Deron Williams says he doesn’t feel ‘like a New Yorker': Report

Deron Williams knows he has sometimes looked out of place as a Brooklyn Net on the court but, also admits to having a hard time making the adjustment from being raised in The Big D to living in The Big Apple as well.

The Nets point guard, who was raised in Dallas, explained the difficulties of living in New York City with four kids in a recent interview with Resident Magazine — specifically the issues with raising children while admitting: "I don’t really feel like a New Yorker."

Williams — who is the only Net to own a home inside the five boroughs — turned down an offer from his hometown team, the Dallas Mavericks, two years ago to sign a five-year, $98 million contract with the Nets.

Asked to clarify his struggles with city life, Williams said it all comes down to his family.

"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" he said about living in a Manhattan loft.

"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."

Like most New Yorkers, Williams — who still keeps a home in Utah — said he just needs to get away for a couple of months to recharge.

"I love New York but I also love my time in Utah, he said.

Living in NYC is never easy, but the NBA star has at least learned to embrace one important part of city living.

"Taking the subway . . . which, by the way, I love to take," Williams said. "Yes, of course I have a chauffeured car, but the subway is way faster."

Spoken like a real New Yorker — a rich New Yorker.

Deron Williams on Nets in playoffs: 'It's part of the takeover'

You wouldn't know it by Tuesday night's game at Barclays Center, but the Brooklyn Nets essentially have New York City to themselves — in an NBA sense.

While the Nets will never win a head-to-head popularity contest with the Yankees, the boys from Brooklyn have arguably converted a few Knicks fans and are poised to knock that other Madison Square Garden team — the playoff-bound Rangers  — off the city tabloids' back pages as well.

Thanks to making the playoffs for a second straight year — something the Knicks weren't able to do — the Nets have top billing as the lone NYC team in the NBA playoffs.

And that accomplishment across the East River didn't go unnoticed by one Nets veteran.

"I think it will be good for us," Deron Williams said before the Nets' 109-98 loss to the Knicks Tuesday night. "I think it's good for our brand, good for Brooklyn basketball. You know, it's a part of the takeover."

While the Melo-less Knicks had them looking more like a bunch of lightweights last night, the Nets have the satisfaction of knowing their crosstown rivals will be punching their sofa pillows while watching the playoffs from home.

And, as the happy Nets coach Jason Kidd said, "No one got hurt."

A win over the Knicks would've  knocked the Nets into the fifth seed, but they could drop to sixth if they also lose tonight's season finale in Cleveland and the Wizards beat the Bobcats.

And the Nets aren't exactly streaking at the moment. They have lost three of their last four games, both to non-playoff teams.

Even so, the Nets 34-16 overall record this calendar year is the second-best of any East team and sixth-best in the league.

"You look forward to it now," Paul Pierce said of the postseason. "Definitely, it's that time of the year. You get the chills. It's sort of the time you look outside, the weather is getting warm. The playoffs are here. It's an exciting time of the year. Everybody loves being in the playoffs."

Ask the Knicks.

Deron Williams: 'Not bringing my gun to New York City'

Deron Williams may be a gun owner but the Brooklyn Nets point guard claims he doesn't —and won't — keep a firearm in his posh Manhattan home.

“I got my license to carry in like 26 states, but I’m not bringing my gun to New York City,” Williams said before the Nets practiced on Tuesday and before they traveled up the coast for Wednesday night’s game with the Trail Blazers. “I know better than that.”

Felton, the Knicks’ starting point guard, was charged Tuesday with criminal possession of a weapon in the second, third and fourth-degrees.

Williams, who is originally from Dallas and has another home in Salt Lake City — places where gun laws are more lax — is well aware that New York has among the strictest state laws on gun control in the country.

“It’s a tough situation,” Williams said. “I wish the best for Ray. I know Ray well. That’s tough for him.”

Williams and Felton have a lengthy history between themselves too — going back to being high-school point guards in the same recruiting class in 2002.

Apparently D-Will has better common sense.

Deron Williams not going to London with Nets: Report

Deron Williams' return from his latest ankle injury won't be happening across the pond this week.

The Brooklyn Nets announced Sunday that their starting point guard didn't accompany the team Sunday night on its overseas trip for a game against the Atlanta Hawks at O2 Arena in London on Thursday, meaning he'll miss his fifth straight game.

Williams had platelet-rich plasma therapy on both ankles last week and also received cortisone shots in each ankle after spraining his left ankle three times this season. He was in a walking boot early last week.

