Hoops Habit
Fansided

50 Greatest NBA Players Without A Championship (Updated Through 2015-16)

By Phil Watson

May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
18 of 52
Next
AUBURN HILLS, MI – CIRCA 1990: Vinnie Johnson #15 of the Detroit Pistons looks to passes the ball over the top of Buck Williams #52 of the Portland Trail Blazers during an NBA basketball game circa 1990 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Johnson played for the Pistons from 1981-91. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – CIRCA 1990: Vinnie Johnson #15 of the Detroit Pistons looks to passes the ball over the top of Buck Williams #52 of the Portland Trail Blazers during an NBA basketball game circa 1990 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Johnson played for the Pistons from 1981-91. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

35. Buck Williams

New Jersey Nets 1981-89, Portland Trail Blazers 1989-96, New York Knicks 1996-98

The New Jersey Nets selected Maryland forward Buck Williams with the No. 3 pick in the 1981 NBA Draft and he was, such as it was, the face of the franchise for almost a decade.

Williams was named Rookie of the Year in 1981-82, made three All-Star appearances and was an All-NBA pick in 1982-83 and an All-Defensive selection in 1987-88 while with New Jersey.

But the Nets escaped the first round just once while Williams was with them, reaching the second round in 1984.

In June 1989, Williams was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Sam Bowie and a 1989 first-round pick.

With Portland, Williams was named to three All-Defensive teams and the Blazers reached the Finals in both 1990 and 1992, losing to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, respectively. Portland also got to the conference finals in 1991.

He was released by Portland in July 1996 and signed with the New York Knicks three days later.

Used mostly as a reserve with the Knicks, Williams helped New York to the second round twice before retiring in January 1999 when the lockout ended.

Williams was president of the National Basketball Players Association from 1994-97 and later worked as an assistant coach with Portland from 2010-12. He also has a construction company.

The final tally on Williams’ playoff career:

NBA Finals: 0-2
Conference Finals: 2-1
Conference Semifinals: 3-3
First Round: 6-8

Next: 34. He Was Skywalker Before Luke