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
And watching; it all from the is sidelines is the man Roche is replacing, all-star guard Bill Melchionni, sidelined with a broken finger. March 29, 1972. (Photo by William N. Jacobellis/New York Post Archives /(c) NYP Holdings, Inc. via Getty Images) /

147. . PG. Signed from NBA's Phoenix Suns. Bill Melchionni. 5. player

Bill Melchionni came to the New York Nets after playing the 1968-69 season with the Trenton Colonials in the Eastern League. He opted to play in the minors after being taken by the expansion Phoenix Suns from the Philadelphia 76ers in 1968.

Melchionni had been a bit player in two seasons in Philly, but emerged as the ABA’s pre-eminent distributor upon coming to New York. He twice led the ABA in assists per game and was a three-time All-Star for the Nets, earning All-ABA honors in 1971-72.

Melchionni averaged 17.9 points and 7.5 assists in more than 40 minutes a game in his first three seasons on Long Island, but the arrival of Brian Taylor in 1972 signaled a diminishing role for the veteran.

He still averaged 12.3 points and 7.4 dimes in 1972-73 despite missing 23 games due to injury, but was a bench player for the championship runs in 1974 and 1976.

Melchionni retired shortly after the merger between the ABA and NBA became official in August 1976, taking a role in the Nets front office after serving as a player-assistant coach in 1975-76.

He played seven seasons in all with the Nets, averaging 12.4 points and 6.1 assists in 30.6 minutes per game and shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 81.9 percent at the line. His assists per game average ranks second only to Larry Brown in ABA history and his 3,044 assists rank third all-time in the ABA behind Louie Dampier and Mack Calvin.

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