John "Hot Rod" Williams, the 13-year NBA veteran popularly known for being the tough defensive sixth man on Cleveland Cavaliers, has died at the age of 53 after being diagnosed with cancer last June.

According to Mark Bartelstein, Williams' agent, the former NBA standout died in a Baton Rouge hospital due to health complications related to prostate cancer this Friday.

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According to Yahoo Sports, the Cavaliers have described Williams as "the humble embodiment and unsung hero of one of the most memorable and successful eras of Cavaliers basketball."

Williams, who stands at 6-11 and plays the power forward position, spent  nine seasons with the Cavs before being traded to the Phoenix Suns for Dan Majerle. He was an instrumental player for the 1988-89 Cavs who established 57-25 regular season record.

Williams was selected 45^th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1985 NBA Draft. But due to his involvement in the point-shaving scandal, he spent the 1985-86 season playing for the United States Basketball League. He went through two trials and was able to be acquitted.

According to ESPN report, after a year of being drafted, he joined the Cavs, acting as a backup to All-Stars Brad Dauherty and Larry Nance as the ballclub put together a string of playoff seasons. In the 1989-90 NBA season, Hot Rod averaged 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds as a reserve.

The Miami Heat signed him to a seven-year, $26.5 million offer sheet when the 1989-90 season concluded. However, the Cavs were able to match the offer. It was a league-breaking number for any non-All-Star and a nonstarter.

He was a part of three Cavs teams that won 50-plus games and clinch a playoff spot but all three lost to Jordan and the Bulls in the playoffs.

Williams was born on August 9, 1962, in Sorrento, Louisiana.  He given his nickname "Hot Rod" by his family.

He played college basketball at Tulane University. He finished out his NBA career, playing for the Dallas Mavericks.

Tags NBA news, cleveland, cavaliers, John Williams, Hot Rod, Sixth Man, NBA Playoffs