After re-evaluating him over the weekend, the Nets apparently believe it best to go the conservative route. D-Will has already sat out 15 games this season because of injuries.

The timing of the six-day road trip might be a blessing in disguise for Williams and the team. The Nets appeared lethargic in a loss to Toronto on Saturday after their big win against the Heat. Now they'll play only one game this week while they wait for Williams to return.

When the Nets and Williams beat the Raptors twice in 2011 in London, it was the first time the NBA had played a regular-season game in Europe.

Williams will stay home for rest and treatment before the Nets return and host the Knicks on Jan. 20.

Deron Williams crosses Chris Paul ... twice (VIDEO)

For the past couple of seasons Deron Williams has let Chris Paul carry the title of "best point guard in the game" without any question. These two used to have a rivalry and on Thursday at Barclays Center, D-Will rekindled the conversation.

Williams began the night badly by falling to the floor after being victimized by a crossover from Paul. The fact that he stepped on the foot of teammate Brook Lopez was what ultimately caused him to tumble, but Paul’s action at least sent Williams plopping to the floor.

But in the second quarter, Williams seemed to regain his stride, crossing up Paul twice to get open for scores. Williams owned the end of the second quarter when the Nets took control of the game, putting up 12 points in less than 6 minutes.

Williams' overall numbers weren't that impressive — 15 points and 4 assists — but he put Paul  and the rest of the league on alert by leading the Nets to an easy win.

And for at least one night the debate raged on.

To be fair, here's CP3's move on D-Will.

Andrew Bynum makes surprise debut for the Cavaliers (VIDEO)

Andrew Bynum made a surprise debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night and received a warm welcome from the home crowd at Quicken Loans Arena.

The center's long-awaited appearance marked his first regular season NBA game in 537 days.

Bynum played 7:34 in the first half against the Brooklyn Nets, going 1-for-5 from the field to finish with three points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots — including an emphatic rejection of Deron Williams.

Paul Pierce happy to be 'glorified role player' with Nets

There is an "I" in Paul Pierce but, when it comes to the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA star claims there won't be one there this season.

If you look at the old version of the Nets, you might see an NBA squad already loaded with big names — up-and-coming Brook Lopez, one of the best shooting guards in Joe Johnson, and a top point guard in Deron Williams — and wonder how they could fill the roster with any more.

Mix in newcomer veterans Pierce and Kevin Garnett and it now leaves the Nets with a Klieg light-wattage of names on the roster.  Just for fun, throw in other well-known role players like Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko and you've got a cast bigger than Ocean's Twelve.

Now, the former Boston Celtics forward is looking at the makeup of the Nets and claims he is willing to step out of the spotlight with a supporting role with the team as a "glorified role player."

Think DeNiro sharing the bill with Pacino (Okay, D-Will can be Val Kilmer) in Heat.

Pierce told the Boston Globe he's fine with giving up a leading part on the team if it leads to a blockbuster finish at the end of the season.

"There will definitely be less pressure on me on this ball club than there was in Boston," Pierce said. "In Boston, I was the No. 1 primary option. Here we have so many options. We have young All-Stars on this team. My job is to be more of a glorified role player, as Doc [Rivers] used to always say, with the guys we have.

"With my abilities to do so many things, there's going to be nights where I'm not going to score a bunch of points. I can do other things to help this club win. With the combination of these guys, we're going to take pressure off each other."

Pierce — who averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds last season — hasn't been a role player, probably ever, in his basketball life, but isn't ready for the TNT broadcast booth just yet.

The future Hall of Famer could possibly lead this team as a scorer if asked to, and it wouldn't be a desperate move by Jason Kidd. However, to maximize everybody's abilities, the Nets have to get older guys like Pierce and Garnett to sacrifice their own individual games if they are going to save their bodies in the suddenly rough-and-tough NBA East over a long season.

Let's say the Nets decide they need Kirilenko to start at small forward for defensive purposes and bring Pierce off the bench as a scorer, it remains to be seen if Pierce will be open to playing second banana.

And the award for best player in a Nets supporting role goes to ...

Jason Kidd on Deron Williams: 'He's better than me'

Jason Kidd is considered one of the greatest point guards in NBA history but, as the new Brooklyn Nets head coach, the future Hall of Famer may have a knack for throwing assists to his players off the court as well.

Kidd, who led a group of no-name Nets to consecutive NBA Finals a decade ago, actually believes the Nets now have a better point guard in Deron Williams than his teams did with Kidd as the floor captain.

