A 40-inch snowstorm would make the Blizzard of 78 look like a squall. However, therein lies the problem, as some players do not have a consensus wingspan measurement. - 2011-02-12 Signed to a one-year contract by the Dallas Stars. In February 2009, Williams announced he would attempt a return to the NBA. He then transferred to Hapee PCU. While most players his size might have a standing reach of eight and a half feet, Maxiells is closer to nine. Because while Kemp may have an inch on the debatably 6-foot-10 Williams, he didnt have close to the 7-foot-5.5-inch wingspan the Time Lord brought with him from Texas A&M. The NBA does not release details of violations of the anti-drug program. [16], The NBA had previously fined Williams $10,000 for comments to a fan at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in 2000. Wingspan; Cam Smith (South Carolina) 6-0. In the playoffs his averages were lower than the regular season, but he scored in double figures 11 times in the post-season including 21 points on 10 of 11 shooting in Game 6 of the Eastern Finals against the Detroit Pistons. Data Provided By CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. set the NBA Draft Combine record in 2019 fortalleststanding reach ever recorded at the event with a 10'2.5" mark, the first player to eclipse 10 feet in the measurement. In making our evaluations from the data set, we qualified freakish for the top five percent of the wingspan differential greater than body players, which ended up being 8.4 percent or greater. For context, Tacko Fallset the NBA Draft Combine record in 2019 fortalleststanding reach ever recorded at the event with a 10'2.5" mark, the first player to eclipse 10 feet in the measurement. [28] On September 29, he had arthroscopic knee surgery,[29] though he was still able to play the season-opener on October 28. Meanwhile, Brooks is a dangerous scorer with a lengthy wingspan at 9.1 percent over his afforded size that should make a difference for the Nets this upcoming season. Her mother has five daughters three of whom are her half sisters. Brand has been a relatively quiet star in his career, but hiswingspan is enormous and prominent in his plays. 1975 Miss State: Led the Hogs with +12 thanks to 10 points, 9 rebounds, two blocked shots, one steal and two charges taken Set-up Arkansas 10-3 run to end the game Up one with 2:00 to play, Williams sank a 3-pointer With the game tied at 42-42, scored five points in an 11-2 run for a lead the Hogs would not relinquish. SEC All-Defensive Team (Coaches) 9 1/4" 31" Eli Ricks (Alabama) 6-2. In this case, 'X' would be wingspan in relation to steals and blocks. * | 6-10 | 240 | Fort Smith, Ark. Williams and Nicole Burdett, his former law partner, were both found not guilty on all ten counts . Sign up in less than a minute for The Devils Den's FREE Newsletter today. International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Castro averaged better than 11 points in nine games for Gilas Pilipinas. Above are our metrics for the different wingspan differential classifications. Jayson Williams Larry Marano. In this time of Jayson Castro's life, he rose to the occasion. "There are so many people in the portal right now and when you realize that Duke is still Duke and for Mark to have had that opportunity to play so well towards the end of last season, we just knew that transferring was not a good option at all and that returning to Duke was best for him. In his later years with Memphis and Miami, he significantly tamed his extravagant playing style and consistently achieved one of the highest assists per turnover ratios in the NBA. GWU: Dished out 5 assists for the second straight game Led the team with eight rebounds and drew three charges. He is a good ball handler . Height: 6 feet, 10 inches Weight: 240 pounds Wingspan: 7 feet, 1.5 inches Age: 19 years old Birthday: June 29, 2002 Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas High school: Northside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas Parents: Michael and Linda Williams Find out three more things to know about Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball forward Jaylin Williams. Even the littlest bit of added length can be an advantage over a counterpart with similar stature and physical traits. Originally from neighboring Betis, Guagua, Castro was a part of the high school basketball team of Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor. He was with Mac Cardona and his former PCU teammates Gabby Espinas, Rob Sanz, Beau Belga, and Joel Solis. