God, he was spectacular to see play. People dont realize that not only were his dunks outrageous but how he also could switch gears and just kiss the glass. Best use of a backboard in the modern game. Period. Privleged to have seen him at the Spectrum many, many times. Sat on my couch in South Philly and cried when he announced his retirement.
Dr J was the most exciting player of his era. He was so smooth and made it look so effortless. They say Bird and Magic saved the NBA but Doc was instrumental in having it ready for those 2. I always wanted to get to the Spectrum but $ was tight and I did get to see him play in Milw. bout 5 times,never disappointed. There was only one Julius"Dr J" Erving!
Jason Thompson ...I agree with you totally, Jason. Doc brought the ABA into the NBA, PERIOD!!! He revitalized and saved the NBA, setting the stage for Magic and Larry, who kept the league going. Air Jordan didn't change or save anything.
There was a time in the early 70’s when NBA FINALS games played on the west coast were televised at 11pm in the east. The TV networks would not give up their prime time TV to the NBA finals. That changed when Dr. J came into the league.
My dad RIP took me to go see Dr J play in the ABA I was blessed to see him live I was blessed to see MJ live Lebron on TV Favorite player Julius Erving G.O.A.T MJ
@@zvonkosolin8627 I've seen good basketball 🏀 this game today is not that. Rules don't mean anything now Traveling Carry palming Offensive fouls Shooting is way better AT TIMES💯👍🏿
@@richardallen7509 For sure, i didnt had the pleasure to watch the Doctor, Larry and Magic and Kareem, but i did watch MJ 2nd 3peat the way game was played 80s, 90s up to 2004, there was sense of pride and competition, you dont have that in todays game
Starting at forward from the university of Massachusetts standing at 6 6' Juluisssss the Doctorrrrr Irviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnggggggg!
Julius was THE MAN! My choice for the G.O.A.T. Others players may have performed equal stats, and were great in their own time and way, but NOBODY had more CLASS and STYLE, and did it all as effortlessly - and were never LOVED like THE DOCTOR was. He is the perfect example of the sadness that men must grow old. LOVE you, Julius! May you have a long, QUALITY life and I meet you in HEAVEN one day.
The most naturally graceful basketball player ever. His greatness is eternal and unmeasurable. Imagine how many people and future stars of the game he inspired. In my opinion he was the greatest basketball player of all time. Beautiful tribute!
Like I said before, if Bird and Magic was the fire behind the popularity of the NBA in the mid to late 80's, Dr. J was the spark that started it in the 70's and 80's. All the shoe deals, started by Dr. J
MJ idolized the Skywalker mostly. If he had idolized Doc then he wouldn't be such a jerk to teammates and fans. This video has nothing to do with fuqn MJ.
Not only The Doctor was inspiration for the greatest player ever Michael Jordan, he was inspiration to Magic and Shaq as well, all 3 of them are top 5... ever
G.O.A.T. when comes to taking the basketball to the hoop. He started it all, as we see today. Sure many players dunked the basketball before him, but Dr. J was the absolute most prolific player and the one everyone can point to and say it was him that made this game the way it is today. Very, very few players, in any sport, have that distinction.
Wow classic memories thx for posting this video I cried because my aunt loved the sixers as do I she took me to the 83 championship parade I still remember that day just like it was yesterday my aunt lost the battle to cancer back in 2016 but I know she’s still rooting for the sixers in heaven
Julius Dr.J Erving was my hero coming up 70s and 80s before the Jordans James there was the Doctor just as everyone wants to be like mike. Everyone wanted to be Doctor J all across this country you would see kids wearing t shirts they painted # 6 on Doc was the first to take flight the first to do the free throw dunk he had moves ive yet to see anyone do . i know they have stats and argue who is the GOAT. No matter what they say i witnessed Doctor J play and im my world Doctor J is the GOAT. The Greatest of All Time love ya Doc
This was awesome. Thank you! Dr J always carried himself with class. No chest thumping, no flexing, no taunting, and never having the need to announce that he was the best player in the world, like some players today.
