Former NBA tough man John ‘Hot Rod’ Williams dead at 53
Cavaliers forward John Williams (18) goes up for a shot against Celtics forward Kevin McHale during a 1992 Eastern Conference semifinal playoff game.
John “Hot Rod” Williams, who spent 13 seasons in the NBA and was a popular and tough defensive sixth man on Cleveland Cavaliers playoff teams, died in a Baton Rouge, La., hospital because of complications related to prostate cancer, said Williams’ agent, Mark Bartelstein. Williams was 53.
The Cavaliers called Williams “the humble embodiment and unsung hero of one of the most memorable and successful eras of Cavaliers basketball.” The 6-foot-11 Williams averaged 11 points and 6.8 rebounds for his career. During the 1989-90 season, he averaged 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds.
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