Pushing 70 yrs of age he surely can dunk better than many of today's NBA players....
primetime 25 yrs old
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pushing 70 yrs
primetime 25 yrs old
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pushing 70 yrs
Dr J*Julius Erving pushing 70, can he still dunk? Chcek it out for yourself.
- Thread starter alex2363
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Alex:
Yes sir.., he sure can!
As a child my father had season tickets to the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA. I saw Dr. J play many times in his prime, he is easily the most amazing athlete I have ever seen.
i am currently taking comfort in not being able to dunk @ 25
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- #5
I remember he said that in the movie he made about basketball, The fish that saved Pittsburgh .Alex:
Yes sir.., he sure can!
"When handling the ball, I always would look for daylight, wherever there was daylight". Julius 'Dr.J' Erving
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- #6
I would have given my kidney for one of those tickets.....here is a great Youtube channel on ABA
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- #7
The best i could do is touch the rim. I tried many times to dunk but at 5'6 and 180 pounds i was too heavy, i think if i lost 20 pounds i can easily dunk. But i weight lift and it is too hard.
At 5'9" I could dunk until I was about 25 or so, then I blew my knee out.
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- #9
At 14 to 34 i could take off from foul line and almost make it to the rim for a lay up, but then my shoulder gave out.......That sucks about ur knee,, 25 is prime time. What was it the ACL?
Yep, ACL left knee.I hung the ball on the front of the rim and when I landed my upper leg went around my lower leg like a ratchet. I still played until I was in my mid 30's, just not so high off the ground. It was a game I truly loved.
funny..I asked my dad who waould be comparable to Michael Jordon of the 1980's...his reply "Dr.J of course!"....
I place basketball players into two categories-
The electrifying: Pete Maravich, Dr. J., Earl Monroe, etc.
The incredibly competent: Jerry West, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson*, etc.
Jordan was both.
*The Big O averaged a triple double over the first five years of his career, at a time when the criteria for awarding an assist were more stringent and nobody even knew what a triple double was, let alone cared.
The electrifying: Pete Maravich, Dr. J., Earl Monroe, etc.
The incredibly competent: Jerry West, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson*, etc.
Jordan was both.
*The Big O averaged a triple double over the first five years of his career, at a time when the criteria for awarding an assist were more stringent and nobody even knew what a triple double was, let alone cared.
A man after my own heart. Pete Maravich was the most electrifying offense basketball player I have ever seen. No look passes, shoot the lights ability and the best dribbler ever. His scoring record still stands, which is pretty amazing when you consider that he could only play 3 years (no freshman eligibility) and no 3 pint line. With 4 years and the 3 pointer, he might have scored 5,000 points in college. And the Big O (a skinny kid from Indianapolis) was incredible. The only glaring omission from your incredibly competent list is Bill Russell, maybe the greatest clutch player. His game 7 stats are just incredible. We must be of a similar age.
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- #14
That is really a set back for your game. It must have been disheartening when ever you wanted to elevate.....your body says go to the rim but your knees says another thing. Well atleast you have the Pacers challenging for the NBA title next year.
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- #15
funny..I asked my dad who waould be comparable to Michael Jordon of the 1980's...his reply "Dr.J of course!"....
You had it backwards, Dr J is the one who started dunking on players faces from the foul line in 1973. Way before Jordan was a adult. I don't think you can compare greatness, grace, diplomacy. Dr J is a example of what a true athlete should be. He cant be compared, Jordan can be in Dr J class but not compared to him. Dr J played 18 years and not once did he taunt a player after a dunk.
He never said one word to his opponent, he only let his game do the talking ( unlike today's players that have a special performance after every spectacular play) Doc dunked on hall of fame legends and just kept to quiet and focused on the game.
Look at the high lite YouTube video, after every spectacular play/dunk he just keeps to himself and does not taunt or try to get the crowd's attention like today's players
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- #16
Believe it or not Dr J learn many of his fancy moves from Pete, they were almost team mates in Atlanta. Here is the insight:
Julius Erving had left University of Massachusetts in 1971 his junior year, and since the NBA did not allow underclassmen, he signed a four-year contract with ABA's Squires. While the NBA/Hawks were struggling through the 1971-72 season, Julius Erving was with the Virginia Squires, averaging 27.3 points and 15.7 rebounds per contest. Erving began to question the initial contract with the Virginia team. He learned that his agent Steve Arnold was also being paid by the ABA and the Squires.
"A lot of information was uncovered referring not only to the double agent thing but also the financial status of the Virginia team. In a lawsuit brought against the Squires Erving stated that Arnold received compensation from the Virginia Squires and the ABA, Arnold never disclosed any of these facts to me.
Erving then hired a new agent, Irwin Weiner, Then the NBA came out with an announcement saying all valid ABA contracts would be honored by the NBA. When that happened, all but one NBA team backed out. Atlanta was the team that showed good faith. Erving asked the Hawks agree to cover all of his legal fees throughout the process. (Knowing that a lawsuit would follow any signing with a team from the rival league)
Erving then hired a new agent, Irwin Weiner, Then the NBA came out with an announcement saying all valid ABA contracts would be honored by the NBA. When that happened, all but one NBA team backed out. Atlanta was the team that showed good faith. Erving asked the Hawks agree to cover all of his legal fees throughout the process. (Knowing that a lawsuit would follow any signing with a team from the rival league)
On April 9, 1972, one day before the NBA draft, Erving and Weiner met with the Virginia Squires' owner Earl Foreman to restructure his contract. But negotiations broke down and Erving flew to Atlanta to sign a four-year contract with the Hawks that begin once he was no longer under contract with the Squires.
