Brooklyn Nets: Top 5 Point Guards in Team History

5. Bill Melchionni

Bill Melchionni, often referred to as Billy, was a great player during his time with the Nets. Melchionni was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1966. He signed for $10,000, but his Sixers tenure didn’t last long. Melchionni joined the New York Nets at the beginning of the 1969-70 season, and stuck with the team as a point guard for seven seasons.

For four straight seasons, Melchionni averaged double-digits in scoring (1969-1973) with his best personal season coming in 1971-72. That season, Melchionni averaged 21 points and 8.4 assists per game, each of which were career-highs.

Melchionni was a three-time ABA All Star with the Nets, and definitely had his best tenure in New York. In 1974 and 1976, Melchionni was the point guard on two Nets teams that won ABA championships.

Ironically, Melchionni also played a certain role in a blunder for the Nets’ franchise. When the Nets, for financial reasons, traded franchise icon Julius Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers in 1976, Melchionni was serving as the team’s general manager. In Melchionni’s defense, it wasn’t directly his decision, as the Nets needed money. The Nets acquired $3 million from Philadelphia in exchange for Erving.

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