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Click here to see a bigger version of the chart. While Detroit Pistons forward Jason Maxiell could be considered a shrimp at 66 for a post player, he makes up for it considerably with his monstrous 73 wingspan, which is greater than 10 percent of his height. Jason Williams retired Profile Drafted #7 in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Kings Height: 6'1" (185 cm) Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg) Position: PG High School: DuPont High School (West Virginia) Hometown: Belle, WV College: Marshall Current Team: Marshall Win - Loss: 11 - 3 Articles NBA Scouting Reports, Southeastern Division (Part 1) Matt Williams vs LSU (SEC): Had a season high (and tied a career-high) with four blocked shots Added a team-high 11 rebounds. Williams represents the modern NBA two-guard. Nonetheless, with 323 NBA players with confirmed measurements, the data is still extremely reflective of the wingspan classifications. NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team: Averaged a double-double (17.0 ppg and 11.0 rpg) in Regional rounds Also averaged 3.0 assists and took four charges (two each game) with two steals and a blocked shot vs Gonzaga (NCAA): Had his third-straight double-double in the tourney and 15th of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds Added three assists and took two charges Down 8, started and capped a 9-0 run with a 3-pointer and a dunk to help the Hogs lead at the break vs Duke (NCAA): Led the team with 19 points, 10 rebounds and two steals while adding three assist and took two charges Down 12 with 15:06 to play, Williams scored five points (including an old-fashion 3-point play) to get the Hogs to with five (53-48) with 13:19 left In fact, was 3-of-3 at the line all to convert old-fashion 3-point plays .. These measurements account for a 7.25% wingspan differential that he puts Wade in the elite category just below freakish, but his impact surpasses that classification. As recounted by a letter Ching sent to NBA commissioner David Stern, Williams retaliated against heckling made by Ching and his party midway through the first half. To calculate a prospects wingspan differential, we took their measured arm length from fingertip to fingertip and divided by their height with shoes. Early in his career, Williams built a reputation for an unorthodox "street" style of play. Had nine points and tied for team-high in rebounds with seven in the Kentucky win .. Made a season-high 5-of-6 free throws Scored four points late in the game, including a put-back on the offensive end at 3:06 to make the score 74-68 and making two free throws with 1:51 left to make the score 78-73. The decision to come back wasn't an easy one for the true 7-footer, as his parents detailed in a lengthy interview with TDD's Steve Clark. Nicolas Claxton getting two blocks is (-135). Williams achieved his greatest enduring cult cinema popularity as the titular lead character in the amusingly naughty sci-fi porno spoof "Flesh Gordon," which was the first of . Stay up to date with everything Boston. By 2001, the Kings had concluded that Williams' behavior made him more trouble than he was worth. He's still 6-8. In the 200001 season, he had a wolf holding a basketball tattooed on his arm, and "WHITEBOY"[44] tattooed across his knuckles. Williams' 9'8" mark recorded in Duke's preseason combine setting, would go down as the second tallest ever, tied with Pavel Podkolzin in 2003 to slot in behind Fall. Her father's name is Richard Williams and her mother's name is Oracebe Price. BOTTOM LINE. Kawhi Leonardis noted more for thesize of his hands, but he also has considerable length with his arms spanning 8 greater than his height. His game certainly isnt complete, but as it stands midway through his rookie year, hes the best reason going not to turn off a Celtics blowout. Hapee PCU had a disastrous season. SGA feels better but timetable on knee still TBD, Jaylin Williams throws down thunderous dunk in Arkansas vs. Gonzaga, Tennessee holds off late surge from Arkansas, Jaylin Williams' big slam caps 15-0 Arkansas run, Jaylin Williams' late jumper sends game to OT for Arkansas, Jaylin Williams throws one down for Arkansas, Jaylin Williams shows off his vision with nice dime vs. Charlotte 49ers. Penn: Led the team in both rebounds (9) and assists (6). When PCU was suspended, Castro transferred to Harbour Centre and won 2 championships with them. Led Northside to a 20-10 record and the semifinals of the 6A State Championship all while maintaining a 3.81 GPA in the classroom As a junior, averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks per game while