William P. "Bill" Melchionni (born October 19, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former NBA and ABA player. Melchionni was a wispy guard from Bishop Eustace Prep (Pennsauken, NJ) who was a collegiate star in the 1960's at Villanova University. Upon graduation from Villanova, Melchionni joined the famous Phillips 66ers AAU Elite team, where he starred for a season before returning to his hometown to join the Philadelphia 76ers. Melchionni was a key reserve on the greatest of the 76ers teams, NBA Champions led by Wilt Chamberlain, Luke Jackson, Hal Greer, Wali Jones, and Chet Walker in 1967. The team was coached by another AAU Elite alum, Alex Hannum. Melchionni then jumped to the upsart ABA, becoming a key cog with the New York Nets, mentoring a young Julius Erving. Here Melchionni was a key player in an ABA Championship, led by Dr J, Larry Kenon, Fred Williamson, and Billy Paultz. October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates , Government Country  State   County United States  Pennsylvania   Philadelphia Founded Incorporated October 27, 1682 October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 369. ... The National Basketball Association of the United States and Canada, commonly known as the NBA, is the premier professional basketball league in North America. ... The American Basketball Association (ABA) was founded in 1967 and eventually merged with the National Basketball Association. ... Bishop Eustace Preparatory School is a coeducational private high school in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, which was founded in 1954 by the priests and brothers of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (The Pallottines). ... Villanova University is a private, Catholic university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania Main Line. ... The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short) are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Wilt Chamberlain featured on his biography, Wilt: Larger Than Life. ... Luke Jackson: Having gone number 10 in the 2004 NBA Draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Luke Jackson (#33) is definitely being recognized as one of Americas elite basketball players. ... Harold Everett Greer (born June 26, 1936 in Huntington, West Virginia) is a former pro basketball player. ... Walter Wali Jones (born February 14, 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former pro basketball player. ... Image:Http://www. ... Alexander Murray Hannum (July 19, 1923 - January 18, 2002) was a pro basketball coach. ... The New Jersey Nets are a National Basketball Association team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. ... Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22, 1950 in Roosevelt, New York), commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a former American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim. ... Larry Joe Kenon (born December 13, 1952 in Birmingham, Alabama) is a former professional basketball player. ... Fred The Hammer Williamson (born March 5, 1938 in Gary, Indiana) was a star defensive player in the American Football League during the 1960s, playing for the Oakland Raiders and later the Kansas City Chiefs. ... William Edward Bill Paultz (born July 30, 1948) is a former professional basketball player nicknamed The Whopper and standing 611. Except for Basketball Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes, Paultz made more consecutive playoff appearances than any other player in professional basketball history. ...

The Nets retired Melchionni's #25 jersey.