NBA Star Jayson Williams Goes Hollywood

New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams has been taking advantage of his time off due to the NBA lockout. With his mega-watt smile and personality as big as the state of New Jersey, Hollywood has been knocking on his door quite loudly.

The 6'10" all-star center has been flooded with many television and movie offers, including a guest appearance with NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, Jeff Gordon, on the ABC hit television comedy, "Spin City". Williams' and Gordon's characters make promises to a sick child that the mayor feels compelled to top, which results in pandemonium. The sports star-studded "Spin City" episode airs Tuesday, November 17, 9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Williams told me there was mutual admiration between him and "Spin City" star Michael J. Fox. "I have been a fan of Michael's since he starred on the popular television series 'Family Ties'. Michael is a big NBA fan. I think he was a New York Knicks fan before I met him, but I think I've made him a New Jersey Nets fan now.

Another big fan of Williams is superstar Bill Cosby. Cosby asked the NBA all-star to portray a math teacher in an upcoming episode of "Cosby".

During the shooting, Williams found that acting takes effort and consumes a lot of time, "It was a lot of fun, but a lot of work. I spent four days in rehearsal to play a very small role."

In addition to television, Williams will soon be seen on the silver screen. He has a small role as a basketball player in the film, "New Jersey Turnpike", hitting theaters this January.

Hollywood is hungry for athletes like Williams who possess that magical ability to attract people. He has all the ingredients that make a star-magnetism, good looks, a winning smile and a laugh that could give a actress Julia Roberts a run for the money. Yet, the role he wants to play most is that of husband and father, "When I retire, I will have played basketball, both college and pro, for about twenty years. I am tired of all the traveling. I don't want to travel around making movies and television shows. To be a good actor you have to really work hard at it and be committed. I want to make another commitment. I want to get married and full-time husband and father."

Williams doesn't need to become a movie star to live the lifestyle. He currently resides in a 31,000 square foot home and we conducted our interview from a phone in one of his many cars, a Lamborghini. I told him I'd bet his sports car that he'd be lured back into the lights, cameras and action of Hollywood. It was a bet he wouldn't make.