Last Updated on September 19, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

League Search Page > NBA > New Jersey Nets > Roster & Statistics

The 1973–74 New York Nets were built around Julius Erving, whose elite scoring, rebounding, playmaking, and defensive production established him as the team’s clear focal point. Larry Kenon provided versatile frontcourt support, while Brian Taylor directed the offence and added dependable scoring from the backcourt. The Nets combined balanced offensive production, strong rebounding, and aggressive defence, with Erving’s all-around brilliance driving an efficient and well-rounded team.

Note: The team was still officially the New York Nets during the 1973–74 ABA season. This was a landmark season as the team won its first ABA Championship.

Roster

NO. PLAYER NAME POS HT WT BIRTH DATE COLLEGE
4 Wendell Ladner SF 6-5 220 October 6, 1948 Southern Miss
5 Billy Paultz C 6-11 235 July 30, 1948 Cameron University, St. John’s
12 Mike Gale PG 6-4 185 July 18, 1950 Elizabeth City State University
13 John Roche SG 6-3 170 September 26, 1949 South Carolina
14 Brian Taylor PG 6-2 185 June 9, 1951 Princeton
15 Billy Schaeffer SF 6-5 200 December 11, 1951 St. John’s
22 Rich Rinaldi SG 6-3 195 August 3, 1949 Saint Peter’s College
22 Ollie Taylor SG 6-2 194 March 7, 1947 San Jacinto College, Houston
23 John Williamson SG 6-2 185 November 10, 1951 New Mexico State
25 Bill Melchionni PG 6-1 165 October 19, 1944 Villanova
30 Bob Lackey SG 6-5 200 April 4, 1949 Casper College, Marquette
32 Julius Erving SF 6-7 210 February 22, 1950 UMass
35 Larry Kenon PF 6-9 205 December 13, 1952 Amarillo College, Memphis
40 Willie Sojourner C 6-8 225 September 10, 1948 Weber State
44 Gary Gregor SF 6-7 225 August 13, 1945 South Carolina
44 Jim O’Brien SF 6-7 200 November 7, 1951 Maryland

Regular Season Per Game

PLR POS AGE G GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TPG FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Julius Erving SF 23 84   40.5 27.4 10.7 5.2 2.3 2.4 4.1 21.3 10.9 .512 0.5 0.2 .395 7.1 5.4 .766
Larry Kenon PF 21 84   34.6 15.9 11.5 1.3 0.9 0.2 3.0 15.2 7.0 .462 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 1.9 .703
Billy Paultz C 25 77   33.7 16.4 10.2 2.2 0.8 1.9 2.3 13.6 6.7 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 2.9 .721
John Williamson SG 22 77   29.4 14.5 2.8 3.2 1.1 0.4 2.7 12.8 6.3 .491 0.1 0.0 .182 2.5 1.9 .789
Brian Taylor PG 22 75   33.4 11.1 2.9 4.5 2.1 0.3 2.2 10.2 4.8 .476 0.4 0.1 .276 1.9 1.3 .699
John Roche SG 24 50   25.1 11.4 1.2 4.2 0.8 0.1 2.1 9.2 4.5 .487 1.4 0.5 .382 2.3 1.9 .842
Mike Gale PG 23 32   28.3 8.0 4.8 3.9 1.9 1.1 1.7 8.3 3.6 .429 0.2 0.0 .000 1.1 0.9 .806
Wendell Ladner SF 25 30   21.2 6.8 5.4 2.2 1.5 0.1 2.1 8.4 3.0 .357 1.8 0.6 .340 0.4 0.2 .417
Billy Schaeffer SF 22 59   14.8 6.5 2.4 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.9 5.8 2.9 .497 0.2 0.0 .222 0.9 0.7 .759
Willie Sojourner C 25 82   16.0 5.6 4.1 0.7 0.3 1.1 1.0 5.1 2.5 .482 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 0.7 .844
Bill Melchionni PG 29 56   20.5 5.3 1.4 3.7 0.9 0.1 1.5 4.9 2.1 .420 0.4 0.1 .217 1.3 1.1 .831
Gary Gregor SF 28 25   12.5 3.6 2.8 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.4 3.4 1.6 .471 0.1 0.1 .667 0.4 0.4 .818
Jim O’Brien SF 22 11   4.9 3.5 1.5 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.7 3.4 1.4 .405 0.4 0.0 .000 1.4 0.8 .600
Ollie Taylor SG 26 8   9.5 3.5 1.8 1.3 0.4 0.0 1.1 3.0 1.1 .375 0.1 0.1 1.000 1.9 1.1 .600
Rich Rinaldi SG 24 5   5.6 2.4 1.0 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.2 2.8 0.8 .286 0.2 0.0 .000 0.8 0.8 1.000
Bob Lackey SG 24 3   5.0 2.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 2.3 1.0 .429 0.0 0.0   0.0 0.0  
Totals     84   241.5 109.4 48.9 24.1 9.9 6.8 19.2 95.7 45.9 .480 3.0 1.0 .316 22.0 16.6 .754

