The kids from the New York elementary school sat staring at the adult reading to them Friday at the NBA merchandise store.

They listened and then recited along with the Bulls' Jay Williams the NBA's reading program pledge, including these words: "I will learn ... I will listen ... I will practice my skills in every way."

It was meant to teach the youngsters the importance of reading but it could as well apply to Williams and the lessons he learned with the Bulls last season.

"I'm a lot more grown up," said Williams, who appeared at the event with a Father's Day theme with his dad, David. "I went through a lot of bumps and bruises, but it gave me a thicker skin. It's a different world in the NBA than in college, especially where I came from, Duke. We were isolated, oblivious to a lot of things that were happening around us.

"I learned a lot about myself and some of the things I have to do to make myself a better player, about the people around me," he added. "It was good. It prepared me for the real world. It's the kind of league where you have to make sure your stuff is OK first. I was very naive about everything."