In a surprising turn of events back in 2005, Jason Williams was so determined to join the Miami Heat that he jokingly told Shaquille O’Neal he’d be willing to sacrifice a rather personal body part for the trade to happen. Recalling the moment on DraftKings’ “The Starting Five” podcast, Williams shared, “He came to the house and said, ‘How would you like it if you got traded to the Heat?’ You can tell Pat Riley you can cut my left nut off if we get down to the Heat.”
To everyone’s amusement, Williams was traded to the Heat that summer in a monumental deal involving 13 players and five teams. The Heat, bolstered by acquiring players like Antoine Walker and James Posey, went on to clinch the NBA championship against the Dallas Mavericks. It was a historic win, marking the first title in Heat history and the only one in Williams’ career.
After their victorious Finals campaign, Williams humorously revealed that Pat Riley’s wife remembered the unconventional pledge. “Congratulations. Don’t think we ain’t forgot about that left nut,” she teased, reminding him of the lighthearted agreement.
Although Williams spent two more seasons with the Heat, the team needed help to replicate the success of that championship year. Subsequent playoff struggles and failure to qualify for the postseason eventually led to a different path for the talented guard.
Beyond Miami, Williams had stints with the Orlando Magic and a return to the Memphis Grizzlies before retiring in 2011 with career averages of 10.5 points and 5.9 assists per game. Affectionately known as “White Chocolate,” Williams played a pivotal role in the Heat’s 2006 title, leaving him and O’Neal undoubtedly pleased with the outcome—without needing body part sacrifices.