Last Updated on January 26, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
League Search Page > NBA > New Jersey Nets > Roster & Statistics
Here is the 1979–80 New Jersey Nets roster and regular season player statistics:
New Jersey Nets 1979–80 Roster
| No. | Player | Pos | Height | Weight | Birth Date | Age | College/From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Bernard King | SF | 6’7″ | 205 lbs | Dec 4, 1956 | 23 | Tennessee |
| 10 | John Williamson | SG | 6’2″ | 185 lbs | Nov 10, 1951 | 28 | New Mexico State |
| 20 | Eddie Jordan | PG | 6’1″ | 170 lbs | Jan 29, 1955 | 25 | Rutgers |
| 21 | George Johnson | C | 6’11” | 205 lbs | Dec 18, 1948 | 31 | Dillard |
| 23 | Tim Bassett | PF | 6’8″ | 225 lbs | Apr 1, 1951 | 28 | Georgia |
| 24 | Jan van Breda Kolff | SF | 6’7″ | 195 lbs | Dec 5, 1951 | 28 | Vanderbilt |
| 44 | Winford Boynes | SG | 6’6″ | 185 lbs | May 17, 1957 | 22 | USF (San Francisco) |
| 25 | Cliff Robinson | PF | 6’9″ | 225 lbs | Mar 13, 1960 | 20 | USC |
| 52 | Mike Newlin | SG | 6’4″ | 200 lbs | Jan 2, 1949 | 31 | Utah |
| 50 | Mike Gminski | C | 6’11” | 250 lbs | Aug 3, 1959 | 20 | Duke |
| 31 | Foots Walker | PG | 6’0″ | 170 lbs | May 21, 1951 | 28 | West Georgia |
| 32 | Calvin Natt | SF | 6’6″ | 220 lbs | Jan 8, 1957 | 23 | Northeast Louisiana |
| 11 | Al Skinner | SG | 6’5″ | 190 lbs | Jun 16, 1952 | 27 | UMass |
Roster may include midseason changes. Ages are based on the 1979–80 season.
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Newlin | SG | 31 | 78 | 32.2 | 20.9 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 3.0 | 17.0 | 7.8 | .460 | 1.9 | 0.6 | .296 | 5.3 | 4.7 | .884 | |
| Calvin Natt | SF | 23 | 53 | 38.6 | 19.7 | 9.7 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 16.6 | 7.9 | .479 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .200 | 5.3 | 3.8 | .711 | |
| John Williamson | SG | 28 | 28 | 27.5 | 17.7 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 16.5 | 7.4 | .447 | 0.7 | 0.3 | .421 | 3.1 | 2.7 | .864 | |
| Maurice Lucas | PF | 27 | 22 | 32.2 | 15.2 | 9.6 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 3.2 | 11.9 | 5.8 | .490 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.6 | 3.6 | .775 | |
| Cliff Robinson | PF | 19 | 70 | 23.7 | 13.6 | 7.2 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 11.9 | 5.6 | .469 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .250 | 3.5 | 2.4 | .694 | |
| Eddie Jordan | PG | 25 | 82 | 82 | 32.4 | 13.3 | 3.3 | 6.8 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 12.4 | 5.3 | .430 | 0.6 | 0.1 | .250 | 3.1 | 2.5 | .779 |
| Roger Phegley | SG | 23 | 28 | 19.3 | 11.7 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 9.3 | 4.5 | .485 | 0.1 | 0.1 | .500 | 3.0 | 2.6 | .880 | |
| Rich Kelley | C | 26 | 57 | 25.7 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 7.0 | 3.3 | .466 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.4 | 3.5 | .788 | |
| Winford Boynes | SG | 22 | 64 | 17.2 | 8.5 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 7.3 | 3.5 | .473 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.1 | 1.6 | .765 | |
| George Johnson | C | 31 | 81 | 26.2 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 3.1 | .457 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.6 | 1.1 | .706 | |
| Jan van Breda Kolff | SF | 28 | 82 | 29.3 | 6.8 | 5.2 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 5.6 | 2.6 | .463 | 0.2 | 0.1 | .350 | 1.9 | 1.6 | .839 | |
| Bob Elliott | PF | 24 | 54 | 13.4 | 5.7 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 4.2 | 1.9 | .443 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .250 | 2.8 | 1.9 | .684 | |
| Robert Smith | PG | 24 | 59 | 12.5 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 1.9 | .445 | 0.4 | 0.1 | .308 | 1.5 | 1.3 | .862 | |
| Ralph Simpson | SG | 30 | 8 | 10.1 | 5.1 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 5.9 | 2.3 | .383 | 0.3 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.3 | 0.6 | .500 | |
| Phil Jackson | PF | 34 | 16 | 12.1 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 1.8 | .630 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.6 | 0.4 | .700 | |
| Tim Bassett | PF | 28 | 7 | 13.1 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 1.1 | .364 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | .667 | ||
| Totals | 82 | 82 | 241.5 | 108.3 | 45.9 | 25.5 | 10.6 | 7.1 | 20.8 | 91.5 | 42.1 | .461 | 3.6 | 1.0 | .285 | 29.3 | 23.0 | .782 |
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Newlin | SG | 31 | 78 | 32.2 | 23.4 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 3.3 | 19.1 | 8.8 | .460 | 2.2 | 0.6 | .296 | 6.0 | 5.3 | .884 | |