helping the Grizzlies to the Class 6A state title In that game, he had 20 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots, which Northside won 44-41 over Bryant Played at Northside with current Razorback Isaiah Joe and the pair helped the Grizzlies reach the state final in 2018 In the summer of 2019, was named to the All-EYBL Breakout Team. Jason Williams weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. HONORS He would serve as the third leading scorer for Miami averaging 12.3 points a game, only trailed Wade with 4.9 assists per contest and was one of three players on the team with over 100 three-point baskets for the season. That added wingspan can give you the extra inch to finish at the rim, the ability to swoop in on a passing lane, catch a piece of an opponents shot or allow aplayer to get a shot off over a defender. Cult/Star player for sst. Was rated the 75th-best incoming freshman in the nation and the 15th-best center by 247Sports.com Composite Williams was fined $10,000 for the incident on May 4, 2005. Average:Darko Milicic (4.78 percent), Chris Bosh (4.57 percent), Michael Beasley (4.75 percent), Deron Williams (4.47 percent), Richard Jefferson (4.17 percent). [5] After sitting out the 199697 season as required by the NCAA transfer rule, he became the starting point guard for the Florida Gators men's basketball team during the 199798 season, and set a Florida Gators single-game record with 17 assists in a December 3, 1997 game against Duquesne. [4], When Marshall coach Billy Donovan accepted the head coaching position at the University of Florida in the summer of 1996, Williams decided to transfer and follow Donovan to Florida. NBA News. Marshall, SEC co-Player of the Week (Jan. 24) Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. "[43], Williams has a number of tattoos, which include a panther on his right arm, a dragon on his left arm (which was redone in the 200708 season), an eye on his chest of which he said, "It's why I pass so good, I have a 3rd eye". Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 2. Jayson Williams is a retired professional basketball player of the '90's. He spent the first few seasons of his professional career with the Philadelphia 76ers before spending the remainder of the decade with the New Jersey Nets. Jason Williams averaged 10.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He remained, nevertheless, a . Jason Williams astonished audiences with breathtaking passes. Tied a season-high by pulling down 10 rebounds at LSU, scored seven points and added two steals Took two charges. Jason Williams made at least $55,663,447 playing professional basketball. Castro's teammates stepped up on Game 2 to force a deciding game. Stuffed the stat sheet in the LSU win .. Season-high four blocked shots and tied season-high with two steals Added 10 deflections, eight points, six rebounds and two assists and was a team-best +15 in season-high 29:49 minutes played. Tied his career high with 10 rebounds (seven defensive) vs Florida. 1 in draft", "His Game, and Name, Create Stir; Jason (White Chocolate) Williams Sets Off Debate on Stereotypes", "Nike jumps as white star falls from grace", "Grizzlies' Williams fined $10,000 for berating media", "Walker to Heat in five-team, 13-player megadeal", "Clippers reach terms with free-agent guard Williams", "Clippers Guard Jason Williams Announces Retirement After 10 Year NBA Career", "Stan Van Gundy sees similarities between Jason Williams and Rafer Alston", "Jason Williams could be activated for Magic's season opener", "Wizards vs. Magic - Box Score - October 28, 2010", "Hurting Jason Williams won't accompany Magic on road trip, career could be in jeopardy", "Magic Waive Jason Williams | Orlando Magic", "Jason Williams back with Grizzlies to pen a new ending", "Grizzlies' Jason Williams Announces Retirement After 12 Years", "Jason Williams, Rashard Lewis Join 3 Headed Monsters of BIG3 League", "Jason Williams to miss rest of Big3 season after suffering knee injury", "Do you like White Chocolate Basketball? He averaged 11.8 points, 10.4 rebounds for Woodz Elite. In the third game, with PCU trailing by a point in the dying seconds, Castro passed off the game-winning shot to Beau Belga who missed his jumper to lose the championship for PCU. He played for the Philippine Christian University Dolphins in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Philippine Basketball League teams Hapee-PCU Teeth Protectors and Harbour Centre Batang Pier. He sent an application to the Philippine Basketball Association enabling him to be included in the draft class of the 2008 PBA Draft at Market! He shot 41.5 percent from the field, 86.3 percent from the free-throw line, and 35.3 percent from beyond the three-point arc. After Memphis was swept by the Phoenix Suns in the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Williams was reportedly involved in an altercation with Geoff Calkins, a columnist for the Commercial Appeal. He had nine passes defensed, 24 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in his four seasons in Columbus. Calkins was critical of the Grizzlies' lackadaisical play and had alleged that Williams did not care about winning basketball games. [33], Williams signed a two-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies on February 7, 2011,[34] returning to the team where he was their all-time assists leader (since surpassed by Mike Conley). He averaged 10.9 points and 5.3 assists, which did not meet his career averages of 11.7 and 6.5. On October 14, 2016 Castro was recognized during the PBA Leo Awards Night as he was named to the PBA Mythcial First Team.[8]. The Sparklers entered the Finals against the Harbour Centre Batang Pier and were defeated. The magic number for a freakish wingspan right now is 8.4 percent of differential between arm length and height. Auburn: Tallied his sixth double-double (13 pts & 11 rebs) Didnt get credit for an offensive rebound in OT, but created a jump ball to keep possession off a Razorback FT miss with 16 seconds left that led to a Notae FT and 4-point lead with 12 ticks left Had a dunk and a 4-point play to spur a 20-4 run and a 27-15 lead Scored a layup with 23 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime Was 5-of-6 at the line in OT, including two to give Arkansas a lead it would not relinquish and three to put the Hogs up six with 37 ticks left. todas las escalas para piano; he doesn't love me but wants to be friends; scape dance studio rental Not to be confused with. Mizzou: Posted second-straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds (nine defensive) Had then career high in free throws made (7) and attempts (8) Dished out three assists and added two steals. Chest - 57 in or 145 cm. We all hope that Williams can stay on track and continue to live a peaceful life, despite his tragic accident. [3], Williams is a close friend of former Miami Heat teammate and center Shaquille O'Neal, having been neighbors in Orlando for three years. [22], In the summer of 2008, Williams signed with the Los Angeles Clippers to a one-year deal. lakers celebrity seating chart 2019 bottle caps candy root beer only bottle caps candy root beer only Three of the prospects on the freakish list (Bismack Biyombo,Kawhi LeonardandMarshon Brooks) were part of the2011 NBA Draft classand have yet to take the court. Williams was the seventh overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings.He immediately became an integral part of a playoff-contending team. SEC co-Player of the Week (Feb. 21) Castro was a part of the Philippine national team in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games basketball tournament. The rookie big man took advantage of the situation, recording his third double-digit rebound effort of the campaign. Predicted height with this wingspan in the NBA: 7'3". After a tumultuous 2020-21 season, Williams is one of just two players in the program's five-man recruiting class to return for their second year at Duke along with fellow Virginia native Jeremy Roach. The Patriots going for it on 4th-and-40 inches would make you sweat. His 16 double-doubles rank second on the schools single-season list as do his seven straight double-doubles. @ Georgia: Only played 19:26 due to foul trouble but finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Golden State made its own jump up the defensive rankings by placing an emphasis on wingspan and athleticism over pure height. Click here to see a larger version of the Distribution. All-District VII (one 10-person team) by USBWA In his, final 14 games, Williamsled the team in rebounds (6.1), field goal percentage (68.4%) and blocked shots (28) while ranking fifth in scoring (10.8) in that stretch. Point Guard Mercer: Led the team with five assists His overall play led Arkansas to an 18-3 run in the second half. Career transactions. Jason Williams was born on November 18, 1975. I do not see him as a top 5 pick talent. [25] On August 19, 2009, Williams signed with the Orlando Magic. Jason Chandler Williams (born November 18, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player who was a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for twelve seasons during the late 1990s and 