CLEVELAND -- Former Cleveland Cavaliers power forward John "Hot Rod" Williams has passed away after a battle with cancer.
He was 53 years old.
"The entire Cavaliers family is deeply saddened with the news of John "Hot Rod" Williams' passing," the Cavaliers said in a statement. "Hot Rod was, first and foremost, a great teammate, and also the kind of dependable person and player that made the Cavaliers organization proud during his almost decade-long time with the team.
"Hot Rod was the guy that willingly and pridefully drew the toughest defensive assignment. He was the kind of talented, unselfish and versatile player and person that earned the respect of everyone around him, including his teammates and opponents, and those who knew and worked with him off the court as well. In many respects, he was the humble embodiment and unsung hero of one of the most memorable and successful eras of Cavaliers basketball.
Hot Rod will be greatly missed and our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
A second-round pick of the Cavaliers out of Tulane University in the 1985 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-11, 215-pound Williams spent the first nine of his 13-year career in Cleveland, where he was a part of several deep playoff runs, including with the 1991-1992 team that lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.
A native of Sorrento, Louisiana, Williams scored 9,784 points, corralled 5,998 rebounds, assisted on 1,592 baskets, stole 746 passes and blocked 1,456 shots for the Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks before retiring after the 1998-1999 season.
During his 661-game career with the Cavaliers, Williams scored 8,504 points, pulled down 4,669 rebounds, including 3,049 on the defensive end of the floor, handed out 1,366 assists, stole 587 passes and blocked 1,200 shots. Those 1,200 blocks are second in team history.
In the postseason, Williams played in 45 games with the Cavaliers, totaled 559 points, 305 rebounds, 95 assists, 45 steals and 53 blocked shots.
