Former NBA star Williams freed from jail

New York: Former NBA star Jayson Williams was released from New York City`s Rikers Island prison on Friday after serving eight months on a drunken driving charge, officials said.

Williams, 44, once an all-star center for the New Jersey Nets, had served the sentence after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated when he slammed his car into a tree in Manhattan in January 2010. He had been given a one-year sentence for the misdemeanor offense. His release was confirmed by Sharman Stein, deputy commissioner for public information at NYC Department of Correction. Williams previously served 18 months of a five-year sentence for the 2002 accidental shooting death of limousine driver Costas Christofi with a 12-gauge shotgun at Williams` New Jersey mansion. Williams had been showing the gun to friends without having secured its safety. He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in 2010. The former standout at St. John`s University played for nine years in the NBA, two with the Philadelphia 76ers and seven with the Nets, according to the NBA`s website. He was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round, 21st pick overall, of the 1990 draft and his draft rights were traded to the 76ers. Bureau Report