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
UNIONDALE, NY – JANUARY 1975: Marvin Barnes #24 of the American Basketball Association (ABA) Spirits of St. Louis attempts a shot while defended by Billy Paultz of the New York Nets at Nassau Coliseum in January 1975 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

Billy Paultz. 3. player. 147. . C. Acquired in trade from Virginia Squires

St. John’s standout Billy Paultz was an early-round draft pick of the Washington Capitols, who were about to become the Virginia Squires, but was traded to the New York Nets before his rookie season began.

A lot of early bouncing around for the 6-foot-11, 235-pound hulk, but he settled in as the Nets’ man in the middle for five seasons.

Paultz was a two-time All-Star with the Nets, averaging 15.6 points, 11.2 boards and 2.1 blocks per game from 1970-75 and was a key component to New York’s 1974 ABA championship squad.

His best basketball as a Net may have been in the 1972 playoffs, when he put up 17.7 points and 15.2 rebounds per game as New York made an improbably run to the ABA Finals.

In September 1975, Paultz was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a five-player deal that netted New York Rich Jones, Chuck Terry, Bob Warren and Kim Hughes.

Paultz had a 15-year career in the ABA and NBA, earning a final All-Star bid with the Spurs in 1976, when he led the ABA with an average of 3.0 blocks per game.

He also played with the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz and in 1979-80 became one of the few players to appear in more than 82 games in an NBA season, playing in 84 after being dealt from the Spurs to the Rockets in January 1980.

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