Tag: Buck Williams

Ranking the top 5 draft picks in Brooklyn Nets franchise history

With the 2022 NBA Draft nearing, we look into the Brooklyn Nets top five draft picks in franchise history.

As we get closer to this year’s NBA Draft, Brooklyn Nets fans may be reminded of some great draft moments, which Nets Wire will be ranking in this edition.

The Nets have picked many talented athletes over the years with a wide variety of accolades, but today we’ll be looking at the top five draft picks in the franchise’s history.

The Nets joined the NBA following the ABA-NBA Merger back in 1976, before this year the team had not drafted a single player only twice(1998 & 2014) in their 40-plus seasons. The organization doesn’t have any picks in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft, making the team’s pursuit of a rookie more challenging.

In the 2021-22 season, the Nets ranked ninth in the NBA in points per contest with 112, meaning a talented young scorer could elevate the team’s expectations. The Nets don’t necessarily need to upgrade their offense though, it’s their defense that needs work.

The Nets ranked 18th and 19th in the league in defensive rating and points allowed, respectively, proving that the organization has one major flaw.

As the organization goes into the 2022 draft, one can assume they’ll look into available trade picks via trade, but if not there’s a possibility their problems can be solved in free agency.

Jarrett Allen joins elite group of Nets bigs after work on glass in Game 3

Jarrett Allen didn’t do much in the scoring department, but he had one heck of a performance on the glass.

Jarrett Allen had an odd line at the end of Brooklyn’s 117-92 Game 3 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. The Nets big man ripped down a whopping 17 boards, five on the offensive glass, but somehow only managed to score four points.

What’s more stunning is Allen didn’t register a field goal attempt. He scored all of his Game 3 points at the free-throw line (4-for-4).

“We were definitely trying to keep him involved,” interim Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn told reporters over a Zoom call on Friday. “We didn’t get him the ball in the half [court]. Gasol’s minutes matching up with his was probably an emphasis of that. But, overall, not part of our game plan to not get the ball to him.”

While Allen’s lack of offense was head-scratching, his work on the boards was as good as it gets.

Game 3 marked the second time in as many nights that Allen finished with 15-plus rebounds. (He had 15 in Game 2.)

By reaching the mark again on Friday, Allen became the fourth Nets player to ever grab 15 or more boards in back-to-back games. Derrick Coleman (1994) and Kenyon Martin (2004) each grabbed 15-plus in consecutive games, and Buck Williams grabbed 15-plus in five games in a row in 1984.

As a national college basketball …

Today in Nets history: Nets win playoff series over reigning NBA champions

The Philadelphia 76ers were favored heading into their 1984 first-round matchup against the New Jersey Nets.

With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.

For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.

Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:

The Atlantic Division was as talented as any in the 1983-84 NBA season. With the Celtics leading the league in wins (62), the Philadelphia 76ers could only hope for the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, even though they had two more wins (52) than the top team in the Central Division, the Milwaukee Bucks (50).

Philly secured the third seed, which meant they had to face the New Jersey Nets in the first round. With the Sixers being the higher seed and the reigning NBA champions, they were clear favorites.

Then New Jersey won the first game, on the road. Same thing happened in Game 2. Philly went on to tie the series at 2-2, but the Nets continued to play road warriors, as New Jersey stole the series on April 26, 1984, with a 101-98 win to advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (full box score).

Buck Williams had a double-double (17 points and 16 rebounds) in the clincher, while both Micheal Ray Richardson and Otis Birdsong finished with 24 points, six assists and six steals apiece.

Ranking the top five power forwards in Nets history

Both times the Nets had the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, the team has taken a power forward. Was either the best in Nets history?

The Nets have had the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft twice since the franchise first took part in the event in 1977 after joining the league in 1976. In both cases, the Nets took power forwards, selecting Derrick Coleman in 1990 and Kenyon Martin in 2000.

