Brooklyn Nets: History of Nets in NBA All-Star Game
By Phil Watson
1986: Buck Williams
The New Jersey Nets made it five straight years with an NBA All-Star when Buck Williams was named to the Eastern Conference squad as a reserve in 1986.
It was the third All-Star nod for Williams, but his first since 1983.
The consistent power forward entered the break with averaged of 15.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 37.5 minutes per game. In 51 games, he had shot 50.8 percent overall and missed his lone 3-point attempt.
The Nets, meanwhile, were 28-23, good for third place in the Atlantic Division but solidly in the playoff mix with a 9½-game lead over the New York Knicks, in ninth place at the time.
Williams played 20 minutes in the game at Dallas, scoring 13 points with seven rebounds and four assists on 5-of-8 shooting.
The East came from behind in the fourth quarter for a 139-132 win, with Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons scoring 30 points with 10 assists and five steals to win MVP honors.
New Jersey staggered to the finish, going 11-20 after the break, and were swept by the No. 2-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
It would be the final All-Star trip for Williams, who remained with the Nets until he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in June 1989. Released by the Blazers in July 1996, Williams played two more seasons with the Knicks before retiring shortly after the end of the lockout in January 1999.