| John Williamson | SG | 28 | 28 | 27.5 | 23.2 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 21.5 | 9.6 | .447 | 0.9 | 0.4 | .421 | 4.1 | 3.5 | .864 | |
| Roger Phegley | SG | 23 | 28 | 19.3 | 21.8 | 4.7 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 17.3 | 8.4 | .485 | 0.3 | 0.1 | .500 | 5.5 | 4.9 | .880 | |
| Cliff Robinson | PF | 19 | 70 | 23.7 | 20.6 | 11.0 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 18.1 | 8.5 | .469 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .250 | 5.2 | 3.6 | .694 | |
| Calvin Natt | SF | 23 | 53 | 38.6 | 18.3 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 15.5 | 7.4 | .479 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .200 | 4.9 | 3.5 | .711 | |
| Ralph Simpson | SG | 30 | 8 | 10.1 | 18.2 | 4.9 | 6.2 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 5.3 | 20.9 | 8.0 | .383 | 0.9 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.4 | 2.2 | .500 | |
| Winford Boynes | SG | 22 | 64 | 17.2 | 17.8 | 4.3 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 15.3 | 7.2 | .473 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.4 | 3.4 | .765 | |
| Maurice Lucas | PF | 27 | 22 | 32.2 | 17.0 | 10.8 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 13.3 | 6.5 | .490 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .000 | 5.2 | 4.0 | .775 | |
| Bob Elliott | PF | 24 | 54 | 13.4 | 15.3 | 9.2 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 11.4 | 5.0 | .443 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .250 | 7.6 | 5.2 | .684 | |
| Robert Smith | PG | 24 | 59 | 12.5 | 15.1 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 12.4 | 5.5 | .445 | 1.3 | 0.4 | .308 | 4.3 | 3.7 | .862 | |
| Eddie Jordan | PG | 25 | 82 | 82 | 32.4 | 14.7 | 3.7 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 13.8 | 5.9 | .430 | 0.7 | 0.2 | .250 | 3.5 | 2.7 | .779 |
| Rich Kelley | C | 26 | 57 | 25.7 | 14.0 | 9.7 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 9.8 | 4.6 | .466 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 6.1 | 4.8 | .788 | |
| Phil Jackson | PF | 34 | 16 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 8.5 | 5.4 | .630 | 0.4 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.9 | 1.3 | .700 | |
| George Johnson | C | 31 | 81 | 26.2 | 9.9 | 10.2 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 9.2 | 4.2 | .457 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.1 | 1.5 | .706 | |
| Tim Bassett | PF | 28 | 7 | 13.1 | 9.4 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 8.6 | 3.1 | .364 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.7 | 3.1 | .667 | ||
| Jan van Breda Kolff | SF | 28 | 82 | 29.3 | 8.4 | 6.4 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 6.9 | 3.2 | .463 | 0.3 | 0.1 | .350 | 2.3 | 2.0 | .839 | |
| Totals |
Regular Season Totals
| PLR | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Newlin | SG | 31 | 78 | 2510 | 1634 | 264 | 314 | 115 | 4 | 231 | 1329 | 611 | .460 | 152 | 45 | .296 | 415 | 367 | .884 | |
| Eddie Jordan | PG | 25 | 82 | 82 | 2657 | 1087 | 270 | 557 | 223 | 27 | 258 | 1017 | 437 | .430 | 48 | 12 | .250 | 258 | 201 | .779 |
| Calvin Natt | SF | 23 | 53 | 2046 | 1042 | 513 | 112 | 78 | 22 | 133 | 879 | 421 | .479 | 5 | 1 | .200 | 280 | 199 | .711 | |
| Cliff Robinson | PF | 19 | 70 | 1661 | 951 | 506 | 98 | 61 | 34 | 137 | 833 | 391 | .469 | 4 | 1 | .250 | 242 | 168 | .694 | |
| George Johnson | C | 31 | 81 | 2119 | 585 | 602 | 173 | 53 | 258 | 199 | 543 | 248 | .457 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 126 | 89 | .706 | |
| Rich Kelley | C | 26 | 57 | 1466 | 569 | 397 | 128 | 50 | 79 | 152 | 399 | 186 | .466 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 250 | 197 | .788 | |
| Jan van Breda Kolff | SF | 28 | 82 | 2399 | 561 | 429 | 247 | 100 | 76 | 158 | 458 | 212 | .463 | 20 | 7 | .350 | 155 | 130 | .839 | |
| Winford Boynes | SG | 22 | 64 | 1102 | 546 | 133 | 95 | 59 | 19 | 96 | 467 | 221 | .473 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 136 | 104 | .765 | |
| John Williamson | SG | 28 | 28 | 771 | 496 | 54 | 87 | 26 | 9 | 43 | 461 | 206 | .447 | 19 | 8 | .421 | 88 | 76 | .864 | |
| Maurice Lucas | PF | 27 | 22 | 708 | 335 | 212 | 83 | 19 | 27 | 70 | 261 | 128 | .490 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 102 | 79 | .775 | |
| Roger Phegley | SG | 23 | 28 | 541 | 327 | 70 | 32 | 15 | 4 | 49 | 260 | 126 | .485 | 4 | 2 | .500 | 83 | 73 | .880 | |
| Robert Smith | PG | 24 | 59 | 736 | 309 | 76 | 85 | 22 | 4 | 52 | 254 | 113 | .445 | 26 | 8 | .308 | 87 | 75 | .862 | |
| Bob Elliott | PF | 24 | 54 | 722 | 307 | 185 | 53 | 29 | 14 | 88 | 228 | 101 | .443 | 4 | 1 | .250 | 152 | 104 | .684 | |
