Last Updated on July 30, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

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

The 1982–83 New Jersey Nets relied on Buck Williams as their primary interior force, with his scoring and rebounding setting the tone for the team. Albert King and Otis Birdsong supplied consistent perimeter offence, while Micheal Ray Richardson directed the attack and generated defensive pressure with his playmaking and steals. The Nets’ strengths were rebounding, ball movement, and aggressive defence, although inconsistent shooting efficiency limited their offensive consistency.

Roster

No. Player Pos Height Weight Birth Date Age College/From
33 James Bailey PF 6’9″ 220 lbs May 21, 1957 25 Rutgers
10 Otis Birdsong SG 6’3″ 190 lbs Dec 9, 1955 27 Houston
12 Darwin Cook PG 6’3″ 184 lbs Aug 6, 1958 24 Portland
53 Darryl Dawkins C 6’11” 251 lbs Jan 11, 1957 26 Maynard Evans HS (FL)
44 Len Elmore C 6’9″ 220 lbs Mar 28, 1952 30 Maryland
42 Mike Gminski C 6’11” 250 lbs Aug 3, 1959 23 Duke
55 Albert King SF 6’6″ 190 lbs Dec 17, 1959 23 Maryland
31 Mike O’Koren SF 6’7″ 207 lbs Feb 7, 1958 25 North Carolina
51 Eddie Phillips SF 6’7″ 225 lbs Sep 29, 1961 21 Alabama
20 Micheal Ray Richardson PG 6’5″ 189 lbs Apr 11, 1955 27 Montana
1 Foots Walker PG 6’0″ 184 lbs May 21, 1951 31 West Georgia
52 Buck Williams PF 6’8″ 215 lbs Oct 14, 1954 28 Maryland
34 Bill Willoughby SF 6’8″ 205 lbs May 20, 1957 25 Dwight Morrow HS (NJ)

Note: Ages are calculated as of the 1982–83 NBA season.

Regular Season Per Game

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Buck Williams PF 22 82 82 36.1 17.0 12.5 1.5 1.1 1.3 3.0 11.1 6.5 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 6.4 4.0 .620
Albert King SF 23 79 75 31.0 17.0 5.8 3.7 1.2 0.5 3.1 15.5 7.4 .475 0.3 0.1 .261 2.9 2.2 .775
Otis Birdsong SG 27 62 54 30.4 15.1 2.4 3.9 1.4 0.3 1.8 13.5 6.9 .511 0.1 0.0 .333 2.3 1.3 .566
Mickey Johnson PF 30 42 7 23.8 13.4 5.3 3.4 1.3 0.5 2.9 11.8 4.7 .401 0.4 0.0 .118 4.8 3.9 .816
Darwin Cook PG 24 82 47 32.0 13.2 2.9 5.5 2.4 0.6 2.9 12.0 5.4 .449 0.5 0.1 .211 3.0 2.3 .769
Michael Ray Richardson PG 27 31 26 32.3 12.7 4.8 6.0 2.6 0.5 3.5 12.5 5.5 .438 0.6 0.1 .200 2.5 1.6 .671
Darryl Dawkins C 26 81 81 25.8 12.0 5.2 1.4 0.8 1.9 3.5 8.3 5.0 .599 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 2.0 .646
Mike Gminski C 23 80 1 15.7 7.5 4.8 0.8 0.4 1.5 1.6 5.3 2.7 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 2.2 .778
Phil Ford PG 26 7 7 23.3 6.7 1.0 5.4 0.9 0.0 3.0 5.0 2.9 .571 0.1 0.0 .000 1.4 1.0 .700
Mike O’Koren SF 24 46 14 17.5 6.7 2.5 1.8 0.9 0.2 1.3 5.6 3.0 .525 0.2 0.0 .222 1.0 0.7 .708
Sleepy Floyd PG 22 43 6 11.5 5.3 1.0 1.6 0.4 0.2 0.9 5.0 2.1 .426 0.3 0.1 .286 1.0 0.9 .844
Foots Walker PG 31 79 10 17.6 4.4 1.7 3.3 1.0 0.0 1.3 3.2 1.4 .456 0.2 0.0 .167 1.9 1.5 .779
James Bailey PF 25 6 0 8.3 3.3 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.2 1.0 3.0 1.5 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.3 1.000
Len Elmore C 30 74 0 13.2 3.4 3.2 0.5 0.6 0.5 1.1 3.3 1.3 .398 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 0.7 .643
Eddie Phillips SF 21 48 0 8.7 3.2 1.6 0.6 0.3 0.2 1.0 2.9 1.2 .406 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 0.8 .678
Bill Willoughby SF 25 10 0 8.4 2.4 1.1 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.5 2.9 1.1 .379 0.1 0.0 .000 0.2 0.2 1.000
Jan van Breda Kolff SF 31 13 0 4.8 1.2 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.1 0.4 .357 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.4 .833
Totals     82 82 240.3 105.8 45.0 26.1 11.1 7.2 22.8 87.1 42.8 .492 1.8 0.4 .201 28.1 19.8 .705

