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) /
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Brooklyn Nets
Basketball Nets vs Indiana. Rick Barry shoots over Pacers’ Roger Brown (35), Mel Daniels (34) and George McGinnis for two points, while Nets’ Trooper Washington (hidden) waits for rebound.(Photo by Paul DeMaria/NY Daily News via Getty Images) /

Trooper Washington. 8. player. 147. . PF. Acquired from Floridians for 1972 3rd-round pick

Trooper Washington was a grinder, a player who averaged a double-double in his six ABA seasons and was part of the Pittsburgh Pipers first title team in 1968.

Washington came to the now-Brooklyn Nets in May 1971, acquired from The Floridians for a third-round pick in the 1972 ABA Draft.

In a league that brought the three-point shot into vogue, Washington didn’t attempt one in his two seasons with the Nets. Instead, the undersized (6-foot-7) big man did his work in the paint, shooting 55.8 percent in his two seasons with New York, one as a full-time starter at the power forward spot and the second as a part-timer.

In 1971-72, Washington averaged 11 points and 9.4 rebounds in 31.4 minutes a game and put up similar rebounding numbers as the Nets went on a run to a surprising ABA Finals appearance after a pedestrian 44-40 regular season.

With the arrival of ballyhooed rookie Jim Chones the following season, Washington’s role diminished. He played 26.7 minutes per game and averaged 6.9 points and 7.3 boards.

Trooper missed out on the Nets’ glory years, as he was cut during training camp in 1973.

Washington signed with the Pipers in 1967 after being selected in the fifth round of the NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals from Cheyney State in Pennsylvania. He was an All-Star with the Pipers, then in Minnesota, in 1969 and also played with the Los Angeles Stars.

After sitting out two years, Washington attempted a couple of comebacks, playing in the Eastern League and the Continental Basketball Association briefly in both 1975-76 and 1978-79.

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