Playoff Per Game

PLR POS AGE G GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TPG FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Julius Erving SF 23 14   41.4 27.9 9.6 4.8 1.6 1.4 3.6 21.8 11.5 .528 0.8 0.4 .455 6.1 4.5 .741
Larry Kenon PF 21 14   33.6 15.8 11.6 1.8 1.1 0.1 2.7 14.6 7.2 .495 0.0 0.0   2.2 1.4 .613
Billy Paultz C 25 14   37.1 14.8 9.4 2.0 0.7 1.4 1.8 12.1 5.8 .479 0.0 0.0   4.1 3.2 .789
Brian Taylor PG 22 14   36.2 14.1 4.4 4.4 2.4 0.3 2.3 11.9 6.1 .518 0.2 0.1 .667 2.1 1.6 .767
John Williamson SG 22 14   30.4 11.9 3.3 2.9 0.7 0.4 2.4 11.4 5.1 .450 0.2 0.0 .000 1.9 1.6 .815
Mike Gale PG 23 14   26.2 8.3 4.1 4.1 1.4 1.3 1.7 7.9 3.4 .436 0.1 0.1 1.000 1.4 1.4 .950
Wendell Ladner SF 25 14   19.4 8.2 5.0 2.4 1.8 0.0 1.4 8.7 3.7 .426 1.7 0.4 .250 0.8 0.4 .455
Willie Sojourner C 25 14   11.0 2.8 2.4 0.6 0.1 0.9 0.9 2.9 1.2 .415 0.0 0.0   0.6 0.4 .556
Billy Schaeffer SF 22 5   4.6 3.8 1.8 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.2 3.2 1.6 .500 0.0 0.0   0.8 0.6 .750
Bill Melchionni PG 29 6   10.0 3.0 1.5 2.7 0.2 0.0 0.7 2.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0   0.3 0.3 1.000
Jim O’Brien SF 22 4   2.3 2.0 0.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 1.0 .400 0.0 0.0   0.0 0.0  
Totals     14   241.8 106.9 51.4 24.5 9.8 5.8 17.1 94.2 45.6 .484 3.0 1.0 .333 19.7 14.7 .746

Regular Season Per 36 Minutes

PLR POS AGE G GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TPG FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Jim O’Brien SF 22 11   4.9 26.0 11.3 4.0 2.0 2.0 5.3 24.7 10.0 .405 2.7 0.0 .000 10.0 6.0 .600
Julius Erving SF 23 84   40.5 24.4 9.5 4.6 2.0 2.2 3.6 18.9 9.7 .512 0.5 0.2 .395 6.3 4.8 .766
John Williamson SG 22 77   29.4 17.7 3.4 3.9 1.4 0.4 3.3 15.6 7.7 .491 0.2 0.0 .182 3.0 2.4 .789
Billy Paultz C 25 77   33.7 17.5 10.8 2.3 0.8 2.0 2.4 14.6 7.2 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 4.3 3.1 .721
Larry Kenon PF 21 84   34.6 16.5 11.9 1.4 1.0 0.2 3.1 15.8 7.3 .462 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 1.9 .703
John Roche SG 24 50   25.1 16.4 1.7 6.0 1.2 0.2 3.0 13.2 6.4 .487 2.0 0.7 .382 3.3 2.8 .842
Billy Schaeffer SF 22 59   14.8 15.9 5.8 1.5 1.0 0.4 2.2 14.2 7.1 .497 0.4 0.1 .222 2.2 1.7 .759
Rich Rinaldi SG 24 5   5.6 15.4 6.4 1.3 2.6 0.0 1.3 18.0 5.1 .286 1.3 0.0 .000 5.1 5.1 1.000
Bob Lackey SG 24 3   5.0 14.4 9.6 2.4 2.4 0.0 2.4 16.8 7.2 .429 0.0 0.0   0.0 0.0  
Ollie Taylor SG 26 8   9.5 13.3 6.6 4.7 1.4 0.0 4.3 11.4 4.3 .375 0.5 0.5 1.000 7.1 4.3 .600
Willie Sojourner C 25 82   16.0 12.5 9.2 1.5 0.7 2.4 2.3 11.5 5.5 .482 0.1 0.0 .000 1.8 1.5 .844
Brian Taylor PG 22 75   33.4 12.0 3.1 4.9 2.2 0.3 2.4 11.0 5.2 .476 0.4 0.1 .276 2.1 1.4 .699
Wendell Ladner SF 25 30   21.2 11.5 9.1 3.7 2.6 0.2 3.5 14.2 5.1 .357 3.0 1.0 .340 0.7 0.3 .417
Gary Gregor SF 28 25   12.5 10.5 8.2 1.7 0.5 0.1 1.2 9.8 4.6 .471 0.3 0.2 .667 1.3 1.0 .818
Mike Gale PG 23 32   28.3 10.2 6.1 4.9 2.4 1.4 2.1 10.6 4.5 .429 0.2 0.0 .000 1.4 1.2 .806
Bill Melchionni PG 29 56   20.5 9.3 2.4 6.5 1.6 0.2 2.7 8.7 3.6 .420 0.7 0.2 .217 2.2 1.9 .831
Totals                                        

