They would stop at nothing to get him, and they ravaged the fledgling ABA by buying them out and absorbing the Nets, Spurs, Nuggets and Pacers. With Erving's great play and growing popularity, the NBA had to have him. Thinking about that field makes the 2012 participants seem even worse. There, Erving expanded on his legend.Įrving defeated Artis Gilmore, Larry Kenon, George Gervin and David Thompson for the title. In 1975-1976, the ABA pioneered an event the NBA still cashes in on to this day, the Slam Dunk Contest. ![]() It was the ideal combination to create a basketball icon. It was New York, it was the 1970's, it was the ABA and Erving was the most exciting player in the world. This was the perfect spot to springboard Erving into super stardom. In the playoffs, he averaged 28 points per game with 9.6 rebounds. The Nets won their first of two ABA championships with Erving. This time, he also found team success as well. In his first year, he averaged 27.4 points per game, again leading the ABA in scoring. With the Nets, in New York, Erving blew up. But after I became a pro, after my second year in Virginia, I thought that there was a possibility that I could offer something unique. I didn't think it was possible that I might be the most talented player in the world. It gave Erving the confidence in his ability he is quoted here from his nba.com bio, via the Sacramento Bee: His time in Virginia was exceptional, even if the small market limited his exposure. Prior to the1973-74 season, the cash strapped Squires traded Erving to the New York Nets along with Willie Sojurner for George Carter, the draft rights to Kermit Washington and of course, cash. This would be his last year with the Squires.ĭuring his two-year career with the Squires, Erving averaged 29.6 points per game. Wow, Tom Thibodeau must have been his coach (actually, it was Al Bianchi).Įrving averaged 32 points per game in his second season, leading the ABA in scoring for the first of three times. In Erving's first season, he played 84 regular season games, averaging 27 points, 15 rebounds and four assists per game while playing 42 minutes per night. The ABA and Virginia Squires provided the Doctor's first operating room It is before my time, but drenched in nostalgia, just how I like it.įrom the Afro, to the stride and the glide. J memorabilia and information site, came through with this retro picture of the Doctor. All of those things Erving represents.įinding a photo of Erving at Roosevelt is like trying to stop him in the open floor, nearly impossible. It is one of the most appropriate nicknames in sports history, as the term screams skill, respect and poise. The moniker coming from a high school friend, who dubbed Erving "Doctor" because Erving called him "Professor." The name stuck, and it even came to define the way Erving "operated" on a basketball court. High school is where it is believed Erving picked up the nickname "Doctor." Erving's bio on nba.com explains: I guess Michael Jordan isn't the only NBA great who showed just a fraction of what he'd be in high school. That is amazing considering what he would become. According to nba.com's bio on Erving, "He starred for Roosevelt High School, earning a reputation as a fundamentally sound but not spectacular player." He attended and starred at Roosevelt High School. ![]() ![]() Julius Winfield Erving II was born on Februin Roosevelt, New York. J, so let us look back and enjoy the amazing career of Julius Erving. Time and era will never allow for another presence like Dr. He was the rare player that you and your dad loved his appeal bridged age and racial gaps. ![]() J embodied African-American dignity in a time when blacks in this country desperately needed an image of pride, excellence and grace.Īs a kid, he was easy to look up to and easy to love. All that while physically defining what a swing man should look like.ĭr. His style and graceful demeanor was disarming, but his killer on-court instinct was vicious. The Doctor changed the game intangibly as much as he did tangibly. He is a part of a small group of players simply known by their nickname (Dr. He dominated in the ABA in a way that rivals or surpasses just about any player in any era of the game. The smooth, graceful and powerful athlete he was, was already vastly superior to his peers. J was so far ahead of his time, he never really needed to develop a more well-rounded offensive game until he was in his late 20s to early 30s. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant may have been better overall players, but even that is debatable.ĭr. Julius Erving is NBA royalty, and on his 62nd birthday, I celebrate the career accomplishments of the coolest player the game has ever seen.
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