Knicks' Buck Williams Retires

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 27, 1999 / 5:12 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Putting an end to a stellar 17-year career, veteran power forward Buck Williams announced his retirement Wednesday.

Williams, who will turn 39 on March 8, played the majority of his career with the Nets and Trail Blazers -- before spending the past two seasons as a role player in New York.

"It's been a tremendous journey, but the time has come for me to move on and do other things with my life," Williams said at a Madison Square Garden news conference before the Knicks' first exhibition game. "I feel proud to leave with dignity and honor while there's still something left in the tank."

"My new lifestyle of spending more time at home carried more weight than playing another year," Williams said.

In his prime, Williams was one of the league's most respected players. Despite his unimposing size (6-foot-8, 225 pounds), Williams utilized a tireless work ethic to finish with more than 1,000 rebounds in five of his first six years in the league.

Williams was nagged by injuries last season and played sparingly even when healthy. He figured to play an even smaller role this season after the Knicks supplemented their roster with the likes of Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas and Dennis Scott.

Though he never won a championship, Williams played in the NBA Finals twice with Portland, losing to the Pistons in 1990 and the Bulls in 1992.

"I've come to the realization that for some people a championship is just not in the cards," Williams said. "Now I have to give up on the dream that I chased for 17 years. I think that's really the only thing missing from my resume."

He played in 1,307 games, averaging 12.8 points and 10.0 rebounds.

Though the Knicks probably won't miss his body, they are sure to miss his leadership.

During the off-season, the Knicks traded Charles Oakley, John Starks and Terry Cummings, all of whom -- along with Williams -- were respected in the locker room.

He is one of only seven players to amass more than 6,000 points and 13,000 rebounds.

"Every player thinks about the Hall of Fame, and I would be lying if I said I didn't. I would love to go into the Hall of Fame," he said.