Photo: Jay Williams/Instagram
Jay Williamsnever thought he would be where he is today.
After a 2003 motorcycle accident halted his skyrocketing basketball career and almost took his life, the star has fully bounced back, cementing his mark as he continues contributing forNBA Countdown,The Jump,Get Upand ESPN+’sThe Boardroom— and most importantly, as a father to 1-year-old daughterAmelia Brooklyn-Rose.
“It’s been the most fulfilling and chaotic year because of learning how to balance what the new norm is,” Williams, 38, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “When you get a chance to see all the things that my daughter has been able to develop over the span of a year, it also makes me a little bit frustrated ’cause I’m like, ‘Where the hell did the year go?’ ”
Between his NBA analyst gigs, new life as a father and his wifeNikki Bonacorsialso returning to work, the former Chicago Bulls player has taken pleasure in life’s simpler moments.
Just over a week ago, the couple celebrated Amelia’s first birthday with aLion King-themed bash in their Brooklyn, New York, apartment, where they had a band play songs from the famed animated movie’s soundtrack and jungle themes throughout their home.
“It actually turned out to be an incredible day. We have a balcony that is pretty spacious and we invited over some of her friends and their parents,” Williams says. “I always get a little bit anxious when I have a lot of people in my personal space, but my wife is the boss.”
Though Williams made a comeback to the NBA in 2006, he feels he is right where he belongs. “I almost passed away when I was 21 and for the longest period of my life,” the NBA analyst tells PEOPLE, “I thought I threw away the biggest gift that was given to me, which was an opportunity for meto fulfill my dream in the NBA.”
He adds, “Now that I’m back, it’s exhilarating. It’s almost as if this was my calling to begin with. Maybe this is my real coming-back party.”
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But balancing life as sportscaster contributing to four different shows, a husband and a dad isn’t as easy as it may look. Williams and Bonacorsi have had to map out schedules down to every detail, and reach compromises to ensure abalance in their lives as working parents.
“The priority is my family. Between the asks that she gets and the things I get, a lot of times I’ve had to learn how to say no to really cool things,” Williams shares with PEOPLE. “Because I also want my wife to be able to do cool things, and we have to go to things together.”
With both Williams and Bonacorsi having played sports in college (basketball at Duke University and soccer at Indiana University Bloomington, respectively), it seems only natural to assume their daughter may follow suit in athletics. But the sportscaster just wants Amelia “to be the best at what she does,” andwill “be supportive in whatever directionshe decides to go.”
source: people.com
