Jul 26

Buck Williams started his NBA playing career with the New Jersey Nets and ended his career with the New York Knicks, but during his middle years in the league, Buck was a Trail Blazer. We didn't get him at his youngest or his oldest, but we got him at his best.

He was acquired in 1989 from the Nets in exchange for Sam Bowie and a first round pick, which would end up being Mookie Blaylock, and went on to play seven seasons in Portland. During those six seasons, the Trail Blazers lost twice in the NBA Finals and once in the Western Conference Finals to go along with four first round exits.

Despite only playing in Portland for seven seasons, Williams, 50, is the team’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (55.0%), ranks fourth in rebounds (4,861), seventh in games played (557) and ninth in minutes played (17,130). He also holds all-time NBA career marks in personal fouls (6th), games (11th), offensive rebounds (4th), defensive rebounds (11th) and total rebounds.

Now Buck begins a new career as a coach in the NBA, and this time, the Trail Blazers are getting in on the ground floor. Williams joins Bernie Bickerstaff and Bob Ociepka as the newest members of Nate McMillan's coaching staff. Williams, Bickerstaff and Ociepka round out McMillan's staff which already consisted of Bill Bayno and Kaleb Canales.

Williams is expected to take up the mantle of the team's big man coach, replacing another Trail Blazers legend, Maurice Lucas, who is still recovering from a bout with cancer.

Buck, much like his predecessor Lucas, excelled at rebounding and providing a rugged defensive presence in the lane, are the same traits Williams will be tasked with imparting upon the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden, the player who now wears the No. 52 Buck wore during his playing days in Portland.