"He's better than me. I mean, he can shoot," said Kidd, who was the same age, 29, during the 2002 NBA Finals days as Williams is now. "He's a guy who can set the table, he can get to the basket, he can score. I don't look at him as me. Again, he's a little bit better than I am."

Kidd's humble opinion of himself might be a big ego boost for Williams — and boy, can the maligned Net use it.

Williams has seen more downs than ups since joining the Nets in 2011. He has struggled with injuries, weight gain and low expectations on a rebuilding roster in New Jersey. Last season, the first in Brooklyn,  he missed the All-Star game for the first time in four years.

But Williams benefitted from good health and a physical makeover following the All-Star break (he shed 15-to-20 pounds while changing his diet), returning to his Utah form for the greater part of two months.

And he has better supporting cast in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Brook Lopez.

Williams will still have to become a leader on a team now flush with with experienced NBA champions who bring high expectations with them.

"I want to (Williams) to be him," Kidd said Friday. "I want him to be the basketball player that we all know he can be. We're going to set lofty goals where as a coaching staff and teammates put him in a position to reach them."

While Williams is a better scorer than Kidd, he has a lot more to prove as a leader and all-around producer. That's what the Nets are hoping Kidd can bring out out of his floor leader.

Kidd said he'll allow Williams the freedom to call his own plays, as well as orchestrate his teammates in read-and-react situations.

"Just recognizing the situation," Kidd said. "Deron is a very gifted guard, so for me it's about mentally talking to him about different situations and get what he's thinking so we can both be on the same page."

Williams, who returned to his home in Utah for the summer, grew up in Dallas idolizing Kidd. Both have insisted their friendship won't get in the way of their new partnership.

"We're in a family," Kidd said. "My job is to put the guys in position to be successful. His job is to execute. We are friends. But I'm also friends with other players.

"I can't say I will favor or lean on whoever is playing the point because I have four other guys I have to pay attention to."

But Kidd knows — better than anyone — it starts with the PG.

Brooklyn Nets opening boutique on Coney Island

Nothing says Brooklyn like Coney Island and — in its latest grab to become synonymous with the Kings County borough — the Nets will be opening a boutique right next to the iconic boardwalk just in time for the Memorial Day summer tip-off.

The Nets Shop by Adidas will feature beach balls, flip-flops, visors and other summer sundries along with the usual Nets gear. Hoping to cash in on the beachfront location, the Nets are betting the biggest draw will be their $80 bikinis in the team's signature black and white colors.

The shop — a 1,100-square-foot boutique just across the street from the landmark Nathan's— will say Hello Brooklyn with a "towel-cutting" ceremony at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

“After one year, we’re fourth in the NBA in apparel,” said Nets and Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. “But this isn’t about sports. The Brooklyn Nets are an international lifestyle brand. Our colors have become synonymous with the borough.”

Maybe they could add a dunk tank for Kris Humphries or a basketball toss booth for Deron Williams while they're at it.

Prokhorov shows his frustration from owner's box at Barclays Center

Mikhail Prokhorov just sold his share of a Russian gold business for $3.6 billion, but he may soon find himself showing his star point guard Deron Williams how to close a deal when a game is on the line.

The Brooklyn Nets owner could only watch, from his private box at Barclays Center Sunday night, when Williams  — who scored a game-high 24 points — couldn't come to terms when it counted and the Nets dropped a heartbreaking 76-72 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Old Prokie's reaction says it all after Williams drove the lane, with the Nets behind 74-72, and his sloppy pass to Mirza Teletovic was intercepted by Tayshun Prince allowing Memphis to get the win.

While Prohorov was dropping to his knees saying, "Nyet, nyet, nyet" in his luxury box, D-Will was seen limping on his bad ankle down the court.

The Grizzlies scored 11 straight points to finish the game while Brook Lopez was benched by Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo.  The Nets (33-24) were held to a season low 72 points and shot a miserable 37.7% from the field.

It must be hard waking up $3.6 billion richer and still helpless to do anything to help your million-dollar hobby win.

Deron Williams was already unfit at Olympics, claims Jerry Colangelo

There is a lot of speculation about Deron Williams' weight gain and subsequent inferior play — since he reportedly aggravated an ankle injury during the the 2012 Olympics — but USA Basketball president Jerry Colangelo claims the Brooklyn Nets point guard was already out of shape before he played in the London Games.

The Nets maintain that their $100 million star's sub-par season is from being worn down from continuous play over the past two years — and led to PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections in both ankles this week — but Colangelo said Williams is just out of shape.

