NBA: 50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 13. Buck Williams

Over the course of his 17 NBA seasons, Buck Williams earned the reputation of one of the most complete and respected players in the NBA. An individual who got the job done on both ends of the floor, Williams achieved early stardom and then became a proverbial metronome for the contending Portland Trail Blazers teams of the 1990s.

A walking double-double who averaged double-figure scoring and rebounding for his career, Williams ranks 20th all-time in regular season games played and accumulated 108 postseason game appearances, as well.

If longevity is a factor you consider, Williams had it in spades.

Williams made a name for himself with the New Jersey Nets, playing in all but one game between 1981 and 1987. He won Rookie of the Year in 1981-82, made three All-Star Game appearances, and was even selected to the All-NBA Second Team in 1982-83.

The other players on the All-NBA Second Team in 1982-83 were four Hall of Famers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Alex English, George Gervin, and Isiah Thomas.

Williams’ greatest feat in New Jersey was leading the Nets past Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1984 NBA Playoffs. Williams averaged 18.4 points, 15.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.6 blocks as he and Micheal Ray Richardson helped the Nets do the unthinkable.

In Portland, Williams showed the humility to sacrifice offensive touches for additional defensive contributions. He finished his career with four All-Defense nods, including three with the Trail Blazers. Moreover, he helped the franchise make the leap to reach the 1990 and 1992 NBA Finals.

For perspective: The Trail Blazers had lost in the first round during each of the previous four seasons before making the Finals in Williams’ first in Portland.

Undeniable influence.