Dr. J vs. John Havlicek?

[WesWesley]

Who is was the better basketball player?

Dr. J

Honors: Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1993); NBA champion (1983); NBA MVP (1981); All-NBA First Team (1978, '80, '81, '82, '83); All-NBA Second Team (1977, '84); 11-time All-Star (1977-87); All-Star MVP (1977, '83); J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1983); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).

Hondo

Honors: Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1984); NBA champion (1963, '64, '65, '66, '68, '69, '74, '76); NBA Finals MVP (1974); All-NBA First Team (1971, '72, '73, '74); All-NBA Second Team (1964, '66, '68, '69, '70, '75, '76); Five-time All-Defensive First Team (1972-76); Three-time All-Defensive Second Team (1969-71); 13-time All-Star (1966-7; One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).

I think using NBA years only as Erving was in the "prime" of his career when he was in the NBA, despite putting up much better numbers in the ABA.

[ronnymac2]

dr.j...without really thinking. wutever hondo could do, dr.j could do. playmake, rebound, steals, clutch play, score. hondo was a better defender, but erving could defend very well, too. erving had huge hands, great length, amazing hops. havlicek was a freak athlete as well, and could play sg and sf. erving could prob play 1-4 against some teams tho.

Erving was the face of the aba. He was a legit superstar, alltime great, champion, and mvp in the nba. Erving is my choice.

[WesWesley]

It's a tough call for sure.

I don't think Dr. J would make a good 1 though.

Hondo was known for his stamina. He could run players ragged the entire game, for the entire season. Being tired did not happen to Havlicek. He was also very tough. Played well through almost any injury.

Statistically speaking his prime years are better than Dr. J's. Was a better playmaker and grabbed nearly 9 boards a game for a 2-3.

His best year of 29-9-9 ranks up there with the best of all time.

[etopn23]

Dr. J IMO.

[dbodner]

His best year of 29-9-9 ranks up there with the best of all time.

He averaged 7.5 assists that year.

And considering the differences in the league in terms of rebounding #'s that year and when Doc played, 9 rebounds wasn't exactly uncommon. that wouldn't have even put you in the top 25 in the league. The top 4 in the league averaged 16+ per game. And he really wasn't an exceptional rebounder throughout his career.

I think Doc's overall career was better,

[Doctor MJ]

Well if you're only going to count Dr. J's NBA career, I'd probably pick Hondo. Count Erving's full career, and he takes this easily.

[Warspite]

If your looking at the stats and not film your missing DrJ


DrJ was bought by the 76ers. He wasnt traded for and the 76ers didnt have a hole at SF. In fact the 76ers had a SF that was a 20ppg scorer. It also had a backup SF that was a 20ppg scorer. On top of that World b Free was a 20ppg SG. So did DrJs stats go down or did he simply have to adjust his game???

DrJ (maybe the most humble NBA superstar I have ever seen) said in a interview for NBATV that he could have done anything in the NBA that he could do in the ABA but that he tried to fit in and reduced his own role on purpose to please his coach (who was an idiot) DrJ said 30ppg was not hard in the NBA for him but that his coach said "We dont have any 30ppg scorers. We have 3 20ppg scorers." Certainly an idiot IMHO.

[shawngoat23]

Well if you're only going to count Dr. J's NBA career, I'd probably pick Hondo. Count Erving's full career, and he takes this easily.

Agreed. Dr. J wasn't exactly chump change in the NBA, but Hondo has eight rings.