That's so true about him saving the NBA, I remember back then when they talked about it on the news.and he passed the torch to magic. Also people don't know doc tore his akilis tendon in the aba,and came back, unheard of back then.he was 21 or 22.
I grew up watching this guy, Im 56 now and I forgot some of his moves , You know you dont see the finger roll in Basketball these days, and I have never seen anybody dunk on centers like Doc.J without him there is no entertainment in basketball. The most beloved NBA player in the History of the NBA .
Dr. J is my absolute favorite player. He unlike too many of today’s stars, Julius played against pure legendary players in their prime. Back then it was definitely a man’s game and not the spoiled brat game of today.
Like the great mr Russel said: "for Julius Erving, the spectacular is routine". What always amazed me regarding Dr J is his confidence when facing 7,2 feet Kareem and Artis Gilmore or 7 footer Bill Walton and dunking fearlessly on them. Dr J, along with Dominique Wilkins are the best at dunking on big men. The difference is that the Dr is more elegant while Dominique is more powerful dunker. 6,6 ft height with long and powerful legs Dr J was unbeliavable in attacking the rim and a good offensive rebounder. If he was into it he might have been an world champion in high jump, he had a natural technic. On a side note i believe that Dr J was probably the one player in NBA history that could dare to dunk on Wilt Chaimberlain more than once.
Marco Indians AND finisher. U will never see another like J. When a phenomenon happens... a phenomenon happens... and Doctor J was a phenomenon (Pat Riley).
DrJ doesn't receive the credit he deserves and is often overlooked as an all time Great Mt. Rushmote Player. The greatest steals and Shotblocking small forward ever.
One was a guard in a different era - the other was a small forward that often played like a power forward in the half court and STILL dunked over power forward and centers! Notice how quick was his two footed bounce from a stand still - and even his lightening quick second bounce! Along with creative layups around and over anyone. They just show full court highlights mostly. Doc was a powerful jumper and shot blocker in the half court. The NBA was a big man - defensive minded NBA. Everyone needed a powerful center to win a title. Different positions - different eras! Plus Doc was a team player at heart - not today's narcissistic generation. Doc excelled in the half court or full court - shooting over 50% for his entire career! One of the highest for a forward along with one of the best shot blockers and steals for a small forward in NBA history.
He is the best all time combo offensive boards,blocks,steals sf of all time better than many HOF pf..his ppg if seen with a fixed .50 percent slightly bette than MJ and Bird but much bette than other volume scorers like Kobe and AI in just 17 fga in his NBA career toghether with less free throws and no threes , one can conclude very safely that Doc could average 28/29 ppg on 22/23 fga instead of 24 on 18 fga if more selfish and demanding!
He was not to be denied in this game... He was not trying to lose this series, even though he knew he didn't have quite the fire power he needed... Fortunately, that would come in the next season ( Moses )....🔥🔥🔥🔥💖💖💖
Wow I am love this man no homo .....my guy.....my favorite growing up........ Class personified......... smooth and silk..... Combined........ people don't realize he played for A.B.A.....AND N.B.A.
Well said "EB", DOC GOT DOWN!!! He would not be denied. During those games in the finals, no one on planet earth could have stopped him. And almost dunking every shot, guaranteeing the points hit the board, he was sick of the Lakers!!!
Kareem , Artis and Eaton are all time leaders in Blocks..imagine what he would have done to Brook Lopez or Dwight or Golbert oe Embiid on that open body less paint with zero contact palming the ball and takin extra steps Giannis style!
The difference between Dr J and MJ is that Dr J respected his teammates and wanted them to contribute. That's why Dr J played in so many NBA finals during his limited time in the NBA. MJ's Bulls did not make the NBA Finals until the 90s when the league was weaker. That does not take away from MJ's greatness, but Jordan was not a true team player like Bird, Magic, Dr J, and others.
Not only that but they felt loyal to McGinnis as their first option and alonf came Free who both bricked worst than Russell in 77 finals and 78eastern Finals below .4 in 2point shots..we talk rally misearable performances in terms of fgattempsts/points made..a very toxic lockeroom by all accounts in the media at the time!
With Dr J, Cheeks , Toney ,Dawkins, Jones and more, it's hard to belief they lost to the celtics and lakers, especially the lakers. I thought back then that the sixers had the way better team
J W ...The missing piece of that puzzle was Moses Malone. Had he been in the lineup the same year Doc had arrived, The Philadelphia Seventy-sixers would have had a dynasty.
Caldwell Jones wasn't a scoring Center,I loved Dawkins but he was to on-off,If the Sixers had a legitimate center from 77 on they would of won multiple titles, unfortunately that didn't happen Doc was my favorite player,and the most exciting the Aba or Nba ever seen.
vincent parrella Your analysis is spot on. As great as J was; if they would have had him handle the ball more as he did in the ABA, similar to Lebron James in today's game-his numbers for his career would be off the chart. J is an extremely underrated player and in my opinion a top 15 player of all time. He is the greatest open court player and finisher off the break the ABA/NBA has ever seen. And it is not even close.
all do respect to micheal jordan.but when i look at the Dr.please dont tell me nothing about anybody else.who had the better moves.Jordan borrowed most of the Drs. moves.And Kobi borrowed from Jordan.But the Dr. is the origional
