As dozens of reporters surrounded LeBron James and Kobe Bryant at their respective tables inside the Wynn hotel, (Deron) Williams — the 28-year-old point guard who decided to re-sign with Brooklyn with a five-year, $98 million deal on July 3 — was more than happy to be old news. He had an audience of three at his table, where SI.com caught up with the candid and reflective three-time All-Star to discuss his past, present and future.

Q: It was said by some that this was all about the money for you. That the fifth year on your deal was the only real factor (the Nets could offer a five-year deal with 7.5 percent raises while all other teams could only offer a four-year deal with 4.5 percent raises). That the case at all?

Williams: No, it wasn’t. Honestly, when I thought about my decision and talked to my agent, we never once talked about the extra money. I don’t think it’s as relevant as people think, because of the taxes and things like that. There’s no state tax in Texas, and you’ve got city tax in New York. So the money wasn’t that big of a difference in the four years to the five years. And I feel like barring any career-ending injury, that I’ll have a chance to make that up anyways. I’ll be 32. That wasn’t my concern. My concern was making a basketball decision as far as the players that I was going to be around.

via Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated