Nothin' But Nets
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Brooklyn Nets: 10 best players from ABA era

By Phil Watson

UNIONDALE, NY - 1974: Julius Erving #32 of the New York Nets goes to the basket against the Indiana Pacers circa 1974 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1974 NBAE (Photo by Jim Cummins/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - 1974: Julius Erving #32 of the New York Nets goes to the basket against the Indiana Pacers circa 1974 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1974 NBAE (Photo by Jim Cummins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets
UNITED STATES – OCTOBER 04: American Basketball Association players Bill Austin, Tony Jackson, Art Heyman and coach Max Zaslofsky outside Teaneck Armory. (Photo by Bill Meurer/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /

Undrafted free agent signed from Allentown of Eastern League. Walt Simon. 10. player. 147. . SF

To say that Walt Simon arrived to the ABA with little fanfare would be a massive understatement.

Simon played his college ball at tiny Benedict College in South Carolina and went utterly unnoticed upon graduating in 1961. Instead, he played six seasons with the Allentown Jets in the Eastern League, where he put up 33.3 points and 13 rebounds per game in 1966-67.

The Americans signed Simon during their first offseason and he emerged as a solid contributor for three seasons.

Simon was an All-Star in 1969, averaging 40 minutes and 21 points per game for a 17-win Nets squad playing its first season on Long Island. Playing a smaller role the following season, Simon put up 14 points and six boards per night for the Nets’ first playoff team.

He was terrific in the playoffs, shooting 50 percent from the floor and scoring 14.4 points per game as the Nets pushed the Kentucky Colonels to the full seven games before losing in the Eastern Division Semifinals.

That would be the end for Simon with New York, as he was dealt to the Colonels for a future draft pick on the eve of the season opener in 1970.

Simon went on to play four seasons with Kentucky before retiring after the 1973-74 campaign.

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