3. Buck Williams
Buck Williams is a Nets legend.
Can Nets fans please put some respect on Buck Williams’ name, please? Not many players can say they won as much across their tenures with New Jersey as the former No. 3 overall pick. He led the team to the playoffs for five consecutive seasons from 1981-82 to the 1985-86.
Williams was a walking double-double with the Nets, putting up 16.4 points and 11.9 rebounds on 55% shooting. In terms of durability, there was nobody better than the former Rookie of the Year. Of a possible 656 games, he appeared in a staggering 635. To make those numbers seem even more impressive, he played at least 81 games for six straight seasons from 1981-1986. Williams’ production never wavered during that span, as he was named an All-Star on three separate occasions.
With all of this in mind, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise that the North Carolina native ranks prominently across the organization’s record books. Williams ranks No. 1 in Nets history in games played, minutes played, total rebounds, rebounds per game, free throws made and win-shares. He also held the mark for most points in franchise history until Brook Lopez surpassed him in the 2016-17 campaign. To call him one of the most overlooked players of his generation would be an understatement.