Buck Williams
A relentless workhorse under the boards, his goggles and rebounding tenacity defined an era of physical, blue-collar basketball.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American basketball player & coach·Birthday: March 8·Baby Boomers
Biography
Buck Williams arrived in the NBA with a simple, punishing mandate: own the paint. Drafted by the New Jersey Nets, the power forward from Maryland immediately made his presence felt, combining a sculpted physique with an almost scientific understanding of angles to dominate the glass. His trademark goggles became a symbol of his no-nonsense, fundamentally sound approach. For eight seasons in New Jersey, he was the team's engine, a constant double-double threat who carried them to playoff relevancy. A trade to Portland transformed him into the veteran backbone of a contending Trail Blazers squad that reached two NBA Finals. While never a flashy scorer, Williams's value was measured in possessions gained, bruises given, and the sheer consistency of his effort. He finished his career as one of the most prolific rebounders in league history, the epitome of a player who built a stellar career on the things that don't always make the highlight reel.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Buck was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Buck Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Buck's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1982 after averaging a double-double (15.5 points, 12.3 rebounds) for the New Jersey Nets.
- A three-time NBA All-Star (1982, 1983, 1986) during his tenure with the New Jersey Nets.
- Retired ranked in the top 15 all-time in total rebounds in NBA history, with over 13,000 for his career.
- Played a key role on the Portland Trail Blazers teams that reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.
Did You Know?
He wore protective goggles throughout his entire NBA career after an eye injury in college.
He served as President of the NBA Players Association from 1994 to 1997.
After his playing career, he returned to the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant coach for several seasons.
He was known for an exceptionally rigorous offseason training regimen focused on strength and conditioning.
“Rebounding is about heart, positioning, and wanting the ball more than the other guy.”
