EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Buck Williams, a blue-collar power forward who set 10 team records in eight seasons in New Jersey, had his No. 52 retired by the Nets Sunday.
"This is a special honor," Williams said before his number was raised to the rafters at the Continental Airlines Arena. "I think every athlete thinks in terms of having their number retired."The ceremony took place at halftime of the Nets' game against the New York Knicks. A first-round draft choice of the Nets in 1981, Williams started his career in New Jersey and ended it this year after two seasons with New York. In between were seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, with whom he twice went to the NBA Finals.
Few people outworked Williams during his 17-year NBA career. He is the Nets' all-time leader in scoring (10,440), rebounds (7,576), games (635), minutes (23,100), field goals made (3,981), field goals attempted (7,234), free throws made (2,476), free throws attempted (3,818), offensive rebounds (2,588) and defensive rebounds (4,988).
Five other Nets players have had their numbers retired -- Drazen Petrovic (3), Wendell Ladner (4), John Williamson (23), Bill Melchionni (25) and Julius Erving (32).