Former New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams reportedly cried to a Manhattan Supreme Court Judge last week, claiming that he is broke. Williams was ultimately ordered to pay his estranged wife, Tanya Young Williams, $200,000 in overdue child support and spousal support or face going to jail.

Williams, who made $87 million playing for the Nets and then enjoyed a television career, insisted he used the last of his money to pay the mortgages on his three homes in South Carolina. He also said that he had to borrow money to pay for his children’s private school tuition (you might remember these two? Tryumph and Whizdom? How could you forget those names?)

The judge apparently had little sympathy for Williams, ordering him to sell his houses and his interest in a professional lacrosse team. Tanya Williams and the kids live in Manhattan. She filed for divorce in February of this year.

In July, Williams was ordered to pay $20,000 a month in maintenance (also known as spousal support or alimony) and child support, pending the resolution of the divorce case. The order was made retroactive to March of this year. It is not unusual for support orders to be made retroactive to the date upon which the support was requested.

Williams made no payments and Tanya’s lawyers went back to court to seek the judge’s assistance in getting support payments made.

Williams had a seemingly terrific post-NBA existence until about seven years ago. His vibrant personality made him a natural in television but his life began spiraling out of control in 2002 when he was charged with fatally shooting a limo driver at the family’s mansion in New Jersey. A jury convicted Williams of trying to cover up the crime, but deadlocked on a reckless manslaughter charge. He is still waiting for the retrial of that case.

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