"Deron Williams, for the Olympics was not in the best of shape," Colangelo told The New York Daily News on Friday. "He was a little overweight, and I told him that at the time."

Through 50 games this season, Williams has struggled with injuries to his shoulder, wrist, thigh and ankles.  He will miss his first All-Star Game in three years after failing to put up the numbers he has in recent years.

While a lot of people blamed the additional weight for Williams apparent lack of quickness this season, Nets general manager Billy King said the point guard was only one pound heavier than what he weighed when he was acquired in a trade with Utah in 2011.  King blames Williams' physical breakdowns on the non-stop schedule over the course of 2012 and not his player's conditioning.

Colangelo disagreed by citing other Olympic competitors — like LeBron James and Kevin Durant — who are enjoying injury-free, MVP-caliber seasons.

"If you look at the track record of all the players who participated with us, how they came into their next seasons and had outstanding years,” Colangelo said. “So there are injuries that have taken place that have nothing to do with participating with us. If anything, they’re in better shape and they’re better prepared going into training camp with their teams."

It's still not clear when Williams aggravated his ankle injury at the Olympics, after averaging nine points and 4.6 assists while shooting 39%.

"He's a heck of a player, great guy, made a real contribution to USA Basketball," said Colangelo about Williams. "And if he decides that he can't participate because of his own health conditions, I've got a list a mile long of people who want to play.

"We take care of our players," he added.  "Nobody is going to get hurt because they play for USA basketball. Just the opposite."

Humphries for Gordon trade talks heat up

A league source has confirmed a report that the Nets and Bobcats have had preliminary talks about sending power forward Kris Humphries to Charlotte for guard Ben Gordon.

While the deal isn't etched in stone, a change would provide big ups for each team.

The Feb. 21 trade deadline is less than two weeks away but Humphries claims he's not distracted by all the talk.

"You don't pay attention to it," Humphries said after scoring two points and hauling in three rebounds in the Nets 89-74 loss to the Wizards. "You have to just play and make the most of the situation.  It is what it is."

Deron Williams: I don't deserve to be in All-Star Game

If the NBA All-Star teams were based on performances since the new year began, Deron Williams might accept the honor without hesitation.  But, based on his play over the course of the season, the Brooklyn Nets point guard doesn't think he should be headed to the mid-season showcase in Houston.

"No," an unblinking Williams said when asked if he was having an All-Star season.  After he was asked to elaborate, he simply stated:

 "I just think there's people playing better than me."

Since the ball dropped in Times Square, the three-time All-Star has been on a tear, averaging 19.5 points, 8.3 assists and shooting almost 47% from the field heading into Tuesday night's game against the Raptors.

For the season, he is averaging 16.8 points and 7.7 assists and is currently the third leading vote getter among the Eastern guards.

With Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade almost assured of starting spots for the Eastern Conference, Williams should be named as a reserve.

The All-Star Game takes place Feb. 17 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

The All-Star starters will be announced Thursday night on TNT.

Nets players see P.J. as more than 'interim' coach

The Brooklyn Nets are the NBA's only undefeated team in 2013 and, if you ask the Nets players, they think "interim" head coach P.J. Carlesimo is a big reason for their recent run.

The Nets improved to 8-1, since Carlesimo replaced Avery Johnson in late December, after they defeated the Indiana Pacers 97-86 at the Barclays Sunday.

Now, as high profile names like Phil Jackson and Stan Van Gundy have taken their names out of the running for the Nets head coaching job, some Nets players think it wouldn't be surprising if the Nets take the prefix "interim" from P.J.'s title.

"I don't know how much it matters (removing the interim tag) to P.J., but I don't look at him as an interim ," Joe Johnson told The New York Daily News.  "He's our guy right now. I have 100% faith in him.  I don't look at him as, 'He's just going to be here for a little while.'  I'm figuring he's the coach."

The Nets are even winning while Carlesimo lets point guard Deron Williams take it easy while nursing various injuries.

"Early on, I wanted to practice so much," said Williams.  "I've just been a lot smarter about it.  It's just been one of those things where either you want it in practice or you want it in games."

Carlesimo has given the team a whole new outlook this year.

"When we had that loss in San Antonio (New Year's Eve), we wanted to put that whole thing behind us," said Johnson.  "It just shows because we came into OKC (on Jan. 2) and we were a whole different team."

Kobe-Howard feud could lead to another blockbuster deal for Nets

While Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard butt heads in Los Angeles, the Nets organization is in the position of putting theirs together and coming up with an enticing package to bring the disgruntled Howard to Brooklyn.