Playoff Per 36 Minutes

PLR POS AGE G GS MPG PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Jim O’Brien SF 22 4   2.3 32.0 8.0 12.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 40.0 16.0 .400 0.0 0.0   0.0 0.0  
Billy Schaeffer SF 22 5   4.6 29.7 14.1 4.7 0.0 0.0 1.6 25.0 12.5 .500 0.0 0.0   6.3 4.7 .750
Julius Erving SF 23 14   41.4 24.2 8.4 4.2 1.4 1.2 3.2 19.0 10.0 .528 0.7 0.3 .455 5.3 3.9 .741
Larry Kenon PF 21 14   33.6 16.9 12.5 1.9 1.1 0.2 2.9 15.6 7.7 .495 0.0 0.0   2.4 1.5 .613
Wendell Ladner SF 25 14   19.4 15.3 9.3 4.5 3.3 0.0 2.5 16.2 6.9 .426 3.2 0.8 .250 1.5 0.7 .455
Billy Paultz C 25 14   37.1 14.3 9.1 1.9 0.7 1.4 1.7 11.7 5.6 .479 0.0 0.0   3.9 3.1 .789
John Williamson SG 22 14   30.4 14.1 3.9 3.4 0.8 0.5 2.8 13.6 6.1 .450 0.3 0.0 .000 2.3 1.9 .815
Brian Taylor PG 22 14   36.2 14.0 4.3 4.4 2.3 0.3 2.3 11.8 6.1 .518 0.2 0.1 .667 2.1 1.6 .767
Mike Gale PG 23 14   26.2 11.4 5.7 5.6 1.9 1.8 2.4 10.8 4.7 .436 0.1 0.1 1.000 2.0 1.9 .950
Bill Melchionni PG 29 6   10.0 10.8 5.4 9.6 0.6 0.0 2.4 9.6 4.8 .500 0.0 0.0   1.2 1.2 1.000
Willie Sojourner C 25 14   11.0 9.1 7.9 1.9 0.5 2.8 2.8 9.6 4.0 .415 0.0 0.0   2.1 1.2 .556
Totals     14     106.9 51.4 24.5 9.8 5.8 17.1 94.2 45.6 .484 3.0 1.0 .333 19.7 14.7 .746

Regular Season Totals

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Julius Erving SF 23 84   3398 2299 899 434 190 204 341 1785 914 .512 43 17 .395 593 454 .766
Larry Kenon PF 21 84   2908 1334 962 112 79 19 250 1274 589 .462 1 0 .000 222 156 .703
Billy Paultz C 25 77   2596 1260 782 167 60 147 175 1051 519 .494 1 0 .000 308 222 .721
John Williamson SG 22 77   2264 1116 213 243 86 27 208 982 482 .491 11 2 .182 190 150 .789
Brian Taylor PG 22 75   2505 834 214 341 154 22 164 762 363 .476 29 8 .276 143 100 .699
John Roche G 24 50   1254 570 59 208 41 6 106 460 224 .487 68 26 .382 114 96 .842
Willie Sojourner C 25 82   1316 458 335 54 24 88 85 419 202 .482 3 0 .000 64 54 .844
Billy Schaeffer SF 22 59   871 385 141 37 24 9 53 344 171 .497 9 2 .222 54 41 .759
Bill Melchionni PG 29 56   1146 296 77 207 51 5 86 276 116 .420 23 5 .217 71 59 .831
Mike Gale PG 23 32   904 257 152 124 60 34 53 266 114 .429 6 0 .000 36 29 .806
Wendell Ladner SF 25 30   637 203 161 65 46 3 62 252 90 .357 53 18 .340 12 5 .417
Gary Gregor F 28 25   313 91 71 15 4 1 10 85 40 .471 3 2 .667 11 9 .818
Jim O’Brien SF 22 11   54 39 17 6 3 3 8 37 15 .405 4 0 .000 15 9 .600
Ollie Taylor G 26 8   76 28 14 10 3 0 9 24 9 .375 1 1 1.000 15 9 .600
Rich Rinaldi G 24 5   28 12 5 1 2 0 1 14 4 .286 1 0 .000 4 4 1.000
Bob Lackey G 24 3   15 6 4 1 1 0 1 7 3 .429 0 0   0 0  
Totals     84   20285 9188 4106 2025 828 568 1612 8038 3855 .480 256 81 .316 1852 1397 .754

