The Game I'll Never Forget: Bill Melchionni

Basketball Digest, Jan, 2001 by Chuck O'Donnell

The Nets' all-time assists leader fondly recalls the heroics of "Super" John Williamson in the 1976 ABA title game

WHEN MY TEAMMATES FROM the 1975-76 New York Nets and I reunited a few years ago to commemorate our ABA title, we all took a long stroll down memory lane.

We told our favorite stories about Brian Taylor's brilliant outside shooting and his amazing ball-handling. We talked about the hustle and consistency Jim Eakins, Kim Hughes, Tim Bassett, and Al Skinner brought to the floor every night. We reminisced about Rich Jones' battles under the boards and coach Kevin Loughery's battles with the referees. And, of course, everyone played "top that" with Julius Erving dunk stories.

Eventually, the conversation turned to "Super" John Williamson and the '76 title. We all agreed that if it weren't for John being nothing short of super in the sixth and final game of that series, we may well not have had a rifle to reminisce about.

That night of Game 6, the sold-out crowd at the Nassau Coliseum had been somewhat lulled to sleep by our opponents, the powerful Denver Nuggets. Dan Issel, David Thompson, Bobby Jones, Ralph Simpson, Byron Beck, and company had taken a big halftime lead and then further expanded the margin in the third quarter. The Nuggets seemed crisp and on top of their game, and Thompson, in particular, was having a big night putting the ball in the hoop.

None of us really wanted to play a seventh game. When you get to a seventh game, anything can happen. Although we had taken control of the series by winning some close games, it could all be erased by a freak injury or a buzzer-beater or a bad call by the referees in a seventh game.

I guess the idea of having to play a seventh game appealed to Super John the least of all our players. He wanted to end the series now--huge deficit or not. That little thing that he had--that little thing that separates good players from great players--began to rise to the surface.

You see, Super John had confidence. I remember when he arrived at training camp as a rookie, he already had that confidence. He walked in that first day with a big leather bag emblazoned with "SUPER JOHN" on the side. We had some pretty good players such as Doc and Taylor and Billy Paultz. Everyone was looking at Super John, asking incredulously, "Who in the world does this guy think he is?"

But confidence was a big part of Williamson's game. He thought he was one of the best players around, which you could tell by the way he carried himself. He not only wanted to take the big shot; he thought he should take the big shot.

And it wasn't all attitude--Super John had skills. He was a very physical player, a very strong player, and always the picture of fitness. He was one of the few guards in the league that played like a power forward and wore his opponent down. He was also a good shooter. When he had an open shot, you were surprised when he didn't make it. When he was on his game, he was a tremendous offensive talent.

Trailing at halftime, Kevin and I (I was a player-coach at the time) began to address the team. We said, "Let's get this thing down to single digits in the third quarter and hopefully make another run in the fourth quarter. We're giving up too many easy shots. We're not doing the things we should be doing, the little things."

The Nuggets came out in the second half and added to their lead. With 17 minutes left in the game, we trailed by 22 points. Things looked bleak.

That's when Super John took over the game I'll never forget.

John started making shots of every type from every conceivable place on the floor.

Jumper? Swish!

Layup? Yes!

Dunk? Oh yeah!

He went left, right, straight ahead. He went past defenders, through defenders, over defenders. He later said that he was upset at himself for not playing as well as he would have liked to in the first half and that he wanted to make up for it in the second half.

Then, Kevin made a bold, but ingenious strategic move. He switched defenses late in the third quarter, going to a set code-named "Yellow." We began to unmercifully press and pressure the Nuggets. And as we began to steal the ball on almost every Nuggets possession, we also began to steal their poise.

By the end of the third, we had cut the deficit to 92-78, but we were just starting.

Soon the lead was down to single digits. Then Jones and Issel fouled out. The next thing you know, we took our first lead since early in the first quarter. I'll give you one guess who made the shot to give us the lead. Of course it was Super John. He lofted in a jumper from the corner to make the score 106-104 with 2:19 to play.

By now, the crowd was going crazy and we could feel our momentum surging, but the Nuggets reached down and showed some resolve. They were down, 108-106, with about a minute and a half left when their young backup center, Marvin Webster, went to the line. However, Webster missed both free throws and moments later was called for goaltending on Brian Taylor's shot, sealing our victory.

After our 112-106 win, the champagne flowed in the locker room. Dr. J, who oddly enough didn't score a point in that incredible fourth quarter, was named the Finals MVP. Reporters huddled around Eakins, who filled in for an injured Kim Hughes and gave us a 15-point, 13-rebound effort. But, there was no doubt that Super John was Superman that night. He finished with 28 points, including 24 in the second half.