Williams works toward return

A year after a motorcycle crash left Jay Williams fearful he would never walk again, the former Chicago Bulls guard is holding out hope that he will return to the NBA.

"I'm not running and dunking on people yet," Williams, 22, said by phone Tuesday from Durham, N.C., where he has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation since last summer. "I wish I could. But I'm definitely making huge steps compared to where I was last year."

The former No. 2 draft pick out of Duke said he started doing some shooting and light jogging about four months ago, and recently jumped off his injured left leg for the first time. His next goal is to work his way up to sprinting and cutting.

"The big thing is trusting in the leg again," he said. "I'm finally starting to believe in it again."

On June 19, 2003, Williams crashed his motorcycle into a light pole in Chicago, fracturing his pelvis, tearing knee ligaments and damaging nerves in his left leg. He missed the entire 2003-04 season.

The Bulls honored Williams' contract last season but waived him in February after reaching a settlement on the remaining two years. The buyout was reportedly worth about $3 million.