| Phil Jackson | PF | 34 | 16 | 194 | 65 | 24 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 46 | 29 | .630 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 10 | 7 | .700 | |
| Ralph Simpson | SG | 30 | 8 | 81 | 41 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 47 | 18 | .383 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 10 | 5 | .500 | |
| Tim Bassett | PF | 28 | 7 | 92 | 24 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 8 | .364 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8 | .667 | ||
| Totals | 82 | 82 | 19805 | 8879 | 3764 | 2094 | 869 | 581 | 1691 | 7504 | 3456 | .461 | 298 | 85 | .285 | 2406 | 1882 | .782 |
Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG+BPG) | Impact Index* | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Newlin | Primary Scorer / Offensive Engine | 32.2 | High | 20.9 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 14.95 | Volume scoring guard who carried perimeter offense, strong free-throw efficiency, frequently closed games as go-to option; played major minutes despite defensive limitations. | — |
| Calvin Natt | Two-Way Forward / Interior Anchor | 38.6 | High | 19.7 | 9.7 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 16.70 | Emerging star wing-forward with heavy minutes, elite rebounding for position, consistent interior scoring and physical defense; focal point of frontcourt offense. | — |
| Maurice Lucas | Physical Enforcer / Secondary Scorer | 32.2 | Medium-High | 15.2 | 9.6 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 15.35 | Tough, high-motor power forward who set the tone defensively and facilitated from the post; known for physicality and leadership despite limited games played. | — |
| Eddie Jordan | Primary Playmaker | 32.4 | High | 13.3 | 3.3 | 6.8 | 3.0 | 13.20 | Lead guard responsible for organizing offense, high assist load, disruptive perimeter defender with elite steal rate for a guard. | — |
| John Williamson | Microwave Scorer | 27.5 | Medium-High | 17.7 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 11.95 | Explosive scorer off the bench, instant offense with deep shooting range; role focused almost entirely on shot creation. | — |
| Cliff Robinson | Developing Frontcourt Scorer | 23.7 | Medium | 13.6 | 7.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 11.80 | Teenage rookie showing advanced interior scoring and rebounding instincts; long-term upside evident despite limited offensive polish. | — |
| George Johnson | Defensive Anchor / Rim Protector | 26.2 | Low | 7.2 | 7.4 | 2.1 | 3.9 | 10.30 | Elite shot blocker who anchored the paint defensively; offensive role limited but defensive impact was substantial. | — |
| Rich Kelley | Rotation Big / Interior Finisher | 25.7 | Low-Medium | 10.0 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 10.75 | Reliable interior presence with solid rebounding and rim protection; filled minutes across multiple frontcourt roles. | — |
| Jan van Breda Kolff | Utility Wing / Glue Guy | 29.3 | Low | 6.8 | 5.2 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 8.55 | Versatile wing who contributed across categories, defensive awareness and ball movement valued more than scoring. | — |
| Roger Phegley | Bench Scorer | 19.3 | Medium | 11.7 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 7.95 | Efficient reserve scorer who provided spacing and short-burst offense in limited minutes. | — |
| Winford Boynes | Defensive Guard / Role Player | 17.2 | Low | 8.5 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 6.65 | Defense-first guard tasked with pressure defense and energy minutes; limited offensive responsibility. | — |
| Phil Jackson | Veteran Enforcer / Locker-Room Leader | 12.1 | Very Low | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 3.50 | End-of-career veteran used situationally for toughness and experience; minimal offensive role. | — |
| Bob Elliott | Depth Big | 13.4 | Very Low | 5.7 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 5.45 | Reserve power forward providing short frontcourt stints; limited but functional contributor. | — |
| Robert Smith | Backup Guard | 12.5 | Very Low | 5.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 4.20 | Low-usage reserve guard focused on ball security and spot minutes behind starters. | — |
| Ralph Simpson | Energy Guard | 10.1 | Low | 5.1 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 4.70 | Short-rotation guard providing defensive pressure and hustle in limited appearances. | — |
| Tim Bassett | Emergency Frontcourt Depth | 13.1 | Very Low | 3.4 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 3.65 | Minimal-usage depth big used sparingly; role centered on fouls, screens, and spot minutes. | — |