Basketball legacies are almost entirely determined by a player’s performance in the NBA, and for good reason. The league is head and shoulders above any other professional basketball organization in the world. However, that perception often leads to incredibly impressive achievements outside the league going overlooked. Julius “Dr. J” Erving is a prime example of this level of accomplishment.

The legendary forward established his legacy throughout an excellent career with the Philadelphia 76ers, during which he made 11 All-Star teams and won an MVP award. Julius Erving also had a career with the New York Nets in the ABA, from 1973 to 1976, saw him achieve similar heights before he ever set foot on an NBA court, kicking off a legendary career on an incredible note.

The Best There Is

Before the NBA-ABA merger, Erving established himself as the best player in the world, regardless of league or team. His 1973-1974 season with the Nets cemented his status as such. Erving averaged 27.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and more than two blocks and steals per game en route to capturing the MVP award.

To top it all off, the Nets cruised to a championship victory, losing only two playoff games throughout the postseason.

As a point of comparison, the NBA’s MVP that season was forward Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, another all-time great. Erving compared favorably in points and assists while being slightly outrebounded by Abdul-Jabbar. This comparison demonstrated that Erving could keep up with the best players in the world statistically while leading a winning team. 

Continued Greatness

Julius Erving produced more of the same in his second season with the Nets. He played in all 84 of New York’s games while putting up nearly identical stats to his prior campaign, locking him in for his second MVP award in a row. By this point, it was clear to basketball fans everywhere that Erving was a top-five player in the world, even when considering his level of competition. 

For all of Erving’s individual effort, the Nets found themselves knocked out of the postseason in the tiebreaker round, the ABA equivalent of losing in the play-in. The only silver lining was that the loss came at the hands of the future champions, the Kentucky Colonels. 

One Last Ride

It was hard for Erving to improve on his two consecutive MVP seasons, but the doctor did so in the 1975-1976 season, a campaign that would turn out to be the ABA’s last before it merged with the NBA.

He once again showed that he was one of the most durable players in the league, playing all 84 games while averaging 29.3 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and nearly four steals per contest. Those numbers show a level of dominance, particularly on defense, that made Dr. J such a great two-way player.

He provided an impenetrable defensive presence in the paint while ensuring the Nets always had a good look near the hoop on offense.

After a year without a championship trophy, Erving immediately led his team back to the promised land of the ABA, winning his second title with New York in three years. Having Erving on any roster would translate to instant wins, something that became even more evident after the merger.

Additionally, this campaign offers another opportunity to compare Erving with his NBA MVP counterpart, Abdul-Jabbar. Dr. J managed to outdo Abdul-Jabbar in several categories, as the Los Angeles Lakers center averaged 26.2 points and 3.9 assists per game.

The two big men were fated to be compared to one another for the rest of their careers, showing just how dominant Erving was throughout his ABA career.

Transferable Success

It was no surprise that Erving immediately improved the first NBA team he was part of. The Sixers added him to the roster post-merger and instantly helped take the team to the NBA Finals, though they would lose to the Portland Trail Blazers in six games. 

Erving made the All-Star Game, finished fifth in voting, and earned All-NBA Second Team honors. The rest is history, with his previously mentioned NBA accolades piling up throughout his 11-year career in the association.

Talent Comes From All Places

There is a reason why the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is named as such. The hall not only honors NBA players but also basketball players with incredible achievements across every form of the game.

There is no doubt that Dr. J would have made the Hall of Fame without his ABA exploits. Indeed, his three-year stretch with the Nets, arguably the best span of his career, illustrates how Julius Erving and other players can reach basketball greatness both in and outside the NBA.