Nothin' But Nets
Fansided

Brooklyn Nets: 10 best players from 2nd NBA decade (1986-96)

By Phil Watson

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - 1993: Sam Bowie #31 of the New Jersey Nets rebounds against the Chicago Bulls during a game played circa 1993 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 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 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - 1993: Sam Bowie #31 of the New Jersey Nets rebounds against the Chicago Bulls during a game played circa 1993 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 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 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – DECEMBER 5: Armon Gilliam #43 of the New Jersey Nets shoots during a game played on December 5, 1994 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 1994 NBAE (Photo by Noren Trotman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Signed as free agent, Aug. 11, 1993. Armon Gilliam. 5. player. 147. . PF-SF

He changed his name to Armen Gilliam after he left the NBA, simply because he was tired of people mispronouncing his first name, but as Armon Gilliam he made a mark on the New Jersey Nets for three seasons in the mid-1990s.

Gilliam had been released by the Philadelphia 76ers in July 1993 and signed a three-year contract with the Nets in August 1993.

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He backed up Derrick Coleman for the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons before taking on a starting role in 1995-96. But the Nets were looking to get younger and renounced Gilliam’s free-agent exception rights in July 1996.

In three seasons with New Jersey, Gilliam averaged 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 30.2 minutes per game, shooting .492/0-for-4/.773. A terrific low-block scorer, Gilliam earned the nickname “Black Hole” because once the ball was dumped down to him, it seldom came back out.

He came off the bench in all four games of the Nets’ first-round loss to the New York Knicks in 1994, averaging 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 28.0 minutes per game while shooting .441/0-for-1/12-for-16.

Gilliam was the No. 2 overall pick by the Phoenix Suns from UNLV in the 1986 NBA Draft and was a first-team All-Rookie selection in 1987-88 before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets in December 1989. In January 1991, he was dealt to the 76ers.

After being let go by New Jersey, Gilliam signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in August 1986. In August 1999, he was traded to the Orlando Magic, who waived him in November of that year. In January 2000, Gilliam caught on with the Utah Jazz.

Gilliam then coached for four seasons at Penn State-McKeesport and Penn State-Altoona before attempting a brief comeback with the Pittsburgh Xplosion in the ABA as a player-coach in 2005-06.

Gilliam died July 5, 2011, in Bridgeville, Pa., from a heart attack after collapsing during a pickup game at a local gym. He was only 47 years old.

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