Yorker
By Matt Moore / NBA writer
September 03, 2014 06:39 PM ET

Deron Williams leads Brooklyn, but doesnt feel like a New Yorker.

Deron Williams never volunteered to go to New York, originally. He was traded to the Nets in 2011 after a falling out with coach Jerry Sloan that saw the legend walk away from the game. A few weeks later, the Jazz unexpectedly pulled off a deal to send him to New Jersey, who was moving to Brooklyn. Williams re-signed with the Nets, based off the substantial money differential, the move to the city, and a greater chance of playing on a superstar team.

Williams had been talking about moving to a bigger market to team up with a star during the summer. And he got his wish. But it hasn't really worked out the way he thought it might. He's been saddled with injuries, hasn't had the kind of seasons he was used to in Utah when he was a top-five point guard, and has largely disappointed.

And now, courtesy of The Brooklyn Game's excerpt of an interview with something called "Resident" magazine, which is described as the "monthly magazine for the affluent and culturally savvy Manhattanite," it turns out Williams isn't a big fan of the city.

On being a New Yorker

I’m not going to lie. I don’t really feel so much like a New Yorker. I grew up in an apartment in Texas where you could send your kids outside like ‘yeah, go play in the sun.’ Here it’s more challenging. The process of getting them into school is a nightmare. Even private schools where you pay are an ordeal. In Utah, you just send your kids to the first public school in the area because they’re all great. Truth is, we enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle and going back to Utah every summer. It’s a relief to take that timeout. No traffic. No crowds. My daughters still have their friends there. There’s a big backyard. They go to the pool; the playground and they jump on the trampoline. Kids running wild and free here in New York…? I don’t think so.

On what makes a New Yorker

Taking the subway… which, by the way, I love to take. Yes, of course I have a chauffeured car but the subway is way faster. Second thing is the New York/Brooklyn accent — which I don’t have. Third thing is New Yorkers are tough. Or at least they think they are.

Williams grew up in Texas (and had a chance to go back to Dallas when he was a free agent) and spent a huge amount of his career in Utah. He was part of a winning team there, one that made the Western Conference Finals at one point. Yeah, they hit a rough patch like most teams did. But you get the sense from these comments that maybe Williams ought to have been careful what he wished for.

That said, you can expect him to veer away from this course and talk up how much he loves Brooklyn and the city at his charity dodgeball event this month, and later at the Nets' media day.

But New York's not for everyone. And it doesn't seem like it's for Williams, either.

Deron has not had much fun on the court and they still practice in Jersey.

StarksEwing1 wrote:

ActionJackson wrote:

Yorker
By Matt Moore / NBA writer
September 03, 2014 06:39 PM ET

Deron Williams leads Brooklyn, but doesnt feel like a New Yorker.

Deron Williams never volunteered to go to New York, originally. He was traded to the Nets in 2011 after a falling out with coach Jerry Sloan that saw the legend walk away from the game. A few weeks later, the Jazz unexpectedly pulled off a deal to send him to New Jersey, who was moving to Brooklyn. Williams re-signed with the Nets, based off the substantial money differential, the move to the city, and a greater chance of playing on a superstar team.

Williams had been talking about moving to a bigger market to team up with a star during the summer. And he got his wish. But it hasn't really worked out the way he thought it might. He's been saddled with injuries, hasn't had the kind of seasons he was used to in Utah when he was a top-five point guard, and has largely disappointed.

And now, courtesy of The Brooklyn Game's excerpt of an interview with something called "Resident" magazine, which is described as the "monthly magazine for the affluent and culturally savvy Manhattanite," it turns out Williams isn't a big fan of the city.

On being a New Yorker

I’m not going to lie. I don’t really feel so much like a New Yorker. I grew up in an apartment in Texas where you could send your kids outside like ‘yeah, go play in the sun.’ Here it’s more challenging. The process of getting them into school is a nightmare. Even private schools where you pay are an ordeal. In Utah, you just send your kids to the first public school in the area because they’re all great. Truth is, we enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle and going back to Utah every summer. It’s a relief to take that timeout. No traffic. No crowds. My daughters still have their friends there. There’s a big backyard. They go to the pool; the playground and they jump on the trampoline. Kids running wild and free here in New York…? I don’t think so.

On what makes a New Yorker

Taking the subway… which, by the way, I love to take. Yes, of course I have a chauffeured car but the subway is way faster. Second thing is the New York/Brooklyn accent — which I don’t have. Third thing is New Yorkers are tough. Or at least they think they are.

Williams grew up in Texas (and had a chance to go back to Dallas when he was a free agent) and spent a huge amount of his career in Utah. He was part of a winning team there, one that made the Western Conference Finals at one point. Yeah, they hit a rough patch like most teams did. But you get the sense from these comments that maybe Williams ought to have been careful what he wished for.

That said, you can expect him to veer away from this course and talk up how much he loves Brooklyn and the city at his charity dodgeball event this month, and later at the Nets' media day.

But New York's not for everyone. And it doesn't seem like it's for Williams, either.

I dont personally like D Will anyway. However he is from Texas i believe, which is a lot different than living in New York so i kinda get where is coming from

NYC has its perks but if you are going to raise a family in the city it's hard on the kids. The parents have to be on constant vigil. My best times came when I lived in Georgia and West Virginia and I was 7 back then and I remember hanging out side all day with my friends basically free to go anywhere. Not so much in NYC though it's to dangerous. My kids don't experience the type of freedom I experienced when growing up. I understand where D. Williams is coming from.

BRIGGS wrote:Do what everyone else does--work in NY live in CT. You have the $$$

He must have a ****ty agent

gunsnewing wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:If city life is not for him then he can do what Amare did and buy a house in Upstate NY. Well, kinda upsate. Amare bought a farm in Hyde Park, NY. He can do all the things up here that he can do in Utah. He can move his kids to Westchester County, Rockland County, Putnam County, Orange County, or Dutchess County and get the same effect.

I agree. I have friends in Wappinger Falls, Dutchess County. It really is like Utah up there. He is not being guided properly by his agent and the people around him

Wow. I live in Wappingers Falls. It's beautiful up here. Great place to raise kids. Even though it is changing from when I initially moved here. It is more suburban now than rural. A little up north of here like Hyde Park, Millbrook or Rhinebeck still has a rural feel.

Just as an example...We have 2 Drive-In movies in Dutchess County.