From Villanova, Bill Melchionni was drafted by the nearby Philadelphia 76ers, where he was a reserve player on their 1967 Championship team. His stay with the Sixers only lasted two years, as his contract was not renewed.  He played for the Trenton Colonials of the Eastern Professional Basketball League, but when the ABA came into existence, his chance for prominence came.

Melchionni joined the New York Nets in 1969, and it was an instant success for both parties.  As their starting Point Guard, Melchionni won three straight Assists Titles (1970-71 to 1972-73), all of which saw him go to the ABA All-Star Game.  He was also a First Team All-ABA Selection in 1972.

The arrival of Julius Erving reduced his role but improved the club, and Melchionni helped the Nets win the 1974 and 1976 ABA Championships.  Following the merger of the ABA and NBA, Melchionni retired and served as their General Manager for two years.

His number 25 would later be retired by the Nets.

A former SEC Player of the Year, Jan van Breda Kolff played a couple of seasons in the ABA before the team he was with (Kentucky) disbanded and he was selected by the New Jersey (then New York), who themselves were just arriving from the ABA.  His best season was his first with the Nets where he averaged 10.2 Points per Game.  The former Vanderbilt star would not start much but would play 434 Games for the Nets predominantly in a reserve role.

Larry Kenon was drafted by the Memphis Tams of the American Basketball Association but was traded to the Nets where he was named an ABA All-Star in his rookie season making an imposing frontcourt with “Dr. J”, Julius Erving.  “Mr. K” (or “Special K”) helped New York win the ABA Championship in 1974 and he averaged a double-double with 15.9 Points and 11.9 Rebounds per Game.  Kenon would again put up similar numbers in his second season (18.7 Points and 10.7 Rebounds per Game) but he was traded to San Antonio as they felt they could give up his rebounding for other playmakers.  Still, this a pretty good pair of seasons for the Nets, which earned him this decent ranking.

John Williamson allegedly dubbed himself “Super John” and often that is exactly what he was!  He was drafted in the 6^th Round by the Atlanta Hawks but after failing to make the roster he signed with the New York Nets of the ABA and saw a lot of playing time as a rookie.  The Shooting Guard would become a starter as a rookie while assisting the Nets win the 1974 ABA Title.  Williamson played a bigger role in their 1976 ABA Championship, specifically with a 24 Point second half to rally the Nets over the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 to win the series. 

Levern Tart was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1964 but he was unable to crack the roster and he toiled in semi-pro leagues until an opportunity arose with the Oakland Oaks of the American Basketball Association.  Tart found a home in the ABA and he was named an All Star in 1969 and was traded nine days later to New Jersey.  Tart did not receive as much playing time for the Nets and was traded midway through the next season to the Houston Mavericks but he was back again fir the 1969/70 season and he was New Jersey’s starting Shooting Guard and averaged 24.2 Points per Game and was named an All Star.   He was traded the following year to the Texas Chapparals but was out of Basketball the following season. 

From Princeton of the Ivy League Brian Taylor would become the starting Point Guard for the New York Nets where he would dazzle fans on the way to winning the American Basketball Association Rookie of the Year Award.

In terms of overall talent, few could match Rick Barry.  Actually, the same could also be said about overall bad temperament as there were few who were as surly as the Basketball Hall of Famer.

As a rookie, Melchionni was a champion with the Philadelphia 76ers where he provided good effort off the bench.  He stayed there for two years and then plied his trade for Trenton in the Eastern League where he was a starter and he stayed in state joining the Nets of the then ABA.  

Nicknamed the “Whopper” (which is enough for us to rank him alone) Billy Paultz was a 7^th Round Draft Pick in the NBA and he opted instead to go to the ABA where he was a welcome surprise.

Jason Kidd might be the man we named the best all-time Brooklyn Net but that does not necessarily mean we think he was the greatest player to ever suit up for the organization.

That man is Julius Erving.