Williams is on Brooks' side with Rockets

Terrence Williams had watched Aaron Brooks pass and imagined himself on the receiving end. He was younger and at a point when athletes are separated by their age, but he was long and strong and carried a growing reputation.

He was 11 and had yet to start playing basketball. And if he was going to be a teammate of Brooks, it was assumed it would be in football.

Williams, acquired by the Rockets last week, was a young wide receiver and safety who had seen Brooks play quarterback. Brooks was a passer who, despite his quickness, did not like to keep the ball.

Williams, however, was two years younger and never hooked up with Brooks in those days in Seattle. Instead, he played for Brooks' father, Al , and envisioned a career in football.

"I was real young," Williams said. "His father is a great guy. He is a great football coach.

"I used to watch Aaron when he was younger. He was a quarterback. Aaron was real nice. He was great. He was the best, definitely, growing up."
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Brooks followed Williams' career long after Williams left his father's team and through Williams' first year in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets.

"The Seattle basketball community is not that big, so we played against each other quite frequently," Brooks said. "We played against each other, played on the same team a few times.

"Us Seattle guys know each other very well. We all look out, see how everybody is doing. He's a good player. He has all the talent in the world. He is athletic. Good size. A stat stuffer. Can play multiple positions.

"He can bring some energy, and if there's something we're missing on a night, he can fill it."