Erving requested Hawks not announce the signing, since his Squires were still playing in the ABA's playoffs. Without knowledge of the signing, the Milwaukee Bucks drafted Julius with the 12 the pick on April 10.
The news of Erving's contract with the Hawks quickly leaked after the Bucks drafted him in the first round.The Bucks stated some obvious objections, according to the NBA the rights to Julius Erving belong to the Milwaukee Bucks, commented Wayne Embry, the Bucks' general manager. When the Hawks signed Erving there were obvious objections. That all changed a couple months later when Erving filed a lawsuit, claiming that his contract with the Squires should be terminated since it was negotiated while his agent was also acting on behalf of the ABA.
The news of Erving's contract with the Hawks quickly leaked after the Bucks drafted him in the first round.The Bucks stated some obvious objections, according to the NBA the rights to Julius Erving belong to the Milwaukee Bucks, commented Wayne Embry, the Bucks' general manager. When the Hawks signed Erving there were obvious objections. That all changed a couple months later when Erving filed a lawsuit, claiming that his contract with the Squires should be terminated since it was negotiated while his agent was also acting on behalf of the ABA.
All of a sudden the prospect of Erving joining the NBA for the 1972-73 season became a lot more plausible.
Hawks had made multiple violations of NBA rules and had no chance of landing Erving. As for the dispute between the Atlanta and Milwaukee, the Hawks contend Erving was a free agent and not eligible for the draft because he was already a pro for one year with the Virginia Squires.The Hawks consulted three different law firms early on and were encouraged to proceed with the signing of Erving.
The Hawks training camp opened on September 11, 1972, with no sign of Dr.J. Members of the Omni Group felt the legal risk of inviting him to camp was too high.
Then, on September 12, Ernest G. Tidwell, a Georgia Superior Court judge, ruled that Erving's contract with the Virginia Squires of the ABA is "voidable, terminated, and of no further force for effect," before issuing an order temporarily restraining the Atlanta Hawks from not allowing Erving to play......Tuesday, the Hawks were the defendants in the kind of a lawsuit that delighted them. Julius Erving commissioned his lawyers to sue the Hawks for the right to perform for them. In other words, to make good on the contract they had signed him to."
Immediately after the ruling, "Doc" flew from Atlanta to Savannah and joined the team for their evening workout.
Immediately after the ruling, "Doc" flew from Atlanta to Savannah and joined the team for their evening workout.
Another future Hall of Famer in camp, Pete Maravich, had high praise for his newest teammate. "Erving's going to be fantastic. He's got the potential to be the greatest."
As the first exhibition games approached, Erving continued to suit up with the Hawks in practice.The first game was played on Saturday, September 23, in Frankfort, Ky. The Hawks would debut a new red and white color scheme Erving was suited up wearing the number 54, although planned to wear his number 32 in the new uniforms. He finished with 28 points and 18 rebounds in 42 minutes helping the Hawks to a 112-109 victory.
As the first exhibition games approached, Erving continued to suit up with the Hawks in practice.The first game was played on Saturday, September 23, in Frankfort, Ky. The Hawks would debut a new red and white color scheme Erving was suited up wearing the number 54, although planned to wear his number 32 in the new uniforms. He finished with 28 points and 18 rebounds in 42 minutes helping the Hawks to a 112-109 victory.
Soon after, Putnam received a telegram from the commissioner's office: "For playing Julius Erving in two exibition games over the past weekend in violation of my directives of Sept. 21 and 22, Atlanta is hereby fined $25,000. Please be advised that those directives are still in full force and effect."
On September 26, one day after the fine was handed down and the lawsuit was filed, the Hawks held Erving out of an exhibition in Houston. Comments made to the media led Hawks fans to believe that a positive resolution was forthcoming. Unfortunately, court rulings were postponed. Putnam put Erving into the Hawks line-up that Saturday, September 30, for an exhibition. Erving, scored 32 points Atlanta posted a 120-106 victory.Lou Hudson scored 33, and Maravich facilitated all of the scoring with 19 assists.
It was an impressive performance, but an expensive one as well, when Commissioner Kennedy handed down a second $25,000 fine to the Hawks.On Monday, October 2, U.S Judge Edward Neaher issued an injunction that prevented Erving from playing pro basketball for any team except the ABA's Virginia Squires.
The Hawks did have a successful first season posting a 46-36 record but they would flounder through the rest of the 1970's.
Erving would go down in history as one of the all-time greats. He won three MVP awards and two championships with the ABA's New Jersey Nets. In the NBA/Philadelphia 76ers where he won the 1981 MVP and the 1983 championship. He finished his career in 1987 with 30,026 career points, ranking him fifth all-time...............and imagine if he would have played with Pistol Pete in Atlanta.
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- #17
I think you may have to add class and greatness, which equal only Doc.
If by that you mean "old", then yes. Russell had one of the hardest jobs in all of sport- containing Chamberlain.
And a big thanks to Alex for the well researched post.
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- #19
Thank you......and Wilt ( by the way he is a Philly boy like me) had it hard guarding Russell too.If by that you mean "old", then yes. Russell had one of the hardest jobs in all of sport- containing Chamberlain.
And a big thanks to Alex for the well researched post.
Rusell still looks big and bad pushing 70.
Russell exhibited a lot of class during and after his playing days. Seems like most of the players from that era, played because they loved the game first, not the money first. Man, I miss those days.
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