Playoff Per Game

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Albert King SF 23 2 2 34.0 21.0 4.0 1.5 1.0 0.0 2.0 19.0 9.0 .474 1.0 0.5 .500 3.0 2.5 .833
Buck Williams PF 22 2 2 42.5 19.0 11.5 2.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 11.0 5.5 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 10.0 8.0 .800
Darryl Dawkins C 26 2 2 29.5 18.0 5.0 1.0 2.0 2.5 4.0 11.0 8.5 .773 0.5 0.0 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000
Darwin Cook PG 24 2 2 31.5 10.0 3.0 5.0 0.5 0.0 2.0 13.5 4.5 .333 0.5 0.0 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000
Michael Ray Richardson PG 27 2 2 29.0 9.5 4.0 2.5 2.5 0.0 2.0 10.5 4.0 .381 0.5 0.0 .000 2.5 1.5 .600
Mike Gminski C 23 2 2 14.5 7.5 4.5 0.5 0.0 2.0 0.5 4.5 3.0 .667 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 1.5 .750
Otis Birdsong SG 27 2 2 18.5 6.5 1.0 4.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 8.0 3.0 .375 0.5 0.0 .000 1.0 0.5 .500
Foots Walker PG 31 2 2 18.0 3.5 0.0 5.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 1.0 .333 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 1.5 1.000
Eddie Phillips SF 21 2 2 6.0 3.5 2.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 3.0 1.5 .500 1.0 0.0 .000 2.0 0.5 .250
Len Elmore C 30 2 2 7.5 2.5 4.5 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.5 2.5 1.0 .400 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 0.5 .500
Mike O’Koren SF 24 2 2 9.0 2.0 3.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 4.0 1.0 .250 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 0.0 .000
Totals     2 2 240.0 103.0 43.0 26.0 9.0 5.5 16.5 90.0 42.0 .467 4.0 0.5 .125 25.0 18.5 .740

Regular Season Per 36 Minutes

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Mickey Johnson PF 30 42 7 23.8 20.3 8.1 5.2 2.0 0.8 4.4 17.8 7.2 .401 0.6 0.1 .118 7.2 5.9 .816
Albert King SF 23 79 75 31.0 19.8 6.7 4.3 1.4 0.6 3.6 18.0 8.6 .475 0.3 0.1 .261 3.3 2.6 .775
Otis Birdsong SG 27 62 54 30.4 17.9 2.9 4.6 1.6 0.3 2.2 15.9 8.1 .511 0.1 0.0 .333 2.8 1.6 .566
Mike Gminski C 23 80 1 15.7 17.2 11.0 1.7 1.0 3.3 3.6 12.2 6.1 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 6.5 5.0 .778
Buck Williams PF 22 82 82 36.1 17.0 12.5 1.5 1.1 1.3 3.0 11.1 6.5 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 6.4 3.9 .620
Darryl Dawkins C 26 81 81 25.8 16.6 7.2 2.0 1.2 2.6 4.8 8.3 5.0 .599 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 2.0 .646
Sleepy Floyd PG 22 43 6 11.5 16.5 3.1 4.9 1.4 0.7 2.9 15.7 6.7 .426 1.0 0.3 .286 3.3 2.8 .844
Darwin Cook PG 24 82 47 32.0 14.8 3.3 6.1 2.7 0.7 3.3 13.5 6.1 .449 0.5 0.1 .211 3.3 2.6 .769
James Bailey PF 25 6 0 8.3 14.4 4.3 1.4 0.7 0.7 4.3 13.0 6.5 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 1.4 1.000
Michael Ray Richardson PG 27 31 26 32.3 14.2 5.4 6.7 2.9 0.5 3.8 13.9 6.1 .438 0.7 0.1 .200 2.7 1.8 .671
Mike O’Koren SF 24 46 14 17.5 13.8 5.1 3.7 1.9 0.5 2.8 11.6 6.1 .525 0.4 0.1 .222 2.2 1.5 .708
Eddie Phillips SF 21 48 0 8.7 13.2 6.7 2.5 1.2 0.7 4.3 11.9 4.8 .406 0.2 0.0 .000 5.1 3.5 .678
Phil Ford PG 26 7 7 23.3 10.4 1.5 8.4 1.3 0.0 4.6 7.7 4.4 .571 0.2 0.0 .000 2.2 1.5 .700
Bill Willoughby SF 25 10 0 8.4 10.3 4.7 3.4 0.4 0.4 2.1 12.4 4.7 .379 0.4 0.0 .000 0.9 0.9 1.000
Len Elmore C 30 74 0 13.2 9.2 8.8 1.4 1.6 1.4 3.1 9.0 3.6 .398 0.0 0.0 .000 5.8 3.0 .643
Jan van Breda Kolff SF 31 13 0 4.8 8.6 7.4 2.9 1.1 1.1 1.7 8.0 2.9 .357 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 2.9 .833
Totals     82 82 240.3 305.0 132.3 73.0 24.2 13.6 51.6 276.0 155.0 .467 4.0 1.0 .125 70.0 48.0 .685

Playoff Per 36 Minutes

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Albert King SF 23 2 2 68 22.2 4.2 1.6 1.1 0.0 2.1 20.1 9.5 .474 1.1 0.5 .500 3.2 2.6 .833
Darryl Dawkins C 26 2 2 59 22.0 6.1 1.2 2.4 3.1 4.9 13.4 10.4 .773 0.6 0.0 .000 1.2 1.2 1.000
Eddie Phillips SF 21 2 2 12 21.0 15.0 9.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 18.0 9.0 .500 6.0 0.0 .000 12.0 9.0 .250
Mike Gminski C 23 2 2 29 18.6 11.2 1.2 0.0 5.0 1.2 11.2 7.4 .667 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 3.7 .750
Buck Williams PF 22 2 2 85 16.1 9.7 1.7 0.8 0.8 2.1 9.3 4.7 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 8.5 6.8 .800
Otis Birdsong SG 27 2 2 37 12.6 1.9 8.8 2.9 0.0 1.0 15.6 5.8 .375 1.0 0.0 .000 1.9 1.0 .500
Len Elmore C 30 2 2 15 12.0 21.6 2.4 2.4 0.0 2.4 12.0 4.8 .400 0.0 0.0 .000 9.6 12.0 .500
Michael Ray Richardson PG 27 2 2 58 11.8 5.0 3.1 3.1 0.0 2.5 13.0 5.0 .381 0.6 0.0 .000 3.1 1.9 .600
Darwin Cook PG 24 2 2 63 11.4 3.4 5.7 0.6 0.0 2.3 15.4 5.1 .333 0.6 0.0 .000 1.1 1.1 1.000
Mike O’Koren SF 24 2 2 18 8.0 12.0 6.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 16.0 4.0 .250 0.0 0.0 .000 10.0 2.0 .000
Foots Walker PG 31 2 2 36 7.0 0.0 11.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 6.0 2.0 .333 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 3.0 1.000
Totals     2 2 480 164.5 109.5 57.3 14.4 9.0 28.5 169.5 71.9 .424 8.3 0.6 .055 68.2 45.3 .643

Regular Season Totals

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Buck Williams PF 22 82 82 2961 1396 1027 125 91 110 246 912 536 .588 4 0 .000 523 324 .620
Albert King SF 23 79 75 2447 1346 456 291 95 41 245 1226 582 .475 23 6 .261 227 176 .775
Darwin Cook PG 24 82 47 2625 1080 240 448 73 48 238 986 443 .449 38 8 .211 242 186 .769
Darryl Dawkins C 26 81 81 2093 968 420 114 67 152 281 669 401 .599 0 0 .000 257 166 .646
Otis Birdsong SG 27 62 54 1885 936 150 239 85 16 114 834 426 .511 6 2 .333 145 82 .566
Mike Gminski C 23 80 1 1255 601 382 61 35 116 126 426 213 .500 1 0 .000 225 175 .778
Mickey Johnson PF 30 42 7 1001 564 224 144 56 21 121 496 199 .401 17 2 .118 201 164 .816
Michael Ray Richardson PG 27 31 26 1002 395 150 187 81 15 107 388 170 .438 20 4 .200 76 51 .671
Foots Walker PG 31 79 10 1388 346 136 264 30 3 104 250 114 .456 12 2 .167 149 116 .779
Mike O’Koren SF 24 46 14 803 308 114 82 42 11 62 259 136 .525 9 2 .222 48 34 .708
Sleepy Floyd PG 22 43 6 494 226 42 67 19 9 40 216 92 .426 14 4 .286 45 38 .844
Eddie Phillips SF 21 48 0 416 152 77 29 14 8 50 138 56 .406 2 0 .000 59 40 .678
Phil Ford PG 26 7 7 163 47 7 38 0 0 21 35 20 .571 1 0 .000 10 7 .700
Bill Willoughby SF 25 10 0 84 24 11 8 1 1 5 29 11 .379 1 0 .000 2 2 1.000
James Bailey PF 25 6 0 50 20 6 2 1 1 6 18 9 .500 0 0 .000 2 2 1.000
Jan van Breda Kolff SF 31 13 0 63 15 13 5 2 2 3 14 5 .357 0 0 .000 6 5 .833
Totals     82 82 19705 8672 3693 2143 911 592 1852 7140 3510 .492 149 30 .201 2301 1622 .705

Playoff Totals

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Albert King SF 23 2 2 68 42 8 3 2 0 4 38 18 .474 2 1 .500 6 5 .833
Buck Williams PF 22 2 2 85 38 23 4 2 2 5 22 11 .500 0 0 .000 20 16 .800
Darryl Dawkins C 26 2 2 59 36 10 2 4 5 8 22 17 .773 1 0 .000 2 2 1.000
Darwin Cook PG 24 2 2 63 20 6 10 1 0 4 27 9 .333 1 0 .000 2 2 1.000
Michael Ray Richardson PG 27 2 2 58 19 8 5 5 0 4 21 8 .381 1 0 .000 5 3 .600
Mike Gminski C 23 2 2 29 15 9 1 0 4 1 9 6 .667 0 0 .000 4 3 .750
Otis Birdsong SG 27 2 2 37 13 2 9 3 0 1 16 6 .375 1 0 .000 2 1 .500
Foots Walker PG 31 2 2 36 7 0 11 0 0 2 6 2 .333 0 0 .000 3 3 1.000
Eddie Phillips SF 21 2 2 12 7 5 3 0 0 1 6 3 .500 2 0 .000 4 1 .250
Len Elmore C 30 2 2 15 5 9 1 1 0 1 5 2 .400 0 0 .000 2 1 .500
Mike O’Koren SF 24 2 2 18 4 6 3 0 0 2 8 2 .250 0 0 .000 0 0 .000
Totals     2 2 480 206 86 52 18 11 33 180 84 .467 8 1 .125 50 37 .740

