Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is detailed information about basketballer Buck Williams.

Player Profile

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: Charles Linwood “Buck” Williams
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: March 8, 1960
  • Hometown: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)
  • Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 1 inch (216 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)

Basketball Career:

  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • Jersey Number: 52 (primarily)
  • High School: Rocky Mount High School, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
  • College: University of Maryland (1978–1981)
    • Dominant force in the ACC, averaging 15.5 points and 10.9 rebounds per game during his college career.
    • Named ACC Player of the Year in 1981.
  • NBA Draft:
    • Selected 3rd overall in the 1981 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets.
  • Teams Played For:
    1. New Jersey Nets (1981–1989):
      • NBA Rookie of the Year (1982).
      • Known for his rebounding dominance, leading the league in total rebounds in his rookie season.
    2. Portland Trail Blazers (1989–1996):
      • Integral part of Portland’s runs to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.
    3. New York Knicks (1996–1998): Final years of his NBA career.
  • Championship Rings: None

Personal Life:

  • Children:
    • Buck Williams has two children.
  • Siblings:
    • He has a large family with several siblings, though specific details are not widely publicized.

Notable Achievements and Legacy:

  • Career Stats: Averaged 12.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game over 17 seasons.
  • Three-time NBA All-Star (1982, 1983, 1986).
  • Four-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection (Second Team: 1988, 1990, 1991; First Team: 1992).
  • One of the best rebounders of his era, finishing with over 13,000 career rebounds.
  • Known for his professionalism, durability, and leadership both on and off the court.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Buck Williams was an old-school power forward who built his reputation as a rebounding machine, interior defender, and low-maintenance frontcourt anchor rather than a featured scoring star. Defensively, he filled the role of a rugged paint presence, using strength, positioning, and discipline to battle post players, finish possessions on the glass, and give teams reliable resistance inside. Offensively, he worked mostly as a complementary scorer who finished around the basket, scored on put-backs, ran the floor, and converted efficient interior chances without needing isolation touches or high playmaking volume. Physically, Williams brought sturdy 6-foot-8 size, a strong 225-pound frame, and the toughness to absorb contact over a long career at power forward. In full, his game was defined by effort, rebounding, durability, and no-frills winning basketball, making him the kind of dependable frontcourt piece who strengthened teams through defense, boards, and steady interior play. (Basketball Reference)

Basketball-Reference — Buck Williams Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
NBA.com — Buck Williams | Forward | New Jersey Nets
Blazer’s Edge — Blazers Top 100: The Final Piece of the Contender Puzzle