2000s. The Dolphins would be suspended the following year after irregularities on their high school team, thus ending Castro's collegiate career. Back in his all-star days as a Clipper prior to injury, he would frequently get post up opportunities where he would take a turnaround jumper anduse his length to get that shot off over bigger defenders. Spin: Williams got a bit of good fortune with the Lakers' Anthony Davis (foot) held out of the contest. He's a bit undersized at 6'8, but he has a 7'6 wingspan and can get up for lobs, which vertically spaces the. However, Williams couldn't contribute much on offense, shooting a paltry 1-for-7 from the field and scoring just four points. University of Arkansas 2023. Robert Williams to get a single block goes for -330. [12], On July 20, 2000, Williams was suspended for the first five games of the 200001 NBA season for failure to comply with his treatment obligations under the NBA's anti-drug program. @ Miss State: Led the team in rebounds (7), assists (6) and blocked shots (3). Jason Taylor II (Oklahoma State) 6-0. "Castro admits nerves playing first PBA game in alma mater", Philippine Basketball League Current News, "PBL's Jayson Castro first Pinoy to play in Aussie pro basketball league", "PBA Leo Awards 2016 Winners & Nominees (Complete List)", "Castro officially retires from Gilas Pilipinas", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jayson_Castro&oldid=1139848552, 2006-2007 PBL Showcase Skills Challenge Champion, 2007-2008 PBL Unity Cup Most Valuable Player, 2007-08 PBL Silver Cup Most Valuable Player, 2008 Malaysia Basketball League Most Valuable Player playing for the Singapore Slingers, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 05:46. During his championship career with the Singapore Slingers, he decided to leave the team and joined the PBA. [6][7] Through twenty games, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.7 assists and 2.8 steals per game, and led the Gators to an 8678 upset of the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky. Uncategorized . But a tall tale he told this summer has taken on quite the life of its own. Williams recorded four points (1-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 25 minutes during Wednesday's 123-117 loss to the Lakers. french country homes for sale in usa; pioneer adjustable lever belt. His length is very noticeable during somemagnificent plays in his careerthat support his explosive leaping ability, strength and toughness. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 192. Played 33:45 (including all 20 minutes of the second half) and had a team-best +3 in the nine-point loss. After the team bowed out of the competition, Castro announced on his Instagram photo that he will retire from his international career, citing the game against New Zealand will be the final game of his stint with the national basketball team. Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss was one of Williams' high school basketball teammates. Back on the court for the first time since the Jan. 14 loss at Brooklyn, Williams blocked three shots in 13 minutes off the bench, adding 4 points (naturally, on a pair of dunks) and 4 fouls in whats likely his final game before a fourth return to the Maine Red Claws. From NBA preseason basketball to the NBA Summer League, you know everything that goes on throughout the calendar year. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. Sign up for the Layup Lines newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Williams got a bit of good fortune with the Lakers' Anthony Davis (foot) held out of the contest. In his collegiate debut (Miss Valley State) had a game-high 10 rebounds, including eight defensively Just missed a double-double, scoring nine points (2-5 FG 2-4 3PT). This ratio is one of the higher percentages for players who have played in the NBA. Perhaps a self-proclaimed basketball junkie. Actor: Flesh Gordon. In his career, Wade also has 548 careers blocks in 547 games (1 block per game), the most for any NBA starting guard since 1973 when blocks became a recorded stat. In 198 minutes across 22 games this season, Williams has 32 blocks, good for a per-play average three times higher than anyone on the Celtics. He also has a wingspan of 85 1/2 inches. Saw extended time versus Missouri and responded with eight points and two blocked shots. [23] However, on September 26, 2008, Williams announced his retirement from the NBA after 10 years due to persistent injuries.