Playoff Totals

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Julius Erving SF 23 14   579 390 135 67 22 19 51 305 161 .528 11 5 .455 85 63 .741
Larry Kenon PF 21 14   470 221 163 25 15 2 38 204 101 .495 0 0   31 19 .613
Billy Paultz C 25 14   520 207 132 28 10 20 25 169 81 .479 0 0   57 45 .789
Brian Taylor PG 22 14   507 197 61 62 33 4 32 166 86 .518 3 2 .667 30 23 .767
John Williamson SG 22 14   425 166 46 40 10 6 33 160 72 .450 3 0 .000 27 22 .815
Mike Gale PG 23 14   367 116 58 57 19 18 24 110 48 .436 1 1 1.000 20 19 .950
Wendell Ladner SF 25 14   271 115 70 34 25 0 19 122 52 .426 24 6 .250 11 5 .455
Willie Sojourner C 25 14   154 39 34 8 2 12 12 41 17 .415 0 0   9 5 .556
Billy Schaeffer SF 22 5   23 19 9 3 0 0 1 16 8 .500 0 0   4 3 .750
Bill Melchionni PG 29 6   60 18 9 16 1 0 4 16 8 .500 0 0   2 2 1.000
Jim O’Brien SF 22 4   9 8 2 3 0 0 0 10 4 .400 0 0   0 0  
Totals     14   3385 1496 719 343 137 81 239 1319 638 .484 42 14 .333 276 206 .746

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK Impact Index* Notes Awards
Julius Erving Alpha Offensive & Defensive Engine 40.5 High 27.4 10.7 5.2 4.7 24.0 Team’s clear focal point on both ends; league MVP and scoring champ leading an ABA title-winning Nets team; topped team in steals and blocks.  MVP; AS
Billy Paultz Two-Way Interior Star 33.7 Mid-High 16.4 10.2 2.2 2.7 15.7 Strong interior presence as center with consistent rebounding and rim protection; All-Star level contributor.  AS
Larry Kenon Secondary Scoring/Boarding Power 34.6 Mid 15.9 11.5 1.3 1.1 14.9 Power forward with double-double impact and physical interior play aiding team success. ROY-3; AS
Brian Taylor Lead Guard Creator 33.4 Mid 11.1 2.9 4.5 2.4 10.5 Veteran point guard facilitating offense; known for steals/pace creation and secondary scoring.  —
John Williamson Scoring Wing 29.4 Mid 14.5 2.8 3.2 1.5 10.5 “Super John” provided scoring punch and clutch offense; important role in championship run.  ROY-4
Mike Gale Two-Way Facilitator 28.3 Low-Mid 8.0 4.8 3.9 3.0 9.9 Guard who contributed across categories; defensive activity and playmaking for second unit.  DEF1
John Roche Secondary Backcourt Scorer 25.1 Low-Mid 11.4 1.2 4.2 0.9 8.9 Provided perimeter scoring and some playmaking in part-time role.  —
Wendell Ladner Energy Wing 21.2 Low 6.8 5.4 2.2 1.6 7.0 Role player contributing energy, rebounding, and physical play.  —
Willie Sojourner Backup Big 16.0 Low 5.6 4.1 0.7 1.4 6.9 Provided size minutes off the bench with decent rebounding.  —
Billy Schaeffer Bench Wing Scorer 14.8 Low 6.5 2.4 0.6 0.6 5.0 Spot scoring off the bench.  —
Bill Melchionni Veteran Bench Guard 20.5 Low 5.3 1.4 3.7 1.0 5.7 Experienced guard providing playmaking on limited minutes.  —
Gary Gregor Depth Forward 12.5 Low 3.6 2.8 0.6 0.2 3.6 Limited minutes role player.  —
Ollie Taylor Spot Guard 9.5 Low 3.5 1.8 1.3 0.4 3.5 Short stint bench wing, limited impact.  —
Jim O’Brien Cup-of-Coffee Wing 4.9 Low 3.5 1.5 0.5 0.6 3.1 Minimal minutes role.  —
Rich Rinaldi Development Guard 5.6 Low 2.4 1.0 0.2 0.4 2.0 Brief appearance, limited contributions. —
Bob Lackey Short Stint Guard 5.0 Low 2.0 1.3 0.3 0.0 1.8 Very limited playing time.  —