. People do it for the love of the game and the game can take you everywhere. If you love the game that much you’ll cope with it. For example, China. Culturally it was very different and nobody spoke English. Even the translator couldn’t speak English that well.
Emag: You were invited to the Raptors camp last summer and were considered an instant fan favorite, but you did not make the final cut. Can you talk about your first experience with an NBA team.
CW: I’ll talk about the whole situation. How everything happened. I went to China on a tour team last May and played well against the Chinese national team. I had a coach named Tony Parker who coached the USA team who told me that I could help a team at the next level. He called a good friend of his Jim Todd, who’s an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors, and told him about me. Jim Todd tried to get me in the summer league, but that didn’t work out. One day he called me, woke me up, and asked where my next game was going to be played. I told him I had a game at Dyckman Park (NYC) that night. I had hit a fork in the road and had two options; I could either man up and do my thing or bitch up and spoil my opportunity to make the NBA. I scored 28 that night in the first half. I showed Jim Todd everything. Dunks, free throws, three pointers, everything. You name it, I did it. The second half the other team came out double and triple teaming me. Instead of trying to force my way through the double and triple teams I found the open man, which is what impressed him the most. I impressed Jim Todd so much that he got me into the Vet camp without even having a workout for the team first or go to free-agent camp. Jim Todd is now family to me and I owe him everything right now. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to make the league.
At training camp I did everything I could to make the team and left as a class act. I made the best out of my opportunity. I was on the shooting machine an hour before practice and an hour after everyday because I wanted to know and wanted people to know that at the end of the day I did everything I could to make this team. I walked away with my head up high. I was extremely happy with my effort.
I beat out my competition at training camp (Tierre Brown and Robert Pack). The final decision came down to Alvin Williams’ health. If the doctors said Alvin Williams can’t play, I’m in the NBA. If doctors say he’s able to play, I’m cut. He was cleared to play and I got cut. I averaged 4 points and 1 assist in the preseason so that’s not too bad, And if you think about it, I beat out two Vets for the spot, so I must have done something right.
Emag: After being released by from the Raptors you were drafted by the Austin Toros of the NBDL. What was the situation down there? How did you end up playing for Sioux Falls of the CBA?
CW: I was drafted by the Toros without them ever seeing me play. The best Dennis Johnson (coach of Austin) told me I would be was a back-up to Derek Zimmerman. Now no offense to Derrick Zimmerman, but I am better then Derrick Zimmerman. I didn’t show up for training camp the first week and was told that I had to be at camp for the final three days. I killed them in camp, but still got released. I didn’t mind because I didn’t want to be down there anyways because I was not going to get any playing time. Dennis Johnson told me I could play at the next level but they were going with Zimmerman no matter what.
I went on to sign with Sioux Falls of the CBA and finished first team all-defense and second team All-CBA. I am also ranked number six in minor league basketball by probasketballnews.com and had the most triple-doubles in minor leagues this season..
Emag: Where will Corey “Homicide†Williams be a year from now?
CW: A year from now Corey “Homicide†Williams will be finishing up the regular season with an NBA team.
Emag: Can you guarantee that?
CW: I’ll guarantee that. You’ll be watching me on TNT Thursday.
Mike Slane
ElevationMag.com |
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