{"id":16169,"date":"2018-08-18T23:45:52","date_gmt":"2018-08-19T04:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=16169"},"modified":"2018-08-18T23:45:52","modified_gmt":"2018-08-19T04:45:52","slug":"julius-erving-3x-nba-aba-champion-greatest-small-forward-of-all-time-talks-basketball-life-with-the-philadelphia-76ers-nba-rivalries-and-the-success-of-the-big3-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=16169","title":{"rendered":"Julius Erving, “3x NBA\/ABA Champion”, “Greatest Small Forward Of All-Time”, Talks Basketball Life With The Philadelphia 76ers, NBA Rivalries And The Success Of The BIG3 League"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Julius Erving Talks 76ers, NBA Rivalries And BIG3 League<\/h1>\n
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Julius Erving, head coach of BIG3’s team Tri-State, is high fived while entering the court in week nine of the three-on-three basketball league action, at KeyArena on August 20, 2017, in Seattle, Washington.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Each\u00a0Friday evening this summer\u00a0BIG3 league basketball<\/a>\u00a0takes the stage. The\u00a0professional 3-on-3 basketball league founded by rapper and movie star Ice Cube consists of eight teams that feature\u00a0former NBA stars on the court\u00a0and some at the sideline, in the role of coach. BIG3 opened its second season this June in Houston in front of over 16,000 fans, and you can catch each installment on Fox Sports 1<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of BIG3’s top\u00a0teams, Tri-State,\u00a0is coached by a basketball legend Julius Erving. Better known to some as “Dr. J,” Erving was a member of the 1983\u00a0NBA Champion Philadelphia 76ers. During his time in pro basketball, he scored an astounding 30,026 points (ranking him eighth overall), and was an 11-time NBA All-Star.\u00a0Erving retired from the NBA in 1987 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. He is also the\u00a0only player to win the MVP accolade in both the NBA and the\u00a0ABA, which merged with the NBA in 1976.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I caught up with Erving to talk with him about his 16-year career, BIG3 and the legends helping elevate basketball in 2018.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You were one of the first players credited with bringing a very exciting style of play to the game. Talk about your early career in the ABA.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"My five years in the ABA was probably the most fun I had playing basketball. Part of it was my teammates, but the competition was different. It felt like it was all for one and one for all. When one guy did something great or received recognition, the whole league reveled in it because we were like\u00a0outlaws. (Laughs.) We weren’t the traditional league. For me, it had to do with being between the ages of 21 and 25 too.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once you became a 76er, your role changed. How did coming to the NBA change you as a player?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I made multiple adjustments to both my play and leadership style. I hate to say the seriousness of it made it less fun, but the NBA was less footloose and fancy-free. I did rework my approach to offense and did tone down my style of play.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ’83 Sixers had players \u2014 Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, Mo Cheeks \u2014 with\u00a0very different weapons. How did you make it work?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"That team evolved under coach Billy Cunningham, and Moses was the last piece. We had had enough to go to three NBA Finals in six years (in 1977, 1980, and 1982). That wasn’t something to shrug off, but we came in second each time. So when we and management addressed the situation we felt that center-play was where we needed someone like Moses, where he was going to be the best rebounder on the court. When he got to town, Moses said, “this is Doc’s team, and you’ve had a good show, but maybe now we’ll have a better show.” He came in with the right attitude and he was the final piece.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During your career, who did you most enjoy playing against? What rivalries were the best?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

(Lakers guard-forward) Michael Cooper was always regarded as a great defensive player, so it was a challenge whenever we played Los Angeles. In our conference, we had Milwaukee with Marcus Johnson and Boston with John Havlicek and later that team evolved into Larry Bird’s team. Then, with the Washington Bullets, you had Wes Unseld, Bob Dandridge,\u00a0and Elvin Hayes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So far BIG3 is a hit, especially with die-hard hoops fans. What draws crowds?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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It starts in June, right on the heels of the NBA Finals, (so) there are fans who still want more and say, “now what do I\u00a0do?” The two options are the WNBA and BIG3. The WNBA is great basketball. But the opportunity to see some of the biggest former stars of the NBA up close and personal or live on Fox Sports 1 on Friday nights\u00a0\u2014 that’s a nice option. There’s a newness there, and you’ve got Hall of Famers coaching on the sidelines. And also, it’s a prelude to 3-on-3 basketball becoming an Olympic sport.<\/strong><\/p>\n

@JuliusErving<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n

Well, this is more than a retirees’ league. Do you see BIG3 expanding basketball’s audience?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I think so. There’s a lot of interest in the game internationally, and all of the talent and action in BIG3 helps boost interest in the game.<\/strong><\/p>\n

