Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
In September of 1972, Julius Erving refused to report to camp for the ABA's Virginia Squires and decided he was going to leave the ABA for the NBA. He entered training camp with the Atlanta Hawks and participated in 2 interleague exhibitions between NBA & ABA teams. One on September 23 against the Kentucky Colonels where Erving scored 28 points & 18 rebounds, and one game on September 30 vs the Carolina Cougars where Erving scored 32 points. The NBA fined the Atlanta Hawks $25,000 for using Julius Erving in these games, because his NBA rights belonged to the Milwaukee Bucks, and the ABA took Erving to court, where the judge ruled that Erving had to honor his contract with the Virginia Squires, and he promptly returned to the ABA.
Could you imagine how good the 1972-1973 Atlanta Hawks would've been with the addition of Julius Erving? That year the Hawks went 46-36 and were coached by Cotton Fitzsimmons, and featured a "big three" of stars: Walt Bellamy, "Pistol" Pete Maravich, and "Sweet" Lou Hudson. Imagine "Dr. J" suiting up for the Hawks that year, just how epic it could've been!
I thought this would be a cool piece of trivia to share with the general board. I never see much talk in regards to the NBA/ABA 70s era. I also find the 79 interleague games played between the league very fascinating and would love for 30 For 30 to do a documentary surrounding some of the history on the games that weren't very publicized between the two leagues. Lots of very cool history that has almost been forgotten over the years.
Could you imagine how good the 1972-1973 Atlanta Hawks would've been with the addition of Julius Erving? That year the Hawks went 46-36 and were coached by Cotton Fitzsimmons, and featured a "big three" of stars: Walt Bellamy, "Pistol" Pete Maravich, and "Sweet" Lou Hudson. Imagine "Dr. J" suiting up for the Hawks that year, just how epic it could've been!
I thought this would be a cool piece of trivia to share with the general board. I never see much talk in regards to the NBA/ABA 70s era. I also find the 79 interleague games played between the league very fascinating and would love for 30 For 30 to do a documentary surrounding some of the history on the games that weren't very publicized between the two leagues. Lots of very cool history that has almost been forgotten over the years.
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
Pistol Pete and Julius Erving would have made an interesting duo. Especially since Erving struggled so much and for so long with the Sixers.
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
- Sofa King
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
I didn't even remember that and I'm old. I'm sure most realgm members now are like "Who's Dr. J?"
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
- VC-INJURY
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
Yes.
This is common knowledge to most who spend even a bit of time exploring the history of the NBA.
This is common knowledge to most who spend even a bit of time exploring the history of the NBA.
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
Sofa King wrote:I didn't even remember that and I'm old. I'm sure most realgm members now are like "Who's Dr. J?"
Wasn't he a personal doctor for Wilt's 6ers?
"All these guys who run these organizations who talk about analytics, they have one thing in common: They're a bunch of guys who ain't never played the game, they never got the girls in high school, and they just want to get in the game."
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
Would have been great for both Atlanta and the league!
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
The Bucks would've been even better. They won 60 games that year and had Kareem and Oscar Robertson.
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Cycklops wrote:The Bucks would've been even better. They won 60 games that year and had Kareem and Oscar Robertson.
W/ Dr.J this would have been GOAT
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
Cycklops wrote:The Bucks would've been even better. They won 60 games that year and had Kareem and Oscar Robertson.
Would have meant two or so extra titles for the Bucks.....even with Oscar having constant pulled muscle problems.
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
Cycklops wrote:The Bucks would've been even better. They won 60 games that year and had Kareem and Oscar Robertson.
This was my thought too. Julius Erving with Kareem and Oscar would be far more intriguing.
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
- RSCD3_
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Sofa King wrote:I didn't even remember that and I'm old. I'm sure most realgm members now are like "Who's Dr. J?"
Isn't he the guy who rehabilitated wade
Julius Grover?
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
I did not know this.
That Bucks team would have been insane. What if that kept Kareem in Milwaukee....
That Bucks team would have been insane. What if that kept Kareem in Milwaukee....
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
tidho wrote:I did not know this.
That Bucks team would have been insane. What if that kept Kareem in Milwaukee....
I was thinking about that also. That is a MASSIVE what-if. Dr. J tried to go to the NBA, and the Bucks had his draft rights.
I can see Kareem staying in Milwaukee in that case. Which changes a whole era.
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
There would have been more footage when he was sporting that crazy afro
Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
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Re: Did you know? Julius Erving & The Atlanta Hawks
Cycklops wrote:tidho wrote:I did not know this.
That Bucks team would have been insane. What if that kept Kareem in Milwaukee....
I was thinking about that also. That is a MASSIVE what-if. Dr. J tried to go to the NBA, and the Bucks had his draft rights.
I can see Kareem staying in Milwaukee in that case. Which changes a whole era.
That whole situation was wild. Dr J claimed that he didn't have good enough representation when he signed his first deal with the Squires and unilaterally declared himself a FA (realistically he wan't that big of a deal when he signed out of UMass, but after two years it was clear Virginia had a bargain).
He wasn't draft eligible for the NBA until that summer, but Atlanta signed him before the draft. They didn't bother to draft him though, so Milwaulkee did.