FanNation

agt526 said 05/14, 12:06 AM
Julius Erving

agt526 said 05/15, 12:59 AM
Dr. J is considered one of the greatest showmen the game of basketball (NBA and ABA) has ever seen. While Erving was not the first showman of the NBA/ABA, he's definitely one of the most prominent. He brought more innovation and style to the game than anybody else.

Here's a short highlight film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEBlTatAQS8&NR=1

You think there would be any Dominique, MJ, Kobe, Vince Carter, Clyde Drexler, or anyone else known for their above the rim displays of ridiculous athletic ability without Doc?

Any reason you have for MJ having the most negative impact is only a part of the negative impact that Dr. J's non-birth would have had.

Now, a couple quotes emphasizing his negative non-birth:

"As a basketball player, Julius was the first to actually take the torch and become the spokesman for the NBA. He understood what his role was and how important it was for him to conduct himself as a representative of the league." - Billy Cunningham

???We cut him off and there was nowhere for him to go but out of bounds ??? It???s still the greatest move I???ve ever seen in basketball, the all-time greatest.??? - Magic (referring to the behind the backboard finger roll, showing styl)

agt526 said 05/16, 10:15 PM
The showmanship of players like Dr. J was part of what led to the ABA-NBA merger. The NBA wanted the showmanship of the ABA. Think about this: without Dr. J, the NBA and ABA probably would NOT have merged in 1976. This means that the Nets, Nuggets, Pacers and Spurs could never have joined this league. That means that legendary scoring race between David Thompson of the Nuggets and George Gervin of the Spurs, which came down to the final day of the season when Thompson scored 73 and Gervin scored 63, would never have happened. And the highest scoring game of all time, when the Nuggets and Pistons scored a combined 370 points also would not have happened. And another one, when Reggie Miller scored 8 points in 9 seconds to beat the Knicks. Miller had a lot of legendary performances, including the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal, that probably would not have happened had the ABA not been absorbed in 1976.

It may seem like a bit of a stretch, but it is all very possible. If there is no Dr. J, the NBA may not have absorbed the ABA in 1976. Maybe it happens a few years later, or may be not at all, but either way, the landscape of the league we know today is drastically different.