Coleman spent five years in a Nets uniform, Martin logged four. Both helped New Jersey make the postseason multiple times, as well.

But which ranks higher on the list of the Nets’ best power forward of all-time? Does either get top billing?

Nets Wire examined the list of power forwards who’ve worn a Nets uniform over the years — having already gone through the Nets’ point guards, shooting guards and small forwards — and determined the best five in franchise history.

5. Larry Kenon

Credit: Malcolm Emmons – USA TODAY Sports
Nets Stats: 17.3 PPG | 11.1 RPG | 1.1 SPG

There are quite a few power forwards who had an abbreviated, impactful run with the Nets before quickly leaving town. Kenon, who changed his first name to Muhsin after his playing days, was the best of this batch.

He made the 1974 ABA All-Star Game as a rookie and helped the Nets win the it’s first of two ABA championships. Kenon wasn’t part of New Jersey’s second title run in 1975-76, but he was named an All-Star in his final run with the Nets in 1974-75.

Ranking the top five point guards in Nets history

Ranking the top five shooting guards in Nets history

Ranking the top five small forwards in Nets history

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Today in Nets history: Buck Williams helps knock off Dr. J’s Sixers

Julius Erving took on his old team in the first round in the 1984 NBA Playoffs, but it was the New Jersey Nets who took the first game.

With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.

For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.

Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:

Heading into the 1984 NBA Playoffs, Julius Erving’s Philadelphia 76ers were the No. 3 team in the Eastern Conference and set to face the hall of famer’s old team, the sixth-seeded New Jersey Nets.

Given the Nets were the No. 4 team in the Atlantic Division — also trailing the New York Knicks and the top-seeded Boston Celtics — and the Sixers were the reigning NBA champions, Philly should have had the upper hand. But Buck Williams, Otis Birdsong and Micheal Ray Richardson didn’t care about rankings when the first-round matchup began on April 18, 1984.

Williams had himself a dominant 25-point, 16 rebound performance, finishing 10-for-14 from the floor and 5-for-7 at the free-throw line. He also blocked three shots and had two steals.

Birdsong was right behind Williams in the scoring column, finishing with 24. Richardson scored 18 points, and he also had nine assists, six rebounds and five steals in New Jersey’s 116-101 win (full box score).

For the Sixers, Erving scored 18 and Moses Malone had 20 points to go with his 11 rebounds in the home loss.

Today in Nets history: Buck Williams’ number raised to the rafters

Buck Williams had an outstanding New Jersey Nets career. His efforts over those eight seasons were immortalized on April 11, 1999.

With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.

For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.

Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:

On June 9, 1981, the New Jersey Nets selected a power forward out of Maryland with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft. His name: Buck Williams.

In addition to being named the 1982 NBA Rookie of the Year, the North Carolina native was a league All-Star in his first season. He would make the All-Star Game again next season, and he was also named Second Team All-NBA in 1983.

All told, Williams was All-Defensive four times in his career, All-NBA and All-Rookie once apiece and a three-time All-Star. (Three of his four All-Defensive seasons came while with the Portland Trailblazers, but all other accolades came while wearing a Nets uniform.)

On April 11, 1999, the Nets franchise recognized Williams’ accomplished eight-year Nets career by retiring his number, 52.

“This is a special honor,” Williams said the night of his number retirement at Continental Airlines Arena. “I think every athlete thinks in terms of having their number retired.”The ceremony took place at halftime of the Nets’ game against the New York Knicks. A first-round draft choice of the Nets in 1981, Williams started his career in New Jersey and ended it this year after two seasons with New York. In between were seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, with whom he twice went to the NBA Finals.

Williams averaged 16.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game during his Nets career.

Today in Nets history: Mike Gminski sets career-highs in win over Celtics

The 1986 Boston Celtics are regarded as one of the best teams in NBA history. But on April 9, that didn’t matter to the New Jersey Nets.

With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.

For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.

Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:

Mike Gminski may have seen his consecutive free-throws made streak come to an end on April 9, 1986, but his performance against the Boston Celtics was far from a bad memory.

The center had a career night in New Jersey’s 108-98 win over the Celtics (full box score). Gminski scored 41 points and grabbed 22 rebounds. It was the first time he’d ever eclipsed the 40-point mark — and it turned out to be the only time he’d ever do so. It was also the final time Gminski would grab 20 or rebounds in his NBA career, though he’d done it once before his April 9 performance (March 18, 1986).

Buck Williams also had a double-double (13 points and 14 rebounds), and Otis Birdsong was second in scoring for the Nets with 22 points.

RELATED: Ranking the top five point guards in Nets history

Vince Carter’s Nets jersey should hang in the rafters of Barclays Center

Vince Carter has wowed fans with his dunks and other athletic feats throughout his storied career.

Vince Carter is going to be one of few players who has a legacy in which his lacking a championship will not be overly discussed.

After this season, Carter will have put on a show for 22 NBA seasons, which will give him the record of longest career in league history.  His nickname “Half Man, Half Amazing” might just be one of the most fitting nicknames in hoops history. Whether it was dunking over Frederic Weis in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, or wowing fans in his iconic 2000 Slam Dunk Contest performance, Carter has proven to be one of the most athletic players in NBA history.

Now, as he finishes his last season, he’s been praised by players such as Houston Rockets star James Harden. Carter got a standing ovation in December during his final game at Madison Square Garden.  On Sunday, he played his final game against the Brooklyn Nets, and he received a standing ovation.

Carter played for the Nets when they were in New Jersey, and as one of the franchise’s all-time best players, his jersey should hang in the rafters.

Despite not leading the team to any titles, Carter was one of the best hoopers of his generation.

After the Atlanta Hawks lost to the Nets on Sunday, Carter spoke on what it would feel like to have his jersey retired. Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Jason Kidd, Bill Melchionni, the late John Williamson, Buck Williams and the late Drazen Petrovic each have their Nets jersey retired.

“When you look up in the rafters and see the group of people that’s up there, if one day I get that opportunity, that honor, I’m OK with going up there with a guy who I looked up to in Dr. J and a great teammate like J-Kidd,” Carter said, per Michael Scotto of Bleacher Report. 

In five seasons with the Nets, Carter averaged 23.6 points per game, the highest among any of the teams he’s played for. According to Basketball Reference, Carter ranks third on the Nets’ all-time leading scorers list.

Carter, Kidd and Richard Jefferson were one of the most fun trios to watch in the mid 2000s. The group started playing together in the 2004-05 season, when Carter was traded to the team from the Toronto Raptors during the season.

With Kidd, the Nets had one of the best and smartest players ever as a floor general. As a fellow wing, Jefferson complemented Carter’s ability to score with his slashing ability. The group only made it as far as the Eastern Conference semifinals, but the three played exciting basketball.

Carter’s influence on the generation that followed is special. Nets star Kyrie Irving is evidence of that, as he spoke highly of Carter after Sunday’s game.

“That was a kid’s dream to go see Vince Carter and Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets play, but specifically Vince Carter,” Irving said, per Anthony Puccio of Nets Daily.  “He used to do some amazing things, man. It was incredible as a kid to watch.”

As one of the top scorers the league has seen, Carter is ranked No. 20 all-time in points, and currently he’s ranked fourth all-time in games played. A quality 3-point shooter throughout his career, he has shot 37.2% from deep.

In this day and age, hoops fans sometimes ring count. That is, sometimes a player’s legacy is tied too much to whether they won titles.

But Carter is different, and a big part of that is because his legacy consists of him being arguably the best dunker ever, along with his consistency. He averaged double figures in scoring from his rookie season in 1998 through the 2013-14 season.

Carter having his jersey potentially hanging in the rafters at Barclays Center would serve as a reminder of his greatness.

But unlike many other all-time greats, Carter won’t need any rings to prove how amazing he was.

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