Dr. J: "Tell Nets To Stay In Touch"

by Net Income on Jan 20, 2012 8:04 AM EST

Julius Erving was on a golf course in southern California Thursday, playing with, among others, George Gervin and former President Bill Clinton. But he spoke with a local sports writer about the NBA and had some kind words for the Nets, along with some hopes for a reunion in Brooklyn.

"There will always be a soft spot in my heart for the Nets, having played on two ABA championship teams for the franchise," Erving said. "Just tell them to stay in touch. They'll find me on the golf course."

Erving called the Nets a "team still in transition" but added they had better be ready to compete once they get to Brooklyn, where fans will be more demanding. "Brooklyn doesn't play," he noted. "There's going to be high demand."

Dr. J, an Orlando resident, also had some pointed words of advice for Dwight Howard that Nets fans nor Howard will want to hear. "I don't think you go find a championship team to be on, you lead your team to a championship."

Dr. J talks current NBA at Humana Challenge - Leighton Ginn - Desert Sun

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Doc always says good things about the Nets.

For all his years as a Sixer, I think he sees himself as a Net first and foremost.

Opulence, I has it.

by J-Sal on Jan 20, 2012 8:11 AM EST reply actions

“I don’t think you go find a championship team to be on, you lead your team to a championship.”

A concept that is foreign to today’s NBAers

by MrDollarBills on Jan 20, 2012 8:19 AM EST reply actions

There's some sage advice for you

Maybe Dwight will take that as a message to stay the heck in Disneyland and Lead instead of follow

by Jron on Jan 20, 2012 8:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Very good point made by Doc - a different era in basketball.

by bkfire on Jan 20, 2012 8:19 AM EST reply actions

We're in a great spot

Best case (Dwight waits until FA):

Deron
Brooks
Kidd-Gilchrist
Lopez
Howard

I HATE UK but MKG would be the perfect guy to glue that team together. That’s a top 3 seed.

Deadline trade ((No way I would trade Brook, Brooks, and our #1; let’s say we keep Brooks)

Deron
Brooks
Hedo
?
Howard

We could easily fill in the roster.

Apocalypse Scenario (Deron bolts and DH signs elsewhere. We can at least get a first out of Deron in a S&T)

Farmar
Brooks-Delfino
G Wallace-SF Taken with Rocket’s pick
Humphries-Drummond/Davis
Lopez-Drummond/Davis

Farmar is bad but an ok placeholder. Delfino and Wallace would up our defense greatly and let out Brooks, Brook, Big man group grow. NOT a great team but this is the absolute WORST scenario and we still have a core.

by ShawnG on Jan 20, 2012 8:28 AM EST reply actions

Sorry but I think what Dr J said is EXACTLY what Dwight is trying to do

What player in their right mind would EVER want to come to the NETS? I mean the LAKERS are third on his list because he doesn’t want to be another Shaq, another guy hanging onto Kobe for a championship train, etc.

He wants to be THE man, he wants to do it on the biggest stage, and he wants to play with a premier point guard he believes can help him lead his team to a championship.

There’s a reason it may be “Nets or nothing”. This team has never won an NBA championship, and Dwight has an ego and desire big enough to take that on.

Section 18, Row 7 at The Rock!
"Your 2010-2011 New Jersey Nets - It Is What It Is"

by eLonepb on Jan 20, 2012 8:49 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

yep, The Nets are not a championship team

so Dwight should follow Dr J’s advice and lead this team to a ring.

Don’t go be Kobe’s sidekick in LA or with Nowitzki in Dallas that has just won a ring. But also don’t stay after this season in Orlando where he can’t win it all virtually alone.

Lead the Nets, with DWill as his sidekick, to the ultimate basketball prize.

by stenpoint on Jan 20, 2012 9:06 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly

Section 18, Row 7 at The Rock!
"Your 2010-2011 New Jersey Nets - It Is What It Is"

by eLonepb on Jan 20, 2012 9:12 AM EST up reply actions

My favorite player ever...

…next to JKidd, Petro and Kittles.

He is so right on the statement below…

“Brooklyn doesn’t play,” he noted. “There’s going to be high demand.”

NY is a frontrunning town…

by Whoop Dee Damn Doo on Jan 20, 2012 9:29 AM EST reply actions

We need to get Doc fully back in the fold

I should hope we see him at the Barclays opening, at the minimum. A Long Island kid who became a legend for his hometown team—and never forgot the franchise.

