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A look back at the Brooklyn Nets’ past All-Stars: Buck Williams

ByKunal Kohli|
EAST RUTHERFORD, UNITED STATES: Former NBA player Charles 'Buck' Williams holds his New Jersey Nets jersey which was retired by the Nets during halftime of their game against the New York Knicks. Williams played for both the Nets and Knicks during his career as well as the Portland Trailblazers. AFP PHOTO/Matt CAMPBELL (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, UNITED STATES: Former NBA player Charles 'Buck' Williams holds his New Jersey Nets jersey which was retired by the Nets during halftime of their game against the New York Knicks. Williams played for both the Nets and Knicks during his career as well as the Portland Trailblazers. AFP PHOTO/Matt CAMPBELL (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP/Getty Images)

For the fifth installment of our series on former Brooklyn Nets’ All-Stars, we examine the first Nets’ All-Star. It all began with Buck Williams.

In 1976, the New Jersey Nets became an NBA franchise after decades of playing in the ABA. Six years later, they would get their first All-Star. It all started when they drafted Buck Williams with the third pick of the 1981 Draft.

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Williams was one of the best players on the Nets during his days. In his rookie season, he averaged 15.5 points while pulling down 12.3 rebounds per game. He was a double-double machine. So it is no surprise that he would play in a game highlighting the league’s best.

He became the 34th rookie to be named to an All-Star game when he was selected to come off the bench in the 1982 contest. And he put on quite the show.

While he did not score much, only netting four points on 2-of-7 shooting, Williams was a force to be reckoned with on the boards. He grabbed 10 rebounds, good for second in the entire game. Only teammate Larry Bird grabbed more boards than Williams.

Coaches selected Williams to come off of the bench again in 1983. The Eastern Conference had a strong bench unit featuring big men like Robert Parish and Bill Laimbeer. That did not stop Williams from getting his due as he scored eight points and grabbed seven boards in 19 minutes of action.

It would take three more years for Williams to grace an All-Star Game again. In 1986, he came off of the bench again, but would have the best All-Star appearance of his career. He scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds — including three on the offensive glass — and had four assists. It was his last All-Star game.

After 1986, Williams would stay a Net for three more seasons. However, he would eventually be traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Sam Bowie and a first round pick.