Class.

This is the first word that came to mind when Corliss Williamson announced his retirement on Wednesday after 12 NBA seasons.  The former Arkansas Razorback and Arkansas native was then introduced as a new assistant coach at Arkansas Baptist College.

Williamson was able to do something that few players have an opportunity to do, and that was to win championships at every level of basketball.  In 1994, Williamson led the Razorbacks to a national championship.  Known as The Big Nasty, Williamson averaged 19 points and 7 rebounds per game throughout his college career, but he was not big enough to dominate at the same level in the NBA.

The Sacramento Kings took Corliss with the thirteenth pick in the 1995 draft.  Though some fans called him “Scoreless” Williamson, he still managed to average 11.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game over his NBA career.  He was awarded the sixth man award for the Detroit Pistons in 2002, and he was an integral part of the Pistons’ 2004 team that won the NBA championship.

 Williamson also had stops in Toronto and Philadelphia, but he always thought of Sacramento as his NBA hometown.  He appreciated that he was able to finish his NBA career where he had started it.

What Kings’ fans enjoyed was the way that Corliss played the game.  He was not graceful by any means, but he always found a way to contribute and improve the teams for which he played.  He also hustled on both ends of the floor and earned every minute, and the hard working fans of Sacramento and Detroit identified with that.  More than anything Corliss Williamson enjoyed and appreciated that he got to play the game he loved for a career.

Now he can pass this appreciation, attitude and hard work on to the program at Arkansas Baptist College.  The Buffaloes will be better for having Williamson as an assistant.  Look for him to be a head coach very soon.

Corliss Williamson was a great King, and Sacramento fans will miss him crashing the hardwood of Arco Arena.

Photo Courtesy of elpais.com