Through the Fire: A Memoir of Trauma and Loss, Basketball and Triumph

The transparent story of a remarkable life’s journey—to the highest level of success as a basketball player, the NBA. The depths of personal trauma and pain are core moments in this journey Scott Williams takes us on.Williams always had fire. He writes candidly about his trauma, the death of his parents, and the circumstances that directly impacted the rest of his life. He writes candidly about all of it, including his time on the court with basketball legend, Michael Jordan, and his detailed opinion and comparison of Michael Jordan and Lebron James.With vulnerability and obvious insight, Williams relates his entire path, including the most painful parts of it, to his three-peat championships and overall success. Williams’ ability to pull inspiration from around him and overcoming obstacles shows his strength. This compelling story shows the true heart and game of Williams."Dean Smith, small and confident, sat at our kitchen table. “If you come to the University of North Carolina I can promise you two things: one, you’ll get a quality education and two, you’ll leave a better person,” he said. An education and a better person. No other coach had said that. After my junior year in high school I played well at the Five-Star Camp in Western Pennsylvania and my recruiting letters changed from Cal State-Bakersfield to major programs like UCLA. Among the letters was a note from Dean Smith, Head Coach, University of North Carolina, the man who would change my life. The man who would save my life. Coach Smith was different from the other coaches who visited. Jim Valvano and his assistant coach, Tom Abatemarco, got into an argument in my living room when Abatemarco corrected Valvano. They were nose to nose. I knew I didn’t want that. I’d had enough yelling in my life. What stood out about Coach Smith, sitting at our kitchen table, was how down-to earth he was. He had won a national championship and an Olympic Gold Medal. He had coached numerous pro players, including my hero James Worthy and the current NBA sensation Michael Jordan. And yet Coach Smith wasn’t over-selling the program. He wasn’t meek or soft-spoken but he also wasn’t over-the-top. He was confident and humble at the same time. A quality education and a better person. That’s all Coach Smith promised." Read more