50 years ago last night there was a pre-season thriller as Julius "Dr. J." Erving, who led the Nets to the ABA Title in 1974, sparred with Rick Barry of the 1975 NBA Champion Warriors
Two of the best, at the top of their games. It's a shame so much of this era, particularly the ABA, is lost to history with little visual documentation.
I agree. I'm of the opinion that Dr. J circa 1973 - 1976 was perhaps the greatest basketball player ever, and certainly an equal to MJ and LeBron. Did you know that in 1974 Erving became the only player in pro hoops history to have a season in which he had 25+ ppg / 10+ rbg / 5+ apg / 2+ steals / 2+ blocks and shot 50% from the field and 40% from three. No one else has ever had a season even close to that. But with "little visual documentation" his amazing play has gone unrecognized. The Dr. J we saw in the NBA in the late 1970s and early 1980s was a fraction of the player he had been before his knees starting going bad in the mid-70s.
So you specifically remember the 28 seconds with the three 3-pointers? I can't find data on the shortest span in which 2 players made three 3-pointers. Do you ever recall seeing anything like that elsewhere?
One more note on the cover of game program had one player's picture on it. Wendell Ladner who died a few months earlier in plane crash at JFK airport. I remember seeing Wendell's picture on the cover and really knowing we were going miss him.
I meant to say no one knew that night if Nets and Warriors would play again since their were still two leagues. And by the time Nets-Warriors played in NBA 1976-1977 season, Dr.J was long gone and real Net fans knew it would never be the same like that exhibition game that only a few of saw.
Len, Rick Barry and Julius Erving they were introduced before the game, the longtime Nets fans cheered loudly for both of them. The game was played at the high level for preseason game. Knowing that both teams would only one shot this year to play each other. Like you described it, it was a shooting exhibition. I was rooting for both teams since Barry was three years removed from Nets. I just remember Fritz Massmann at the end of the game gave Rick a big hug and Barry stayed on the court for about 15 mins after the game ended signing mostly game programs and talking to people he knew. Julius also stayed on the court and signing programs. The amazing thing about this game was no one knew Warriors or Nets would ever square off each. I had a program but when I went away to schooll, my younger brothet took it and sold it. That is one regret because I had scotch taped my ticket stub with Barry and Erving's autograph. No doubt that it was greatest night of Nets basketball at The Coliseum with the smallest crowd. I went to about 5 more games that season and I was lucky to go Game 6 of 1976 finals. I would say that exhibition game played 50 years ago tonight and that last night of ABA Game 6 ABA finals were greatest sports memories that I have.
Great stuff. It makes me feel like this pre-season game was even more special than I tried to convey in the article. I only know about this game from reading the various reports on the game across all the newspaper reporting. It's great that you have a memory of the being at such a special game. I actually saw Rick Barry play for the Nets at a game in Miami in 1971. There was an ABA team back then called The Floridians. They weren't the Miami Floridians, just "The Floridians." And they played their games in the Miami Beach Convention Center. That must have been a special game for Rick Barry since he played his college basketball for the University of Miami.
I am glad you wrote this, I was there with my Dad and Mom. Even though the crowd was small they were really into it. As a Nets fan from Westchester County, I knew that watching Barry and Erving would never to be forgotten. I thought about this game many times and I am glad it is still remembered. I remember the long drive back to New Rochelle we listened to Game 5 World Series between Reds and Red Sox on WTIC, the only AM station that we could pick up the game since NBC radio call in NYC was on FM station WNWS and we only had AM radio.
Wow! Thanks for sharing this. It's so fascinating to learn that you were one of the few people actually at this game. Sadly the game really is forgotten. I'm a huge Nets fan. My family had season tickets for the entire 35 years in NJ. And yet I never knew about this game! What a great experience you had that night. Can you share any specific anecdotes that you remember? Do you remember the three 3-pointers in 28 seconds? Thanks again.
Two of the best, at the top of their games. It's a shame so much of this era, particularly the ABA, is lost to history with little visual documentation.
I agree. I'm of the opinion that Dr. J circa 1973 - 1976 was perhaps the greatest basketball player ever, and certainly an equal to MJ and LeBron. Did you know that in 1974 Erving became the only player in pro hoops history to have a season in which he had 25+ ppg / 10+ rbg / 5+ apg / 2+ steals / 2+ blocks and shot 50% from the field and 40% from three. No one else has ever had a season even close to that. But with "little visual documentation" his amazing play has gone unrecognized. The Dr. J we saw in the NBA in the late 1970s and early 1980s was a fraction of the player he had been before his knees starting going bad in the mid-70s.
I think I couldn't believe Rick and Julius could try to out do each but they did when they did those 28 seconds.
So you specifically remember the 28 seconds with the three 3-pointers? I can't find data on the shortest span in which 2 players made three 3-pointers. Do you ever recall seeing anything like that elsewhere?
One more note on the cover of game program had one player's picture on it. Wendell Ladner who died a few months earlier in plane crash at JFK airport. I remember seeing Wendell's picture on the cover and really knowing we were going miss him.
I meant to say no one knew that night if Nets and Warriors would play again since their were still two leagues. And by the time Nets-Warriors played in NBA 1976-1977 season, Dr.J was long gone and real Net fans knew it would never be the same like that exhibition game that only a few of saw.
Len, Rick Barry and Julius Erving they were introduced before the game, the longtime Nets fans cheered loudly for both of them. The game was played at the high level for preseason game. Knowing that both teams would only one shot this year to play each other. Like you described it, it was a shooting exhibition. I was rooting for both teams since Barry was three years removed from Nets. I just remember Fritz Massmann at the end of the game gave Rick a big hug and Barry stayed on the court for about 15 mins after the game ended signing mostly game programs and talking to people he knew. Julius also stayed on the court and signing programs. The amazing thing about this game was no one knew Warriors or Nets would ever square off each. I had a program but when I went away to schooll, my younger brothet took it and sold it. That is one regret because I had scotch taped my ticket stub with Barry and Erving's autograph. No doubt that it was greatest night of Nets basketball at The Coliseum with the smallest crowd. I went to about 5 more games that season and I was lucky to go Game 6 of 1976 finals. I would say that exhibition game played 50 years ago tonight and that last night of ABA Game 6 ABA finals were greatest sports memories that I have.
Great stuff. It makes me feel like this pre-season game was even more special than I tried to convey in the article. I only know about this game from reading the various reports on the game across all the newspaper reporting. It's great that you have a memory of the being at such a special game. I actually saw Rick Barry play for the Nets at a game in Miami in 1971. There was an ABA team back then called The Floridians. They weren't the Miami Floridians, just "The Floridians." And they played their games in the Miami Beach Convention Center. That must have been a special game for Rick Barry since he played his college basketball for the University of Miami.
I am glad you wrote this, I was there with my Dad and Mom. Even though the crowd was small they were really into it. As a Nets fan from Westchester County, I knew that watching Barry and Erving would never to be forgotten. I thought about this game many times and I am glad it is still remembered. I remember the long drive back to New Rochelle we listened to Game 5 World Series between Reds and Red Sox on WTIC, the only AM station that we could pick up the game since NBC radio call in NYC was on FM station WNWS and we only had AM radio.
Wow! Thanks for sharing this. It's so fascinating to learn that you were one of the few people actually at this game. Sadly the game really is forgotten. I'm a huge Nets fan. My family had season tickets for the entire 35 years in NJ. And yet I never knew about this game! What a great experience you had that night. Can you share any specific anecdotes that you remember? Do you remember the three 3-pointers in 28 seconds? Thanks again.