Julius Erving (aka Dr. J)

Before MJ was lighting it up in Chicago with his majestic run with the Bulls, there was the showstopping, death-defying, 360 degree slam dunking, whirling dervish that represented the now-defunct ABA, the ambassador of the NBA of the 80's and a legend of the streetballers of the New York-Rucker scene...Dr.J.  For those who didn't see him during his day, you all missed out.  Doc was the first player to take the game above the rim on a consistent basis...nite in, nite out.  Today we see a lot of this, by a lot of players, but Doc was the creator back in the 70's.  At a time when the NBA was a distant third in popularity to baseball and football, Doc

put that ABA excitement back into the NBA. His days with the Virginia Squires and New Jersey Nets showcased him as a dunking prodigy that no one had ever before.  Scoring was real easy for him, but it was the way he did it that separated him from the rest. All those reverse jams, lay-ins and contortions in between defenders made him the most innovative scoring machine the game had seen since Elgin Baylor.  A visionary ...without him, there would have never been an MJ, a Kobe or a Vince Carter.  He also rebounded like a mutha. Standing at 6'6 with those long arms and huge hands (12" from thumb to pinky), Doc was something to watch in the open court.  The best ever...and I've seen 'em all.  Because of his gifts, he was a marketable person for the league...the first hoopster to become a celebrity during his years as a player.   Do you remember Dr. Chapstick ? 

     A player from Long Island, New York Doc made a name for himself at the Rucker tournaments where he dazzled crowds and took on legends of the asphalt, scoring his usual 40-50 pts. per outing.  His stuff is still being talked about today.  Then Doc hooked up with UMass, an okay school back then, but realized that the minutemen were not contenders for the NCAA crown, held at that time by UCLA and John Wooden's dominance.  There was also a no dunk rule at the time as well.  Doc left after his sophmore year and signed with the ABA (American Basketball Assoc.) and went to the Virginia Squires where he did his stuff on day one.  Teamed up with Iceman in his second year which is pretty cool, but got traded to the Nets due to the financial woes of the league.

The high wire act over DT (David Thompson) in the '76 finals.

The reign with the Nets gave Doc more visibility, rings and fans.  Everyone was buzzin'  about this guy Julius who was considered he best player that no one had ever heard of.  Watch the 1976 All Star Game, the championshiop series and the dunk contest to know what I'm getting at.  An unknown ?  That was about to change.

     When the NBA-ABA merge happened in 1976, everything came together and the Doc was very well received, making it to the Finals the first year.  However, he and his new team, the Philadelphia 76ers would not get a title until 1983.  Some consider that '83 team to be one of the best of all time.  It was one of those teams that kept coming back and back to the playoffs (1976-1983) until they made it.  Doc retired in grand fashion at the end of the '87 season.  It was a nice tour.
     A class act.  Popular, a damn good baller and a great inspiration for me growing up as a young hoopster.  It was pretty much Dr.J that wanted to be.  Oh well....thanks anyway Doc.

High-flying it for the 76ers.  Nice ups!

That incredible layup in the 1980 finals...that's what we call the "Up 'n' Under."