Mount Vernon Basketball Legend Ray Williams Dead At 58

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. - Former Mount Vernon High School basketball star and New York Knicks player Ray Williams died Friday in New York. He was 58.

Mount Vernon basketball great Ray Williams died at the age of 58.
Photo Credit: *NBA Archives*

by Danny LoPriore

03/22/2013 4:00 p.m.

According to several news reports, Williams died as a result of colon cancer. He was receiving treatment at Memorial-Sloan Kettering in Manhattan.

Williams, who was from a reknowned basketball family that included older brother Gus Williams of the NBA champion Seattle Supersonics and Sam Williams, each a star at Mount Vernon High School.

Williams had a troubled life after leaving his 10-year professional career and was homeless in Florida. Knicks owner James Dolan reportedly helped pay for Williams's cancer treatment.

The former Knicks and Nets player was selected 10th overall by the Knicks in the 1977 NBA draft. He also played for the Kansas City Kings, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 15.5 points and 5.8 assists per game during his career.

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