I grew up watching Magic Johnson and the Lakers, but even though I was a die-hard Lakers fan, I always loved watching Dr. J do his thing, what true basketball fan didn't love watching this graceful basketball player soar high above everyone? Thank you Julius 'Dr J' Erving for the countless exciting moments you gave us all.
Simply the G.O.A.T. (not led by the media to state that - but by pure facts - taken by years of witnessing his greatness)! The parade that was held is his honor, following his retirement, shows how much he was truly appreciated by Philly and basketball fans everywhere.
I am not a Sixer fan, however I loved watching them play during his era. The 83' Sixers might be one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Julius Erving is a total class act.
My father worked at the RAC in Piscataway and anytime Dr. J and the 76ers would come to town to play the Nets, he would stay after and sign EVERY SINGLE autograph, no matter what happened in the game. I still have two pairs of game worn Converse sneakers he gave me and his shorts. He didn't care if it was below zero, which it usually was. He would start his Bentley up, and would roll the window down, and start signing autographs for every single person until everyone was happy. Not until he left, bu until every single person that wanted an autograph, was happy. NO PLAYER has EVER did that, or ever will. Talk about CLASS......
Julius was the poet of basketball. As great as all the other high fliers were--Baylor, Hawkins, Skywalker, MJ, Nique and Vince Carter etc etc...Julius had an artistry to his game that is still to this day unsurpassed. He was also the most beloved player of all time. Even the opposing teams fans rooted for him.
From the University of Massachusetts "THE DOCTOR" #6 JULIUS ERRRRRRRRRVIIIIIIIIG.... THE DOCTOR changed the whole NBA game,FOREVER.... SIXERS FOR LIFE!!!!!
I still remember him playing to this day and still feel that excitement of what was he going to do next. When I see clips like this video it takes me back to a better time of my life. What an awesome player and man. Thanks Doctor J
You didn't just get to see the Doctor in his office at the spectrum but also at your teams home arena because the Doctor also did house calls throughout his whole career and made all of us feel really good by watching him putting on his show! The Doctor is and always was in the HOUSE!
Wow!!! This is an awesome video, thanks and congrats to whoever made it. Dr J is unique, elegant, excellent. He was a seed on taking off land basketball. Then came others. His arm loops with ball in hand where gorgeous, incomparable. Thanks for the post, this is one of my favorites.
A wonderful tribute to a wonderful basketball player, father, and leader who touched all the young lives like mine growing up. Those memories will never be lost.
My favorite athlete of all-time. I feel lucky to have seen his whole career in Philly. A legend in every sense of the word and a classy gentleman as well. Your’re still the man Doc.
The Dr. kept the NBA running in the mid late 70s. He was the 1st Sports Superstar on television. I had an ABA ball of his, and was an 8yr old version of doc!
Splendid. The Dr. in Philadelphia.. what an uplifting, inspiring piece you have put together here. The mid 70's thru early 80's was the Dr. J era and no player captured the imagination of the fans like Julius Erving. His game was above the rim.. and in mid air, no one could hang with him. The real 'Skywalker' of his day! Truly the ambassador of the league when the NBA was in jeopardy due to drug problems, incidents, and racial stereotyping.. His extraordinary ability, quiet dignity and intelligent, gentlemanly demeanor lifted us all. (Not to mention the 'fro'.. combined with his style, when he came from the ABA in the 70's, he was like the Jimi Hendrix of basketball! But way cooler..) Dr. J understood what he represented, and solemly, he assumed that role and took the league on his shoulders. What a gift to the NBA and the city of Philadelphia he was! And indeed, to every basketball fan blessed to see him in his time. A lesson in greatness!
Excellent music selection! Made me cry actually. May God bless Julius Erving and his family many times over. WAY UNDERPAID relative to what he did for the NBA in his time.
