"How many people got a chip?" - Why Jason Williams values his ring over big NBA contracts
They say there are two kinds of players in the NBA . One plays to win championships while the other plays for money. While there is no right or wrong there, the topic of rings versus cash has always been debated in basketball discussions.
During the recent episode of the "Hoopin' N Hollerin'" podcast, former NBA star Jason Williams was asked if he would trade his championship ring for a maximum contract, and "White Chocolate" gave a priceless answer.
" No, I'm good. I'm good," said Williams when he was asked to pick between a championship ring and a max contract. "What's the difference in $10 and $50 if you do right with it? How many people got a chip? How many people would pay money for a chip? Do you think there's more people who will pay money for a chip or not pay money, just keep all their money and not have a chip?"
A small-town boy from Belle, West Virginia
Williams played 12 seasons in the NBA, and in his first seven years, he was the star point guard for the Sacramento Kings and then the Memphis Grizzlies . His teams made the playoffs five times during that span, but never made it past the second round.
He was traded to the Miami Heat in 2005, where, although he remained the starter, he didn't have as significant a role on the team. However, he won a championship with the Heat in 2006, which turned out to be the highlight of his NBA career.
White Chocolate earned $55 million during his NBA career and is said to have an estimated net worth of $20 million. And although that's not much compared to what today's stars make, it's more than enough for a simple guy who grew up in a small, quiet, rural, and tightly knit town called Belle in West Virginia, whose dream was just to make the NBA and was more than satisfied with how much he made.
"Just getting drafted and being able to take care of my grandmother. Just making it, really," he said in 2015 of his proudest moment. "I give my grandmother $400 a month, and she thinks it's $4 million. Sh** like that makes me happier than anything."
Parsons would take $100 million over one championship ring
However, not everyone thinks the way White Chocolate does. Another former NBA player, Chandler Parsons , said last year on the "Run it Back" show on FDTV that if he were made to choose between winning one NBA championship or earning $100 million, he would pick the money over the ring because that amount of money can change one person's life forever.
" That ring is cool for that year, then someone else wins another ring, and you're just a member. That $100 million gets life forever," explained Parsons. "Someone's gonna take that Larry O'Brien trophy the following year. No one's coming and taking $100 million. People sell their rings all the time. If you have the money, you can still buy a ring."
Again, there are no right or wrong answers here. Many disagreed with Parsons, saying that the ring is cool for only one year. However, he is right that $100 million can go a long way, perhaps setting up one's family for life. However, for a low-maintenance guy like Williams, what he made with his hard work was enough. The ring was icing on the cake.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