A league source told the New York Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated argument following a New Year's Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant referenced and agreed with Shaquille O'Neal's assessment of Howard being soft.

Howard was restrained  from attacking his teammate, according to the source, and it only highlighted the center's unhappiness with Bryant since the start of the season.

"Look at the difference between our team and (the Clippers)," Howard said after Friday's loss to their Staples Center roommates.  "They just play together.  They share the ball.  Everybody's excited when something happens."

The rift between the no-nonsense Bryant and the child-like Howard — combined with Howard's pending free-agency — allows the Nets to position themselves as prime contenders to make a deal for the center's services.

Howard has not committed to the Lakers beyond this season and if he isn't re-signed, the team risks losing him without anything in return.  Meanwhile, the Nets wait in the wings maybe getting ready to pounce.

The Nets — specifically guard Deron Williams — talked about getting Howard from the Magic all last winter until a deal featuring Nets center Brook Lopez fell apart.  Howard later claimed Brooklyn was his desired destination after he was sent to Los Angeles.

Lopez, who is in the midst of a breakout season after undergoing foot surgery, can't be traded until Jan. 15 because he signed a four-year, $61 million deal in the summer.

The Nets have been running hot and cold this season but have to ask themselves whether or not the addition of the somewhat slumping Howard would supplant the surging play of Lopez.

Williams, the Nets' $100 million man, probably thinks so.

Deron Williams: I'm not playing like an elite point guard

On Tuesday, following his poor performance against the San Antonio Spurs the night before, Deron Williams was still down on himself about how the Brooklyn Nets $100 million star was playing this season.

Tonight, Williams gets a chance to face one of the NBA's elite point guards in Thunder star Russell Westbrook but takes an inferiority complex onto the court at Chesapeake Energy Arena with him.

The word elite gets thrown around a lot in sports these days and Williams knows his play doesn't warrant that description so far this season.

"I don't think I'm playing like [an elite point guard]," Williams told The New York Post before practice Tuesday. "I think I can be. But I've just got to figure this thing out."

Williams was being honest about himself but it's hard to argue with his own assessment of his season — especially when he is compared with Westbrook.

In 30 games, Williams is averaging 16.3 points and 7.5 assists while shooting a paltry 39.9 from the field and 30.0 from three-point range.

Better than average but not elite.

Williams whined about ex-Nets head coach Avery Johnson's system hindering his play.  That is a moot point now. Johnson was fired last week and Williams is on his own.

Interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo has suggested that the pressure of being the $100 million face of the team could be contributing to Williams sub-par play.

"He is Deron Williams.  He was Deron Williams (on Monday, when he finished with eight points and two assists), and that's fine," said Carlesimo.  "Honestly, I don't want him thinking, 'I got to get 25 points, I got to get 11 assists, I got to get this, or I have to get this.' He's just gotta play"

But Williams is giving it some thought — maybe too much.

"I'm just overthinking," Williams admitted. "I've never been a player that can go out there and play and think ... I just react.  Now, it's like I come off [a screen] and I'm thinking, 'Should I shoot this? Should I not?'

"I'm just ... I'm not playing the way I should be.  That's all I mean.  It's not injuries.  It's just in my head, and I've got to get it out."

Avery Johnson's son goes on Twitter rant about dad's firing

Avery Johnson took the high road when he addressed the media Thursday after being fired by the Brooklyn Nets.  The ex-head coach claims he never saw the firing coming and said, "This is the ownership's decision.  This is what we signed up for."

Johnson's teenage son didn't take the news as well and went thumbs-out on his Twitter account to vent his anger after the news broke that his dad had been relieved of his coaching duties by owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

I'm sorry are best players couldn't make open shots. Yeah that's my dads fault totally...
— Avery Johnson Jr. (@itsaveryjohnson) December 27, 2012

The younger Johnson went on to defend his dad's reputation by tweeting:

"This is a f------Outrage.  My dad is a great coach, he just got coach of the month and they Fire him. #Smh. Completely new team he had."

Junior wasn't the only one surprised at the firing.  LeBron James echoed the son's sentiments with this tweet.

Avery got fired? He was just coach of the month wasn't he? That's like a player get Player of the Month then gets traded the next month #NBA
— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 27, 2012

"The expectations were way too high for this team.  We didn't even have a losing record... Didn't even give my dad a full season.  #OUTRAGE," Johnson Jr. continued.

His father was fired a day after the Nets fell to .500 (14-14) after an 11-4 start to begin the season.

