Brooklyn Nets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Nets
By Phil Watson
Buck Williams declared for the pros after a junior year at Maryland during which he averaged almost 16 points and 12 rebounds per game. The New Jersey Nets selected Williams with the third overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft.
He became the foundation piece for the franchise for most of the 1980s, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1981-82, three All-Star bids, an All-NBA selection in 1982-83 and an All-Defensive nod in 1987-88.
Williams was second in the NBA in rebounding in 1982-83 and 1983-84; third in 1981-82, 1984-85, 1985-86 and 1986-87; and fifth in 1987-88.
He was also third in the league in field-goal percentage in 1981-82 and fifth in 1982-83 and was third in minutes per game in 1984-85 and fifth in 1985-86.
In advance of the draft in June 1989, Williams was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Sam Bowie and a first-round pick in 1989.
In eight seasons in New Jersey, Williams averaged 16.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 blocks in 36.4 minutes per game, shooting .550/.100/.649.
With the Trail Blazers, Williams was a three-time All-Defensive selection but was released in July 1996.
Three days later, he signed with the New York Knicks, retiring in January 1999.
Williams is 16th in NBA history with 1,307 games, 21st with 42,464 minutes played, 15th with 13,017 rebounds, 17th with a field-goal percentage of .549 and 45th with an average of 10 rebounds per game.
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