Julius Erving, or Dr. J., as he’s known, is one of the most exciting and influential players to ever play the game of basketball.
- ABA/NBA Merger
- The Doctor Lands In Philadelphia
- Dr. J.’s NBA Championship Woes
- Dr. J. Becomes An NBA Champion
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Dr. J. got his start in the American Basketball Association or ABA, in 1971, during the height of the ABA challenging the NBA as the top basketball league in the nation.
When Dr. J. reached the ABA, he brought a different style and attitude that neither the ABA nor NBA had seen before. It also helped that he played in New York for the Nets. This showcased his incredible talent on basketball’s biggest stage.
One trait Dr. J. brought to the game of basketball that was different from anyone else was he became one of the first non-centers to routinely dunk the basketball.
This excitement, along with his incredible basketball skills, led to new fans, three scoring titles, three MVP awards, and two ABA championships.
Dr. J. even participated and won the first-ever Slam Dunk Contest in 1976. He won the contest by jumping from the free-throw line, becoming the first person to do so in a Slam Dunk Contest.
Despite the popularity gained by Dr. J., the ABA struggled with attendance overall as a league. After the 1975-1976 season, the ABA folded, and four of their teams, the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and the New York Nets, joined the NBA.
ABA/NBA Merger
After the New York Nets merged into the ABA, they found themselves stuck with two problems. For one, the New York Knicks were so big in New York, they didn’t want to share their arena with the Nets.
This forced the Nets to move to New Jersey, but this wasn’t the end of their problems.
The Nets were having a contract dispute with Dr. J. and they couldn’t afford to keep him. So, 24 hours before the start of the NBA season, the Nets sold Dr. J.’s contract to the Philadelphia 76ers for $3 million.
The Doctor Lands In Philadelphia
Dr. J. stormed into the NBA with a fury. He averaged 21.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while leading the 76ers to a 50-32 record. This was tied for the second-best record in the league.
When the playoffs started, Dr. J.’s play helped his 76ers reach the NBA Finals. Yes, in his first NBA season, Dr. J. had already made it to the NBA’s biggest stage. Would he get a championship, as well?
Dr. J.’s 76ers faced off against Bill Walton‘s Portland Trail Blazers and after the first two games, Dr. J. proved his 76ers were the team to beat.
The 76ers won the first two games to take control of the series. The problem was, the Trail Blazers were up to the challenge to beat the 76ers, and that’s exactly what happened.
The Trail Blazers won the next four games and the championship, 4-2. This was a devastating setback to Dr. J.’s incredible NBA rookie season.
Despite the loss, Dr. J. proved he could dominate the NBA as he had in the ABA. He knew he’d surely get back to the NBA Finals and have another shot at a championship.
Dr. J.’s NBA Championship Woes
Dr. J. and the Philadelphia 76ers would get back to the NBA Finals three years later during the 1979-1980 NBA season.
The 76ers finished the season with a 59-23 record, which was second-best in the Eastern Conference, behind the Boston Celtics and their 61-21 record.
The 76ers would square off against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and defeated them easily, winning the series 4-1.
This set up a showdown in the NBA Finals against rookie Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Halfway through Game 5 with the series tied at 2-2, league MVP, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar injured his ankle with a severe sprain.
Jabbar managed to come back in the fourth quarter, and he led the Lakers to a 108-103 victory, and more importantly, a 3-2 series lead.
The problem for the Lakers was Jabbar was listed out for Game 6, and it was said he’d most likely be out for a Game 7 if the series went that far.
This looked to be Dr. J.’s best chance at winning his first NBA title… but then, that rookie known as “Magic” started the game at the center position.
Magic played incredibly, scoring 42 points while grabbing 15 rebounds. This game would go down in history as Magic’s greatest game and the best game a rookie has ever played.
Dr. J. played well, too. He scored 27, but it wasn’t enough, as his dreams of becoming an NBA champion were taken away from him once more.
Two years later, Dr. J. and his 76ers found themselves battling the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals once again.
Like before, the 76ers would come out on top, this time in a Game 7 victory. History was also made during that hard-fought Game 7.
In the final moments of the game, with the 76ers looking to be the winners of the game and the series, the Boston Celtic crowd, using their hatred toward the Los Angeles Lakers, started the famous chant, “Beat LA!”
The 76ers, led by Dr. J. had their second chance at the Lakers, but they couldn’t do what the Celtic fans asked.
Dr. J.’s 76ers fell to the Lakers 4-2, just like they did in the 1980 NBA Finals.
After the season, a 31-year-old Dr. J. started to wonder if his championship days were bound to his ABA days. Would he ever become an NBA champion?
Dr. J. Becomes An NBA Champion
Dr. J. and the Philadelphia 76ers wouldn’t have to wait long to play in the NBA Finals.
They made the Finals the very next season, and once again they’d battle the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 76ers went out and got Dr. J. some help before the season. They picked up Moses Malone, a dominant center who could battle Jabbar in the paint. This seemed to be the difference.
As Malone led the way, Dr. J. and the rest of the 76ers played great as they swept the Lakers, 4-0 to win the championship, Dr. J.’s first in his NBA career, and third basketball championship overall.
Even though Malone won the Finals MVP, it was a great sight to see, one of the pioneers of the ABA and a true master at his craft, finally, hold up the NBA championship trophy.
