Former NBA tough man John ‘Hot Rod’ Williams dead at 53

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.

::

Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo was suspended one game without pay because of a dispute with an official during a loss last week in Mexico City.

::

Amid one of the worst stretches of basketball in NBA history, the Philadelphia 76ers have signed Coach Brett Brown to a contract extension. Brown’s original four-year deal was to expire after next season.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Spike Albrecht, the 5-foot-11 senior guard who drew national attention in 2013 when he scored 17 points as a freshman during the first half of the NCAA title game, announced that his playing days are over at Michigan. Albrecht had bilateral hip surgery in the off-season.

::

Oklahoma State basketball Coach Travis Ford apologized one day after he was ejected from his son’s high school basketball game for voicing displeasure with an official.