Julius Erving a.k.a. Dr. Jay I followed him all the way through school till his retirement NBA he without a doubt turn it all before anyone else God bless him
He posterized every superstar in his Era.... NO STAREDOWN... NO FLEXING.....NO FLOP.... NO TRASHTALK..... HE PLAYED THE GAME IN THE MOST ELECTRIFYING WAY....AND IN A GENTLEMAN MANNER. WE DONT SEE ANOTHER SUPERSTAR AS HUMBLE AS HE IS.....PERIOD.
Dave Zinkoff introducing dr J should be played before every nba telecast.Lots of young fans missed this classic introduction! I still get the chills listening to this on "you tube".
This was who everyone wanted to be before there was a Jordan, Kobie, or Lebron. He started it all. I remember walking up to him during the half time of a Bullets game and asked for his autograph and there was a rule he couldn't give me autographs until after the game. I was so bummed but I got to talk with him and it was a great moment I can remember as a teen. I don't know if everyone appreciates this man for what he brought to the game but he was one of a kind in his time. Great and moving dedication to him. You deserve an award for putting this together.
He dunked on everyone - it didn't matter who was in his way. And never opened his mouth. His moves were pure poetry. Way ahead of his time. Those 76ers teams from 77 to the mid 80s were so fun to watch.
Dr. J reminds me of that guy on the other team in which opposing players are constantly watching where he's going at all times - the best player on the court!
He put the heart in basketball, some of the most iconic dunks and layups are his, and he was an inspiration for several all time greats, forever in my top 10 greatest players ever...the Doctor from Philly
I can say I had the pleasure and opportunities to watch Dr J at the spectrum, and also I was at the game for that infamous behind the backboard shot. The stadium was so loud that game, my ears rang for days.
Blessed to have lived in Philadelphia during the time The Doctor operated. Those games from the west Coast on TV Friday Nights were Classics ! That move up ,around, and under the backboard still get me all these years later!!!!!
Though arguably the greatest basketball player to ever grace the nba court, yet so humble and so classy. Not like the chest bumping hero’s that beat their chests that came after him.
@@IJones-yz6qm Don't know for a fact but the flashy announcing style could have started with the Zinc. He would get so hyped when the home team scored, when the opposing team scored, Zinc would unexcitedly say something like, "That was Heard...of Buffalo".
That was a beautiful video of a class man Julius Dr J Erving even Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had probably liked it the losers who disliked it are Bill Laimbeer Fans or just don't like sports and true Sportsmanship
I remember seeing him play in the 70s in the old Chicago stadium and he put on a dunk clinic through the warm up line. He had the stadium going crazy before the game even started.
I remember seeing Dr J for the first time when growing up , I thought he was the greatest, still do,his highlights bring back those memories and then later to find out he was such a class dude was icing on the cake
No he wasn't! Michael Jordan accomplished more but why even compare the two? MJ came after. Anyhow, I'm here to show respect to Dr. J! The ambassador of professional basketball for the late 70's and early 80's! 👍
@@AaronT129 ...There aren't any comparisons, PERIOD!!! Two different positions. Dr. J: Small Forward. Air Jordan: Shooting Guard. Furthermore, Julius Winfield Erving II was the face of the ABA, the reason of the merger, and revitalized the NBA, PERIOD!!! The latter set the stage, carried the torch and passed it and his merits to Earvin Johnson, Jr. and Larry Joe Bird. When Michael Jeffrey Jordan entered the NBA, that stage was already set. The latter along with Thomas, Wilkins, Drexler, Olajuwon, Barkley, Ewing, etc. were the forerunners. However, it was The Doctor who extended and enhanced the modernity of the NBA, and it's documented.
Dr.j drove people to nba ,aba basketball fans to arena in the 1970s ❤ watching dr.j airwalk or moonwalk his moves towards the basket 🧺, he was the original basketball magician, Michael jordan he made more marketing basketball player with commercials, movie star celebrities type person, old days athletes needed summer job to help pay bills, but with big cable 💰 they do not have to do that anymore they could practice their skills in the summer