Doc in 1987:

“My heart still holds a special place for the Nets,” said Erving, who is completing his career this season as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. "It was my franchise at one time from 1973-76. It’s always been the toughest team for me to go back and play against, especially for the first few years after the 1976 merger.

“It hasn’t worn off. Inside, emotionally, it’s still a special place,” he added.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2001/06/27/sayitaintso_nets/

by brother_rat on Jan 20, 2012 9:30 AM EST reply actions

block quote fail.

by brother_rat on Jan 20, 2012 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

If JKidd retires after this season...

You think there is anyway he would be there on opening night?

As a ceremonial gesture? At least a Jason Kidd night during the season….no?

by Whoop Dee Damn Doo on Jan 20, 2012 9:45 AM EST reply actions

Last ABA game

I was at the last ABA game at age 18 and it killed me that Dr.J couldnt come with us to the NBA. Still upset over that

by ABAfan on Jan 20, 2012 10:14 AM EST reply actions

Alternate History Questions

Just wondering but how good do you think they woulda been with Erving never being sold off to Philly?

They traded for the best PG in either league (Tiny Archibald) and still had one of the top scoring 2 guards in either league, Super John Williamson. They had a decent bench (Bubbles Hawkins, Al Skinner, Jan VBK) but NO big men. Could Doc have been enough to lead an exceptionally weak front court which featured Tim Basset and Kim Hughes?

If you remember the Sixers that year featured a Miami Heat like “Dream Team.” But with everyone wanting a touch Philly struggled for half a season before Doc took over and then single-handedly led them to the ’77 Finals. Think he coulda done the same with the ’77 Nets?

Opulence, I has it.

by J-Sal on Jan 20, 2012 11:09 AM EST up reply actions

Last ABA game

I am having a hard time remembering who was in the frontcourt with Dr.J in the ’76 ABA finals. Think Billy Paultz was still there. Larry Kenon was traded for Swen Nater. They matched up good against the Nuggets but might not have won as many games in the NBA. But what did they win without the Dr. Kind of lost interest after they let him go but i think it was only a 22 wins or so first season in the NBA

by ABAfan on Jan 20, 2012 11:57 AM EST reply actions

Paultz was gone too.

He and Special K were traded for Nater and House Jones. Kenon (who was an all-star in the NBA) and Paultz were part of some great San Antonio teams in the late ‘70s. Nater was injured during his short stint as a Net while Jones was on his last legs. Big Swen was then traded for Jumbo Eakins but Eakins was also old and retired at season’s end. Jones, who scored the last ever ABA basket, and the game winner (vs. Golden State) in the Nets first ever NBA game was cut half way into the ’77 season.

They had a revolving door of bigs throughout the ‘77 season (including former Pacer’s all-star, Mel Daniels, former Bull’s all-star Bob Love and Mike Bantom) but none of them stuck around. Basically it was Tim Bassett and Kim Hughes in the paint and without Doc that led to a 22 win season. Also led to a 30% drop in attendance. The following year they were in Jersey.

Opulence, I has it.

by J-Sal on Jan 20, 2012 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Mr.K

I remembered his nickname as Mr.K not Special K. But when i looked it up on ‘RememberTheABA.com’ they said he went by both those 2 nicknames and also Dr.K

by ABAfan on Jan 20, 2012 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

Slightly before my time

but every older Nets fan I’ve talked to called him Mr. K as well. Just thought “Special K” sounded better. Maybe he got that name while in San Antonio and out of Doc’s shadow? (BTW, his daughter was a pretty good volleyball player at Baylor: http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/kenon_tatiana00.html)

Opulence, I has it.

by J-Sal on Jan 20, 2012 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

Rich 'House' Jones

Thats a real good piece of trivia – scoring the last ABA basket. Also did you know the last active ABA player was Moses Malone who retired in 1994

by ABAfan on Jan 20, 2012 6:05 PM EST up reply actions

Just curious

Wasn’t he just broke 2 months ago and had to sell his championship ring? Now he is back playing golf?

I guess the question is more, how is it possible he is so broke that he needs to sell a championship ring when he can probably make the same amount of income as selling the ring from hosting a basketball camp (instead of playing golf).

by xiver on Jan 20, 2012 12:38 PM EST reply actions