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.