Better Player: Julius Erving vs. Jerry West

[Djoker]

Who do you think is a better player in their primes.

I used to be in Dr J's corner but I'm strongly leaning towards West these days.

[kuclas]

I’m not old enough to see Jerry west play. I was just a very young kid when dr j won his only nba title.

So dr j was in the latter 1/3 of end of his career.

But dr j reminds me on Vince Carter except he also had Kwhai Leonard huge hands.

[Doctor MJ]

Who do you think is a better player in their primes.

I used to be in Dr J's corner but I'm strongly leaning towards West these days.

I'm in the same boat.

I named myself here after Dr. J and early on argued fiercely for Erving over both West & Oscar, and I have had to go in the other direction.

I do still think that Erving's '75-76 campaign is a GOAT Season candidate, but I don't believe Erving had the same fundamental ability to seek and find impact the way West (and Oscar) did.

I'll also say that my assessment of Erving has fallen slightly with what I've learned, but the bigger change is that my estimation of West & Oscar has gone up so much.

[homecourtloss]

Who do you think is a better player in their primes.

I used to be in Dr J's corner but I'm strongly leaning towards West these days.

I'm in the same boat.

I named myself here after Dr. J and early on argued fiercely for Erving over both West & Oscar, and I have had to go in the other direction.

I do still think that Erving's '75-76 campaign is a GOAT Season candidate, but I don't believe Erving had the same fundamental ability to seek and find impact the way West (and Oscar) did.

I'll also say that my assessment of Erving has fallen slightly with what I've learned, but the bigger change is that my estimation of West & Oscar has gone up so much.

I have to pretty much agree with all of this, Dr. MJ. I do think that the respective peaks of Dr. J and West and Oscar are close as are their respective career values, but the collective work so many different posters trying to measure impact towards West and Oscar now.

[No-more-rings]

Do we feel comfortable saying that Dr J is clearly better defensively? Because on offense I don’t think he has a very good case if any.

[Doctor MJ]

Do we feel comfortable saying that Dr J is clearly better defensively? Because on offense I don’t think he has a very good case if any.

No, in fact, the consensus as I've seen it is that West was a more serious defender than Dr. J.

[migya]

Dr J was really good but not at West's level and never considered anywhere near top ten alltime where West can be.

[Samurai]

This is tough for me since I grew up as a huge Dr. J fan. Granted, I only had the chance to watch him during his NBA career because ABA games just weren't televised much. But between the two, I'd have to say West was the better player. Clearly a better shooter and defensive player (other than the occasional spectacular blocked shot, but if blocked shots were actually tracked I wouldn't be surprised if West would have had as many total blocks as Erving). West's handles weren't great but that wasn't the Doc's primary forte either; I'd say Erving's advantage in this is fairly small. Erving's biggest advantage is as a fast break finisher and penetrator. But even this is somewhat offset in that West drew fouls at a much higher rate and converted a higher percentage of FT's as well. In fact several of West's FTr's approach Harden's non-peak years. In the end, the big difference in West's jumpshot, both in terms of proficiency and range, gives him the overall edge in my book.

Of course, if I had the chance to watch ABA Doc as much as I did West or the older NBA version of Erving my opinion might change....

[TheBomb81]

Dr. J.

[Jaivl]

West, and... I don't think it's that close?