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Cleveland Cavaliers: 25 Best Players To Play For The Cavaliers

By Phil Watson

Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; A general view of a painting outside of Quicken Loans Arena prior to game six of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; A general view of a painting outside of Quicken Loans Arena prior to game six of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /
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Basketball: NBA Playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers John Hot Rod Williams (18) in action vs Boston Celtics Larry Bird (33) at Boston Garden. Game 6. Boston, MA 5/15/1992 CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X42889 )
Basketball: NBA Playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers John Hot Rod Williams (18) in action vs Boston Celtics Larry Bird (33) at Boston Garden. Game 6. Boston, MA 5/15/1992 CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X42889 ) /

PF-C. 1986-95. Hot Rod Williams. 8. player. 156. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Second-round pick (45th overall) from Tulane, 1985 NBA Draft.

Hot Rod Williams had a difficult start to his NBA career.

Accused of shaving points while at Tulane, Williams was selected in the second round, 45th overall, of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but could not sign while being tried on charges of sports bribery.

CLE_08_WILLIAMS
CLE_08_WILLIAMS /

His first trial was declared a mistrial. He was

later acquitted

on all five counts and signed with the Cavaliers in June 1986 after playing in the U.S. Basketball League in 1985-86.

Williams was a first team All-Rookie selection in 1986-87 and spent the better part of a decade with the Cavs until he was traded in October 1995 to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Dan Majerle, Antonio Lang and a first-round pick in 1997.

In nine seasons with Cleveland, Williams averaged 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 blocks in 31.5 minutes per game, shooting .482/2-for-16/.730.

Waived by the Suns in June 1998, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks in January 1999.

In August 2000, Williams was traded to the Boston Celtics in a four-team deal and retired after being waived that October.

He is 39th in NBA history with 1,456 blocked shots and 45th with an average of 1.6 blocks per game.

Next: Big Z Recovered From Foot Injury To Become An All-Star

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