NBA Draft: Every team’s best pick ever

Jun 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) speaks to the media during a press conference after game four of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Warriors won 108-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

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EAST RUTHERFORD, UNITED STATES: Former NBA player Charles ‘Buck’ Williams holds his New Jersey Nets jersey which was retired by the Nets during halftime of their game against the New York Knicks. Williams played for both the Nets and Knicks during his career as well as the Portland Trailblazers. AFP PHOTO/Matt CAMPBELL (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP/Getty Images) /

Brooklyn Nets: Buck Williams, No. 3, 1981 NBA Draft

Charles Williams was drafted with the third overall pick in the 1981 draft after playing hoops at the University of Maryland, and the North Carolina native quickly found success in the NBA. Williams won Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Star team his first year, establishing himself as an elite scorer and rebounder. Williams averaged over 15 points and 12 rebounds in each of his first six seasons with the Nets, helping the team make the playoffs five years in a row. He’s still the Nets all-time leader in points, rebounds, games and minutes played. The Nets could certainly use another Buck Williams today.

Williams also enjoyed a lengthy run of success with the Portland Trail Blazers late in his career. He started all but five games for the Blazers over a five-year stretch from 1990 to 1995, one that included two appearances in the NBA Finals. In the end, Williams was defined by his longevity — averaging a career double-double over 17 NBA seasons and still ranking 21st all-time in minutes played and 16th in games played. He will likely never find his way into the hall-of-fame but his consistency, endurance, and reliability make him the best pick the Nets ever made.

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