Utah Jazz: An experience good as gold

Deron Williams was so excited about one particular souvenir he picked up while on a recent business trip in China, he didn't let it out of his sight during his 24-hour-long return flight to Utah.

And, FYI, this souvenir wasn't one of the ones he enjoyed bartering for while visiting the Great Wall.

It was, of course, the Olympic gold medal he won with Team USA in Sunday's epic international battle against Spain.

"I wore it the whole trip home," Williams admitted, "just because I didn't want to lose it."

Or stop admiring it.

Still a bit jet-lagged and definitely still basking in Olympic glory and pride, the Utah Jazz point guard took some time out of his suddenly wide-open schedule Thursday to show off his newly acquired prize possession he obtained in Asia, and to share a few memories of his adventures as a contributing member of the mission-accomplished "Redeem Team."

Williams' favorite Beijing experience was his team's grand finale, which ended when he, Carlos Boozer and 10 other American basketball stars stood atop the Olympic podium, received gold medals and soaked in every note of the national anthem while the world watched.

That golden moment not only capped off what he and the U.S. hoops team did over the summer, but it was one of the greatest basketball moments of Williams' life.

"It was real special," he said.

Making it all the more special for Williams was the fact that winning the Olympic tournament also marked the first time in his career — on any level — that his team won a championship. He came close at Illinois, losing in the NCAA championship game, and then advanced to the Western Conference Finals with the Jazz two seasons ago before getting eliminated a round too early.

"It was just a great experience for me," Williams said. "Playing against the competition we did in the Olympics, it was just a great experience — a great way to spend the summer, basketball wise and personal wise."

Though he enjoyed China, Williams didn't do many touristy things. He learned how to say "hi" and "thank you" in Mandarin, but he admitted to not eating outside of the hotel except for visits to the California Pizza Kitchen and Tony Roma's in Shanghai.

Williams reluctantly took a trip to the Great Wall but was thankful he did afterward — in part because of the enormity of the world wonder and partly because he got a kick out of trying to make deals with the locals on trinkets.