The greatest rebounder in Nets history is one step away from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Buck Williams, one of the game’s great rebounders and a New Jersey Net for eight years, has been named a finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, part of class that also includes Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard as well as Sue Bird, the 2008 Redeem Team … and Adrian Wojnarowski.
The announcement was made Friday evening in a tweet…
At forward, from Maryland, a Class of 2025 Finalist, Buck Williams. #25HoopClass pic.twitter.com/pcKuIl3Slz
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) February 14, 2025
The HoopHall later released a statement on Williams accomplishments:
BUCK WILLIAMS [Player] – A three-time NBA All-Star (1982-83, ‘86), Williams ranks third in NBA history in offensive rebounds (4,526) and 16th in total rebounds (13,017). He earned four NBA All-Defensive Team honors and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1982. The third overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft following his All-American career at Maryland, Williams led the NBA in offensive rebounds in 1983-84 (355) and played in all 82 games in a season four times. Williams spent the first eight seasons of his 17-year career with the New Jersey Nets (1981-89) before being traded to Portland, where he helped lead the Trail Blazers to NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and ‘92. The Nets retired his #52 in 1999.
While with the Nets, Williams was Rookie of the Year in 1982, a three-time NBA All-Star and was selected both All-NBA and All-Defense.
He was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 1989 (for Sam Bowie and a draft pick.) After he left New Jersey, the Nets didn’t get beyond the second round of the playoffs again until 2002 when Jason Kidd led them to the NBA Finals.
Williams attended the Vince Carter jersey retirement last month, meeting with fans, taking selfies and signing autographs.
The group of finalists now moves to the final round of the nomination process. A panel of 24 anonymous voters will consider the candidates. A candidate has to receive votes from at least 18 of those 24 panelists to gain election to the Hall of Fame.
The 2025 class will be announced April 5 in San Antonio during the NCAA Men’s Final Four. Enshrinement weekend is September 5-6.
The full list is here. In addition to the finalists named, the Hall announced that Woj would be awarded the 2025 Curt Gowdy Media Award along with Pistons play-by-play announcer George Blaha, CBS analyst Clark Kellogg, veteran women’s basketball writer Michelle Smith. Those awards will be presented at the All-Star Weekend.