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK Impact Index* Notes Awards
Buck Williams Anchor Big (two-way pillar) 36.1 High 17.0 12.5 1.5 2.4 16.7 Consistently led the frontcourt as the Nets’ rebound and interior scoring engine; elite rebound rates and high efficiency made him a team centerpiece for both ends. All-NBA Second Team this season.  All-NBA Second Team
Albert King Secondary Scorer (wing focal) 31.0 High 17.0 5.8 3.7 1.7 14.7 Reliable wing scorer on the perimeter and midrange with secondary playmaking duties; provided scoring punch next to Williams.  —
Otis Birdsong Lead Guard Scorer 30.4 High 15.1 2.4 3.9 1.7 12.2 Smooth scoring guard with efficient cuts and spot scoring; historically a strong offensive creator who adapted leadership in halfcourt sets.  —
Darwin Cook Playmaking Guard 32.0 Mid 13.2 2.9 5.5 3.0 12.8 Combo guard handling creation and secondary scoring; active driver with solid deflections and assists flow.  —
Michael Ray Richardson All-Around Facilitator 32.3 Mid 12.7 4.8 6.0 3.1 13.3 Versatile guard with strong defensive instincts and distribution; known for steals/pressure defense and playmaking impact. Career highlight in 1984–85 earned NBA Comeback Player of Year and multiple All-Star nods, though this season was a supporting creation role.  —
Darryl Dawkins Rim Finisher (interior role) 25.8 Mid 12.0 5.2 1.4 2.7 10.6 Physical interior scorer/roller with shot threat near rim and rebounding presence; more role usage than creation.  —
Mickey Johnson Spot Contributor (forward role) 23.8 Mid 13.4 5.3 3.4 1.8 11.7 Depth frontcourt player providing versatile usage in limited starts; scoring and rebounding balanced with modest defensive activity.  —
Mike Gminski Backup Big (mobility) 15.7 Low 7.5 4.8 0.8 1.2 7.0 Reserve center with perimeter passing touch for position and mobility defensively; efficient scoring in bursts.  —
Phil Ford Backup Facilitator 23.3 Mid 6.7 1.0 5.4 0.9 7.0 Veteran point option with creation chops off bench; limited by sample size but distinctive distribution.  —
Foots Walker Reserve Guard (spark) 17.6 Low 4.4 1.7 3.3 1.0 5.2 Energy guard providing late rotation playmaking and defensively disruptive cuts.  —
Mike O’Koren Role Wing 17.5 Low 6.7 2.5 1.8 1.1 6.0 Spot wing contributor with efficient scoring bursts and defensive versatility.  —
Sleepy Floyd Situational Guard 11.5 Low 5.3 1.0 1.6 0.6 4.2 Young backcourt reserve providing points in short stints and occasional playmaking.  —
Len Elmore Backup Big (defense) 13.2 Low 3.4 3.2 0.5 1.1 4.1 Defensive and rebounding role in limited minutes; impact skewed toward intangibles.  —
Eddie Phillips Fringe Wing 8.7 Low 3.2 1.6 0.6 0.5 2.9 Young reserve wing with minimal offensive and defensive opportunity.  —
James Bailey Short Rotation Big 8.3 Low 3.3 1.0 0.3 0.4 2.5 Limited minutes offense inside with emphasis on energy and hustle.  —
Bill Willoughby Fringe Reserve 8.4 Low 2.4 1.1 0.8 0.2 2.2 Brief court stretches; developmental focus.  —
Jan van Breda Kolff Depth Wing 4.8 Low 1.2 1.0 0.4 0.4 1.5 Very limited role player focused on practice squad minutes translated to minimal per-game impact.  —