BIG3 has its own unique take but doesn’t seem gimmicky. Does half-court hoops force players to bring their best game?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"It’s an opportunity for players to be at their best even though they’re not in their prime. You don’t have to run full court, and you transition from offense to defense immediately in that half-court space. Then there’s the 14-second shot clock, and the first team to 50 points wins. So you’re not trying to repeat what you did in the NBA, but there’s a fast pace that is exciting and intense.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is it like\u00a0seeing your old NBA rivals like Cooper, George Gervin, and Rick Barry coaching BIG3’s teams?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The coaching fraternity here is a collection of guys who used to compete with and against each other, but with an elevated Hall of Fame status. I enjoy that but enjoy that we all travel with our families, and our spouses and children come to games and get to see it first hand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Julius Winfield<\/b>\u00a0Ervin, THE GREATEST SMALL FORWARD OF ALL-TIME<\/h1>\n
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\u00a0<\/caption>\n
\"Erving<\/a><\/p>\n
Erving with the Philadelphia 76ers<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Personal information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Born<\/strong><\/th>\nFebruary 22, 1950 (age\u00a068)<\/span><\/strong>
\nEast Meadow, New York<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nationality<\/strong><\/th>\nAmerican<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Listed height<\/strong><\/th>\n6\u00a0ft 7\u00a0in (2.01\u00a0m)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Listed weight<\/strong><\/th>\n210\u00a0lb (95\u00a0kg)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Career information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
High school<\/strong><\/th>\nRoosevelt<\/a> (Roosevelt, New York)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
College<\/strong><\/th>\nUMass<\/a> (1969\u20131971)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NBA draft<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n1972<\/a> \/ Round: 1 \/ Pick: 12th overall<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Playing career<\/strong><\/th>\n1971\u20131987<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Position<\/strong><\/th>\nSmall forward<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number<\/strong><\/th>\n32, 6<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Career history<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1971<\/a>\u20131973<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\nVirginia Squires<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1973<\/a>\u20131976<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\nNew York Nets<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1976<\/a>\u20131987<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\nPhiladelphia 76ers<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Career highlights and awards<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
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Career ABA and NBA statistics<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Points<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n30,026 (24.2 ppg)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rebounds<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n10,525 (8.5 rpg)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Assists<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n5,176 (4.2 apg)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stats<\/a> at Basketball-Reference.com<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Basketball Hall of Fame as player<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
College Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a><\/strong>
\nInducted in 2006<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"\"Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22, 1950), commonly known by the nickname Dr.\u00a0J, is an American retired basketball<\/a> player who helped popularize a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and playing above the rim. Erving helped legitimize the American Basketball Association<\/a> (ABA) and was the best-known player in that league when it merged<\/a> with the National Basketball Association<\/a> (NBA) after the 1975\u201376 season. He is now a coach of Tri-State of the BIG3<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Erving won three championships, four Most Valuable Player<\/a> Awards, and three scoring titles with the ABA’sVirginia Squires<\/a> and New York Nets<\/a> (now the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets) and the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers<\/a>. He is the eighth-highest scorer in ABA\/NBA history with 30,026 points (NBA and ABA combined). He was well known forslam dunking<\/a> from the free throw line in slam dunk contests<\/a> and was the only player voted Most Valuable Player in both the ABA and the NBA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Erving was inducted in 1993 into the Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a> and was also named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time team<\/a>. In 1994, Erving was named by Sports Illustrated<\/i> as one of the 40 most important athletes of all time. In 2004, he was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Many consider him one of the most talented players in the history of the NBA; he is widely acknowledged as one of the game’s best dunkers. While Connie Hawkins<\/a>, “Jumping” Johnny Green<\/a>, Elgin Baylor<\/a>, Jim Pollard<\/a> and Gus Johnson<\/a> performed spectacular dunks before Erving’s time, “Dr. J” brought the practice into the mainstream.\u00a0<\/sup>His signature dunk<\/a> was the “slam” dunk, since incorporated into the vernacular and basic skill set of the game in the same manner as the “crossover” dribble and the “no look” pass. Before Julius Erving, dunking was a practice most commonly used by the big men (usually standing close to the hoop) to show their brutal strength which was seen as style over substance, even unsportsmanlike, by many purists of the game.<\/sup> However, the way Erving utilized the dunk more as a high-percentage shot made at the end of maneuvers generally starting well away from the basket and not necessarily a “show of force” helped to make the shot an acceptable strategy, especially in trying to avoid a blocked shot.<\/sup> Although the slam dunk is still widely used as a show of power, a method of intimidation and a way to fire up a team (and spectators), Dr. J demonstrated that there can be great artistry and almost balletic style to slamming the ball into the hoop, particularly after a launch several feet from that target.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n