Johnson's release comes on the heels of the Nets All-Pro Deron Williams saying he was never comfortable playing in Johnson's style of offense and insinuating that his shooting slump was because of the system.

The fact that Williams' whining and his father's canning came so close together wasn't lost on the teenage Johnson or NBA analyst Reggie Miller who tweeted:

"So will coaching change for Nets improve Deron Williams shooting percentage??"

It sounds like the ball is in Williams' court now.

Prokhorov wants nothing less than NBA East finals at Barclays Center

Leaving year two of Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov's five-year quest for NBA world domination, the team had about as bright a future as a gulag road gang.  But escape from Siberia — um, Newark — and a new identity now has the Russian megalomaniac setting goals once again.

The mostly heard —but rarely seen — owner was actually in his luxury box to watch his Nets play the Toronto Raptors in the first regular season game at his Barclays Center showcase Saturday night.

Old Prokie — who has already declared that Deron Williams is the league's best point guard and his revamped $330 million squad is one "that can put together the great story of a championship" — is starting year three of his five year plan for an NBA championship.

Asked what would define the Nets' success after the first season in their new Brooklyn home, Prokhorov was straightforward.

"A conference final," he said.

The billionaire owner sounded like the Nets 107-100 win in front of a sellout crowd of 17,732 was a small step towards his grand plan of bringing an NBA title to the Nets by 2015.

"We are waiting for the ring," he added. "I am the most devoted guy for the championship to happen."

Prokhorov took what also sounded suspiciously like a dig at his arch-rival, the New York Knicks, before the tip-off of last night's game when asked about the Knicks rout of the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden a day earlier.

"Yesterday, I went to bed at 8 o'clock (tipoff time) in order to be up at 4 a.m. for my great workout," he said, suggesting he didn't even care to watch the game.

Prokhorov is backing up his words with cash — and plenty of it.  Penalties for the NBA luxury tax be damned.

"It concerns me only to the level we can reach championship or not," he said.  "That's it.  My (money) is still in very good shape."

Deron Williams says Knicks' Felton is upgrade from Lin

If anyone knows about Linsanity, it's Brooklyn Nets star Deron Williams.

After all, it was a game against the New York Knicks last Feb. 4 when Jeremy Lin finally broke out and started one of the craziest and most fun phenomenons in New York sports history.

Williams was the man Lin outplayed that night and the rest is sports history or — depending on who you talk to — sports overkill.

On Saturday, five days before the Nets point guard faces the Knicks again, Williams is giving props to the opposing guard who not named Lin anymore— Raymond Felton.

"I would say Raymond Felton is a better point guard than Jeremy Lin, in my opinion.  He's proven," Williams said before cutting last year's sensation some slack.  "Well. I can't go out and say that.  Jeremy Lin, he had a a heck of a run, he had All-Star-type numbers when he was starting.  But we'll see how he does this year.  But going off of [his] track record. I'm gonna go with Raymond Felton."

Williams wouldn't go all in and say the Knicks are a better team without Lin as the starting point guard, but would put his money on Felton rather than Lin if he had a choice.

"He looks good.  He looks in shape this year," Williams said of Felton.  The Knicks guard admitted being out of shape last season after the NBA lockout but still averaged 17 points and nine assists in 54 games with with New York last season.

"Ray probably had his best year that half season he was there," said Williams.  "I guess he likes the bright lights."

Williams and Felton have a history together that dates back to when they both came out of high school in 2002.

North Carolina recruited Felton over Williams and the Nets guard has never forgotten the slight.  He still uses it as motivation on the court.

Funny how bad memories are the ones that seem to Lin-ger.

Deron Williams gets animated for Sports Illustrated cover

Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams appears on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated and gets to show off his artistry with a basketball as well as a spray can of paint. Well, sort of.

When fans download the October 15 tablet issue of Sports Illustrated, they will see that the magazine's tablet cover is more than a static image.  The enhanced video titled "Brooklyn Rising" comes alive.

Williams first appears on the cover against a white background, dribbling a basketball wearing the new Brooklyn Nets uniform.  Then, with a little help from some animated spray paint graffiti, the background changes to colorful street art celebrating the borough's legends and famed landmarks before freezing on the final cover image.

Nothing says "Hello Brooklyn" like graffiti and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Here's a look:



Rick Telander's cover story is about Williams and the Nets starting a new era in a borough where legends are made.  The writer calls Brooklyn "the cradle of the city game."

Brooklynite Jay-Z may only own a small portion of the Nets, but his influence is all over the team.