Nothin' But Nets
Fansided

Brooklyn Nets: 10 best players from ABA era

By Phil Watson

UNIONDALE, NY - 1974: Julius Erving #32 of the New York Nets goes to the basket against the Indiana Pacers circa 1974 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1974 NBAE (Photo by Jim Cummins/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - 1974: Julius Erving #32 of the New York Nets goes to the basket against the Indiana Pacers circa 1974 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1974 NBAE (Photo by Jim Cummins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets, Julius Erving
UNIONDALE, NY – NOVEMBER 4: Julius Dr.J Erving receives a special recognition as his jersey is retired during an NBA G-League game between the Long Island Nets and Fort Wayne Mad Ants on November 4, 2017 at NYCB Live, Home of Nassau Memorial Veterans Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. player. 147. . SF. Purchased contract from Virginia Squires. Julius Erving

The sea change for the New York Nets came on Aug. 1, 1973, when they purchased the contract of All-Star forward Julius Erving from the perenially financially challenged Virginia Squires.

Erving had been great with the Squires, leading the ABA in scoring the previous season, but his superstar status exploded upon arrival on Long Island.

Erving was what the Nets had been missing, to be sure. In three seasons with the Nets in the ABA, the team won two titles while Erving was the league’s MVP all three seasons (sharing the honor with George McGinnis in 1974-75) and won two scoring titles.

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And Dr. J. put the hammer down in the playoffs, averaging 30.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in three postseasons with New York, earning Playoff MVP honors in 1974 and 1976.

What didn’t Erving do? He was a three-time All-Star, was first-team All-ABA three times, made the All-Defensive first team in 1975-76 and averaged 28 and 11 from the small forward spot, while also throwing up 5.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.1 blocks per game just for good measure.

He became the face of the ABA during his three years with the Nets and was the primary reason for New York fans to be optimistic upon entering the NBA in 1976.

That optimism hit a fever pitch after the Nets acquired a second superstar in Tiny Archibald in early September 1976.

But Erving wanted a new contract and owner Roy Boe was faced with having to pay twice as large an entry fee as the other three ABA survivors, who each paid $3 million to join the established circuit.

The Nets owed an additional $3 million to the New York Knicks, however, as settlement for encroaching upon the territorial rights of the Knicks. Few have ever considered it a coincidence that the purchase price the Philadelphia 76ers paid to acquire Erving’s contract from the Nets was … $3 million.

Next: Nets All-Time Starting 5

Gutted of their superstar, the Nets floundered in their early NBA days and more than 40 years later, fans of the team from that era are still left with the ache of “what if.”

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