[24]. A strong and compact combo guard, Williams is an offensive minded player who understands how to use his athleticism and burst off of the dribble. This gave us a sample of 323 NBA players, past and present, to apply this equation and extract data from. darius the destroyer record / how to change facebook color back to normal / jason williams wingspan in inches. "[12], Despite his NBA success, Williams preferred to stay out of the spotlight and live a low-key lifestyle, spending time with his family. He remained with the team for a season with Gabby Espinas, Rob Sanz, Joel Solis, Mark Moreo and others. Subpar:Kevin Love (2.10 percent), Kwame Brown (1.76 percent), Joakim Noah (1.47 percent), Monta Ellis (-0.67 percent), JJ Reddick (-1.99 percent). . Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Williams started his career with the Sacramento Kings being drafted 7th overall in the 1998 draft out of Florida. Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters / TNT Tropang Texters / Tropang TNT / TNT Katropa, 2016 Men's Olympic Basketball QualifierManila, Last edited on 17 February 2023, at 05:46, 2007 Southeast Asian Games basketball tournament, Sports Digest PSA Fetes Nation's Brightest Stars Awardee, "Filipino cager offered to play in Aussie League". Charlotte: Scored a then career-high 15 points (7-of-9 FG) with a then career-high three steals. In the summer of 2019, was named to the All-EYBL Breakout Team. Former point guard Jason Williams was known for his out-of-this-world ball handling ability and his highlight reel passes. "I did it so you all wouldn't ask me to ever do it again", Williams said. The Philippines finished 2nd in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. 2nd team All-District 20 (10 total players honored) by NABC Has a brother, Noah . Back to the basket game could use some work . Will Bynum has the same 4 differential in his wingspan (60 with roughly a 64 wingspan); his differential coming in at 5.3 percent, which measures as above average by our metrics. what happened to marko ramius; a bittersweet life full movie eng sub kissasian home/away, monthly, etc More Jason Williams Basketball Reference pages. [30] After missing time due to injury, Williams was unable to crack the Magic's rotation behind Nelson and new acquisitions Chris Duhon and Gilbert Arenas. Jason Williams is not in the Hall of Fame. Used was a database of player wingspan measurements beginning in 1999provided by DraftExpress, who does an excellent job of archiving draft information, as well as statistical information fromNBAStuffer.com. All rights reserved. [40], In the Rookie Challenge of the NBA All-Star Weekend in 2000, in a counter-attack, Williams made a no-look, behind-the-back pass off the elbow on a full sprint to Raef LaFrentz. His19 rebounds were the most by a freshman in an ACC Tournament game,surpassing 18 by Virginias Ralph Sampson vs. Clemson in the 1980 quarterfinals, and the third-most by a Duke freshman in any game. We present them here for purely educational purposes. In addition, Williams possesses excellent vision and has . adidas x wales bonner t shirt. Castro first played for the PCU Dolphins in the NCAA at the 2003 season as a 5'10" point guard. How much exactly do physical attributes enhance a players abilities against fundamentals and instincts in that regard? [10], Following his suspension by the University of Florida, Williams decided to make himself eligible for the NBA draft. Empty weight: 24,251 lb. The 7'3 wing span is 11.5% greater than his height. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. In his rookie season with the Kings, Williams played and started in 50 games and averaged 12.8 points per game and 6.0 assists per game.. us, Colleges: Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. He attended DuPont High School (since consolidated into the current Riverside High School) in Belle, where he played high school basketball for the DuPont Panthers in 1994, and led his high school team to the state championship before being defeated by Martinsburg in the final. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. NBA . Unfortunately, the team was on a slump making them cellar dwellers on the standings. Jason Williams. Williams started at point guard for the Heat in the 200506 campaign, playing a total of 59 games due to a knee injury but placing second only to Dwyane Wade in minutes per game. Don't miss a thing about Duke Basketball, Football or Recruiting! After a deserving NCAA 2004 Champions and part of the Mythical 5. Castro was in the roster of the Philippine basketball youth team in 2004. [26] The move reunited Williams with Stan Van Gundy, his former coach in Miami, who pushed the team to make the signing.