Nothin' But Nets
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
Brooklyn Nets
UNIONDALE, NY – CIRCA 1974: John Williamson #23 of the New York Nets is seen prior to the start of an ABA basketball game circa 1974 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Williamson played of the Nets from 1973-77 and 1978-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

147. . SG. Undrafted free agent from New Mexico State. John Williamson. 9. player

The now-Brooklyn Nets landed a key component to their two title teams in August 1973, when they signed high-scoring guard John Williamson from New Mexico State.

Williamson averaged 27 points a game as a junior at New Mexico State before declaring himself eligible for the draft. The gambit did not pay off, as Williamson was taken in the sixth round by the Atlanta Hawks.

Rather than battle established stars Lou Hudson and Pete Maravich in Atlanta, Williamson signed with the New York Nets after being ignored by the 10 ABA clubs in their draft.

Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets /

Brooklyn Nets

He burst onto the scene in a big way, averaging 14.5 points per game while helping the Nets to their first-ever division title in 1973-74, earning an All-Rookie nod while slashing his way to a 49.1 percent mark from the floor.

He struggled at times in the playoffs, averaging 11.9 points per game on 45 percent shooting as the Nets captured their first ABA title.

Williamson’s role decreased a bit in his second season, with his minutes dropping from 29 to 25 a night. He put up 11.5 points per game in 1974-75, averaging 12 points in New York’s shocking five-game loss to the Spirits of St. Louis in the Eastern Division Semifinals.

In 1975-76, Williamson averaged 16.2 points per game in 29.7 minutes a night as the Nets finished second behind the Denver Nuggets in the league, which contracted to seven teams by the end of the season.

The 1976 playoffs, however, were a different story as Williamson broke out as a legitimate No. 2 option behind Julius Erving, scoring 22.2 points a game, closing the postseason with four straight 20-plus point games.

That was capped by hanging 28 on the Nuggets on 12-for-20 shooting in the title-clinching Game 6 of the ABA Finals.

Williamson remained with the Nets after the merger, briefly, before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in February 1977. The Nets, by then in New Jersey, reacquired Williamson in a January 1978 trade.

He was dealt to the Washington Bullets in February 1980 before being waived out of the league in December of the same year.

Home/Nets All-Time Lists