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Sports InsiderJulius Erving Produces a Legendary Basket in the 1980 NBA Finals.
July 14th 2007 11:18
Continuing with our theme of looking back at the greatest moments in NBA history our focus today will be on another player that had a reputation of defying the laws of gravity. Julius Erving is his name, and excitement inducing plays is his game.
Dr. J was the coolest cat on the basketball block since the day he broke into the ABA in the early 70s. Rocking the ‘fro, and accomplishing jaw dropping jams from the free throw line the Doc was a rebel with a cause – to bring the most badass basketball to the masses.
When the ABA folded and merged with the NBA, Erving took his aerobatic theatrics to the Association and things would never be the same again. Although his hops weren’t as big as they had been during his ABA days, the Doc still had the mad skillz that separated him from the rest of the basketball playing mortals around at the time.
Michael Jordan may have taken the ‘wow’ factor of basketball to the next level, but it was Erving who was the high flying innovator, producing moves that were groundbreaking to say the least. He was the OG sick baller.
Like many players before him, and since, Doc wanted to be known as more than just a high flyer, he wanted a title, and desperately. After being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers (yes, they haven’t always sucked) Erving and his squad began an early 80s assault on the
Championship.
However, Dr. J will always be remembered for the one legendary shot that probably has defined his career during the 1980 Finals when the Sixers were facing the Lakers. It was Game 4 and Los Angeles were leading 2-1 in the series with Philly needing a spark. Julius Erving would provide such inspiration during the fourth quarter.
Game 4 was a hard fought battle with some legendary names on both sides, such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Doc arguably had his best season in 1980 averaging 26.9 points per game.
Anyway, back to Game 4. Yes, the game was a close one, and Julius Winfield Erving II would produce a move that would go down in NBA folklore.
Laker Mark Landsberger was defending Doc down the baseline, and Erving easily passed him with utter contempt, setting himself to score either on a hard dunk or pretty layup. The legendary Kareem who has spotted these shenanigans decided to try and put a stop to all of this silliness by swatting away Erving’s shot attempt.
Doc was already committed to the shot and was soaring through the air when Kareem checked him.
Then it happened.
Whilst in the air Doc adjusted his body in a manner that avoided the desperate defence of Kareem and somehow managed to float to the other side of the rim and scored with a reverse layup.
The Philly crowd went crazy as expected.
A rookie point guard by the name of Magic Johnson who would also make his mark in this series bore witness to this magical moment with his mouth visibly agape at what he just saw. Here is Magic’s take on that shot: “Here I was, trying to win a championship, and my mouth just dropped open. He actually did that! I thought, 'What should we do? Should we take the ball out, or should we ask him to do it again?' It's still the greatest move I've ever seen in a basketball game, the all-time greatest.” (Weinberg, ESPN.com)
Philly would end up winning the game 105-102, but would ultimately lose the series.
Erving would break his Championship drought three years later.
So, without further Apu, here is the move in all of its cinematic glory if you can't be bothered checking out the moving image on this post.
Dr. J was the coolest cat on the basketball block since the day he broke into the ABA in the early 70s. Rocking the ‘fro, and accomplishing jaw dropping jams from the free throw line the Doc was a rebel with a cause – to bring the most badass basketball to the masses.
When the ABA folded and merged with the NBA, Erving took his aerobatic theatrics to the Association and things would never be the same again. Although his hops weren’t as big as they had been during his ABA days, the Doc still had the mad skillz that separated him from the rest of the basketball playing mortals around at the time.
Michael Jordan may have taken the ‘wow’ factor of basketball to the next level, but it was Erving who was the high flying innovator, producing moves that were groundbreaking to say the least. He was the OG sick baller.
Like many players before him, and since, Doc wanted to be known as more than just a high flyer, he wanted a title, and desperately. After being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers (yes, they haven’t always sucked) Erving and his squad began an early 80s assault on the
I believe that Dr. J can fly! (Image from nba.com)
However, Dr. J will always be remembered for the one legendary shot that probably has defined his career during the 1980 Finals when the Sixers were facing the Lakers. It was Game 4 and Los Angeles were leading 2-1 in the series with Philly needing a spark. Julius Erving would provide such inspiration during the fourth quarter.
Game 4 was a hard fought battle with some legendary names on both sides, such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Doc arguably had his best season in 1980 averaging 26.9 points per game.
Anyway, back to Game 4. Yes, the game was a close one, and Julius Winfield Erving II would produce a move that would go down in NBA folklore.
Laker Mark Landsberger was defending Doc down the baseline, and Erving easily passed him with utter contempt, setting himself to score either on a hard dunk or pretty layup. The legendary Kareem who has spotted these shenanigans decided to try and put a stop to all of this silliness by swatting away Erving’s shot attempt.
Doc was already committed to the shot and was soaring through the air when Kareem checked him.
Then it happened.
Whilst in the air Doc adjusted his body in a manner that avoided the desperate defence of Kareem and somehow managed to float to the other side of the rim and scored with a reverse layup.
The Philly crowd went crazy as expected.
A rookie point guard by the name of Magic Johnson who would also make his mark in this series bore witness to this magical moment with his mouth visibly agape at what he just saw. Here is Magic’s take on that shot: “Here I was, trying to win a championship, and my mouth just dropped open. He actually did that! I thought, 'What should we do? Should we take the ball out, or should we ask him to do it again?' It's still the greatest move I've ever seen in a basketball game, the all-time greatest.” (Weinberg, ESPN.com)
Philly would end up winning the game 105-102, but would ultimately lose the series.
Erving would break his Championship drought three years later.
So, without further Apu, here is the move in all of its cinematic glory if you can't be bothered checking out the moving image on this post.
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Comment by Cibbuano
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I like a lot of sports, but I think that basketball provides the most incredible, awe-inspiring highlight reel.
amazing!
Comment by Stanley