INQUIRER Sports

NEW YORK -- Former New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation on Monday following a early morning run-in with police that led to Williams being stunned with a Taser.

The incident took place at a smart Manhattan hotel after police were called when the former National Basketball Association standout appeared suicidal, police said.

Police said they found empty bottles of prescription medications thrown around the former NBA player's hotel suite.

Williams, who played a total of nine NBA seasons with New Jersey and Philadelphia before retiring in 2000, had divorce papers filed earlier this year claiming he was abusive, had cheated on her and had a drug problem.

Williams was convicted in 2004 of trying to cover up the shooting death of Costas Christofi, his hired driver, at his New Jersey home in 2002.

He was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter charges but the jury could not reach a verdict on a reckless manslaughter count. A retrial on that charge is pending.