Brooklyn Nets: Dr. J Makes a House Call

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

DR. J

Julius Erving Makes First Ever Visit to Barclays Center

Hall of Fame member Julius Erving made his first ever visit to Barclays Center on Friday.  The Nets legend more popularly known throughout the basketball universe as Dr. J, upon his pre-game introduction was welcomed by the Flatbush faithful with a rousing standing ovation.  After launching his professional career with the Virginia Squires, the Long Island native was traded back home where he would lead the New York Nets in 1974 and 1976 to American Basketball Association championships.  After the ABA/NBA merger, Julius Erving would spend his entire NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers, where in 1981 he won league MVP, and in 1983 captured his third championship title.  His #6 was retired by the Sixers, while Dr. J's #32 was retired in 1987 by the New Jersey Nets.

Hosting their former ABA brethren, Caris LeVert leads the Nets in a resounding 139-120 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.  Coming off a 51-point performance earlier in the week at Boston, Caris LeVert posts his first ever triple-double with a game high 27-points, and a team best ten assists and eleven rebounds.  Playing a team high 31-minutes, Caris also registers a game best +18 plus/minus.  Joe Harris is next in with twenty points on 9/14 from the floor, and DeAndre Jordan put up a double/double with twelve points and ten rebounds.  Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot leads the bench with 19-points, shooting 3/5 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6/6 from the line.

The Nets improve to 17-14 at home, and have exactly twenty games remaining on their regular season schedule.  Despite a 28-34 record, they remain in seventh place of the conference standings.


Art mural featuring Dr. J is from a car wash and auto detail center formerly located at the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.  Recently demolished the sight is presently under construction.

Brooklyn Nets: Know Your Team #3 - Dr. J

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

 

BROOKLYN NETS

est.

April 30, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1- Know Your Team; 1967-1968

#2 - Know Your Team; 1969-1972

 

 

 

Dr. J

 

 

 

1973-1976

 

THE JULIUS ERVING YEARS

 

The ABA/NBA Merger

 

1977:

The End Of Basketball On Long Island

 

 

In their fifth season under owner Roy Boe's care, and now playing their home games in the Nassau Coliseum, the franchise was much more settled, which in turn laid the foundations for success.  In fact, with one acquisition the Nets would begin their greatest period in franchise history.

 

 

Rick Barry's two seasons with the organization brought a measure of respect to the Nets, and for his part, some legitimacy to what the American Basketball Association was trying to accomplish.  But with the forward's departure back to the NBA, the Nets were left with another void to fill.

 

 

One poorly played season removed from Rick Barry, the Nets looked again to the organization from which they secured their former prized forward; the Virginia Squires.  From them, the Nets acquired Julius Erving.  The local kid was coming home to play in his own backyard.  After two seasons and a scoring title in Virginia, Erving made his New York debut with the start of the 1973-1974 season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the next three seasons, Julius Erving participated in every game the Nets played.  He led the league for three straight seasons in field goals made, and twice led the league in field goals attempted and total points.

 

 

In his first season with the Nets, Dr. J led the league, averaging twenty seven points per game.  He  was named the American Basketball Association MVP, and led the New York Nets to their first ever ABA championship.

 

 

The Nets were knocked out of the 1974-1975 playoffs rather early.  In the regular season however, Dr. J averaged almost twenty eight points per game, and earned his second MVP award.

 

 

During the 1975-1976 season, the Doctor led the league again with a twenty nine points per game average.  Julius Erving won his third consecutive MVP award.  And the Nets defeated the Denver Nuggets for their second ABA championship in three years.

 

 

That turned out to be the last American Basketball Association game ever played.  The ABA and NBA finally merged.  Four teams were absorbed into the NBA from the ABA.  The San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, and the New York Nets were taken into the National Basketball Association.

 

 

This situation put the Nets into a financial bind.  On top of paying the entrance fee for admittance into the NBA, the Nets were now also on the hook for territorial rights fees due the Knicks for entering their turf.  The debate still rages today as to whether the measures taken by the Nets were necessary.  But the result of the Nets due bills caused them to sell Julius Erving; many say, in haste.

 

 

Just like that, the glory days out in Long Island; Dr. J's home; were over.  The aftermath of losing Julius Erving was too much for owner Roy Boe to withstand.  Major change was headed the organization's way yet again.  For the 1977-1978 season, Roy Boe moved the organization back to New Jersey, where they would eventually settle into the Meadowlands Arena.  Before 1978 expired, Roy Boe sold the team.  A great ten year run was over.

 

 

The New Jersey Nets era was about to begin.

 

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB