How do you rank the top 5 greatest Small Forwards of all time?

When the Sixers won the NBA Championship they did it with an All ABA frontline!!! Bobby Jones, Moses Malone and Dr. J were all former ABA players!!! The ABA deserves more respect than it gets!!!

Dr. J was the Jimi Hendrix of basketball. Swag for days

Doctor J, laid the foundation for the way players play today. He made players step up their game.

All his teammates loved him because he was very considerate of his teammates feelings, treating them with the utmost respect no matter their how low their status was among the team.

One of the best things I ever heard was, "if I were to start a team I'd start with michael jordan. If I were to start a league I'd start with dr.j." pure class

And he did it being one of the classiest guys ever to play the game.

People don't realize how great he was. Most exciting player of all time.

He is more than good, he is great, he’s a legend

Julius Erving was to basketball what Muhammad Ali was to boxing and what Bruce Lee was to the Martial Arts.

Dr. J is the one who revolutionized the basketball the way he moves is like poetry in motion.

As a Celtics fan in the early 80's, he drove me nuts. Every damn fast break he was on the wing, I knew the ball was going to him and then right through the hoop.

When I was a kid, everyone wanted to be Dr. J He was phenomenal. His athletic ability was far above anyone else. Him and the Ice man George Gervin set the league on fire. It was something to see!

Not only a great player , even a better human being!!

I met Doc when I was a kid and what I remember most was just how smooth and classy he was.. he was a cool ass brotha!! its like you would hear jazz music in your head when he got near you That's how cool this guy was

The Doctor was the classiest player, the most exciting, the most difficult to defend, the best responder to pressure situations and historically he was the pace setter for iconic players. He was the greatest!!!

Game 6 of the 77 nba finals is my favorite DrJ game. Backs against the wall he threw in a cool 40 while dunking over Gross and Walton. His take it the entire court and dunk over Walton is my all time favorite. The doctor was truelly cool!

Dr J was a god at that time. Only those without basketball knowledge can dislike this video.

As an older Sixers fan, I was lucky enough to watch Doc play most of his games in Philly, and it was an honor.

One of the Greatest ever. I was so glade I was able to see guys like him, Bird, Magic, and Jordan.

Dr. J is a legend, hall of Famer, and increased the level of style and competition if the NBA. I love that you gave some love to Julius Irving.

Dr. J is the reason I first fell in love with the game of basketball.

Til this day, this very day. Dr J. Is the Godfather of the NBA... Every player after him, that we love and respect!!! Followed his footsteps!!! A true legend beyond words...

The Doctor was and always will be one of my all-time favorite basketball players. He had the skills of any modern player and more class than any of them.

"Dr J. was dunking from the free-throw line before Jordan and Kobe were even born"... Puts things into perspective!

Dr J SAVED THE LEAGUE. The ABA folded and the NBA only agreed to merge because they were going bankrupt. In short, there wouldn't have been a league for Magic, Bird and Jordan to inherit.

In my day {early 70's} he was considered a "god of basketball." Literally he was a dominant figure in the ABA / NBA.

I saw him play in the ABA. He's the best that I ever saw.

Thank you for your tribute to Doc! He deserves it!

The doctor was my favorite growing up he had such a badass style in the air

Underrated as a passer and team player. Also a great rebounder in important situations.

Such a star who is rarely recognized

No Dr, no Jordan. Erving was ahead of his time.

Saw Doc in his prime. Had he played entire career in NBA, top 3-5 greatest ever.

Julius "The Doctor" Erving was a Superstar and Ambassador of the NBA. If he had played during Facebook/Twitter and social media...OMG!🏀🤴🏾

I grew up in the era of the Doctor and yeah HE WAS THAT GREAT!!

Loved watching Dr. J. His sneakers were my all time favorites back in the day

I love this one. Dr. J is my ALL TIME favorite player. Spot on assessment.

Julius Erving was absolutely unbelievable. I think historically he's way underrated. He ranks right up there with the very best whoever played the game.

Dr. J! One of the all time greats! My favorite player of all time! He got me in to playing basketball and later being a coach. Phenomenal both on and off the court.

Amazing player and an iconic legend. He was the definition of cool. He has to be the top 3 SF, top 15 all time, And top 5 in Charisma. KD? Lol he was The Doctor. So nice to see these true Legends, bring Up more!

Anyone who was alive to see Dr. J lead the Nets to two ABA Championships would hold him in very high esteem!!! I remember the opposing team was putting so much pressure on the Net guards that Dr. J had to bring the ball up court!!!! And he did a great job!!!!

He is the REASON why I watch basketball.

I remember him playing in the ABA. One word... Masterful. He was the best at what he did!

Thank you for posting a very well tribute to Dr. J. He is my all time favorite basketball player for all time . Not only is he in my opinion, one of the top 10 players of all time, but, his influence and imprint on the game is telling. It's almost as if the game would not have been as successful as it is today without the contributions of so many former great basketball players and especially Dr. J. He was personally involved in team development and Vice-President of the Players Association during ABA years, and generally regarded as League Ambassador during NBA. The kind of influence Michael or LeBron seem to have emulated. This was all Dr. J. I think to describe his abilities it would be great to interview players who played during his time. From what I've gleaned so far, is that he did things during the game that no one, not to day nor yesterday has ever done. I do have to give much credit to all players and commentators who have spoken or commented on his play, that they have indeed recognized the good Doctor of how good he truly was. Still, he is in my opinion, the greatest small forward. If you compare a time line of age, play, and impact on the game, Dr . J is in the top 5 automatically.

The best player ever til this day. Everybody’ wanted to play like Doc myself included. It was a joy to watching play. Nuff respect

So accurate. I'm glad someone made this vid & it sucks that ABA stats weren't cumulative with NBA stats. It really undercuts his legendary importance to basketball.

Doc's defense is so underated. He was a great team defensive player. Always ranked in steals and blocked shots for his position. Also, people who know Doc like we do in Philly understand that his dunks were second to his endless array of moves around the basket.

The Doc's play was a combination of grace and pure madness!

Dr. J will always be my favorite player. I’m a die hard Laker fan and Magic is my favorite Laker, but Doc is the only basketball player living or dead that can stir my emotions to tears. When I played in high school my older brother bought me a pair of those Converse All Stars by Dr. J because I worked so hard to make the team. Tears of joy just overcame me. That was 40 years ago and every time I see or hear anything about the “J”, all those fond memories come rushing back. All the stats, dunks(like the one on my Pasadena, CA homeboy Michael Cooper and Laker) and downright unbelievable plays(the unforgettable behind the backboard reverse layup against my Lakers) are constant reminders of his greatness after the ABA days. There may be more exciting players that came along after Doc, but he is the ONE who set in motion the style, finesse, and athleticism we see on the NBA floor today. In my book, there will never be anyone like Julius “Dr. J” Erving.

Dr.j is one of the most influential players in the history of the game. in many respects he was mj, before mj. elgin baylor was the template for every high flying perimeter before Dr. J. Dr.j took athleticism to a whole new level.

Dr. J is my ALL time favorite player. Not only as a player, as a gentleman and an ambassador for the game. I discovered him when I was in the 8th grade thru a kid in my PE class. I'll never forget how good this kid was and how much he loved, The Doc. I started watching the NBA as much as I could. In those days, there was no cable and I had to try to catch Sixers games on CBS. In 1982, I was 17 years old. I told my mom that I wanted to go see the Doc play in person. Me and 3 buddies of mine, ordered tickets from the Atlanta Hawks(We all lived in the Columbia, SC area) with my mom's credit card, then we made hotel reservations(the Days Inn on Cleveland Ave in the outskirts of Atlanta) and then proceeded to make our way to ATL in November of 82. Because I had ordered tickets so early, we were able to purchase seats right behind the SIXER bench, for $12 each!! Yes, $12!!! This was Dominque Wilkins rookie season, so during warm ups, Tree Rollins, Dan Roundfield, Niq and a few other Hawks proceeded to almost destroy the Omni's rims!! The Hawks ended up winning the game and we all waited outside of the locker room when the Sixers came out. I saw Bobby Jones, Mo Cheeks and finally Doc. No autograph(that would come a few years later) but I did get to shake his hand! We had such an amazing trip, we decided to come back in April of 1983 for the next Hawk/Sixers meeting in ATL. Unfortunately, we didn't have the same seats, but we were in the same section, about 17 rows up. AGAIN the Sixers lost as it would be the 2nd loss of that magical 82/83 team that went 65-17 to the Hawks. In 1985, the Sixers scheduled an exhibition game against the Denver Nuggets in my hometown of Columbia, SC as that's where Alex English of the Nuggets and the USC Gamecocks was from. I was delighted my Sixers were coming to town. We got our tickets and this was Barkley's rookie season and of course, Charles was being Charles!! There was a players reception after the game that you could purchase tickets for in the Elephant Room of the Frank McGuire Arena. We paid the extra $20 for that and on that night, I was able to get autographs from the following, Leon Wood, Bobby Jones, Doug Moe, here's a funny one, Billy Cunningham's PARENTS!! yes, I got his parents autograph, Alex English and finally.......Yes, the Doctor! I had put together a scrapbook of pictures, articles and newspaper clippings of the Doc's career. I had the pic from Sports Illustrated that showed him with his ring and the caption, "Doc gets his ring".......He signed right over the top of it!! In 1987, as I watched Matty Guokas pull Doc from that game in Milwaukee, I knew I had just watched the last game Doc would ever play and tears filled my eyes. Here I was, a 22 year old kid from South Carolina, who grew up in a single parent home, no fatherly figure to speak of, one who certainly didn't know or even care to know who this black man was, how this kid was able to see this man play a game and to live his life and raise a family and to be a gentleman, not some brash, trash talking, "in yo face" type guy who never held out on a contract, who never let his ego override the team and who was the most gracious and eloquent speaker, who touched millions by all of this, I was bawling my eyes out, knowing he was gone from the NBA. 5 years later, my wife and I welcomed our 2nd son into the world. To honor the man I admired and considered my childhood hero, I named my son Julius Dalton. We call him Dalton, but when he was in high school, ALL the girl called him Julius! Here's the sad part of this story. That son, whom I love so very much and is WELL aware of who he is named after, is a CELTICS fan!!!!!! WHATTTTTTTT?!?!?!?!?! These kids, this generation, what do they know?? My LIFELONG dream, to play one round of golf with the Doctor. So Doc if you ever see this, you do have relatives in and around the Columbia, SC area, please let me know!!

He had the most beautiful moves taking the ball to the basket ever. No one has even come close since.

The Doctor. Watch him operate! Still considered to me the games most exciting player. The "original" Jam Master. I would also add Bernard King in the list of best small forwards.

Dr. J. The Most Exciting Player in NBA HISTORY!!! The ONLY reason Doc isn't remembered is because Doc wasn't PROPERLY MARKETED!!! The ONLY reason why players in the NBA AFTER Julius "Dr. J" Erving are remembered is because they were OVERMARKETED, & they had ESPN constantly building HYPE about them!!! Every last one of Post Dr. J. players should get down on their HANDS & KNEES and THANK Dr. J., for opening up the NBA. For making the NBA honor another way of playing the game. Dr. J. CREATED the "Above The Rim" game that is taken for granted TODAY!!! WITHOUT DR. J. THERE IS NO MICHAEL JORDAN, THERE IS NOBODY, & the NBA is STILL playing Basketball BELOW THE RIM!!!

Definitely in my top 10 greatest of all time!!! No matter the competition, greatness shows through.

My favorite as a kid....the best. Huge hands, best athlete...floated. Class personified.

Grew up in an ABA city ⛹️‍♂️⛹️‍♂️⛹️‍♂️ Dr. J was phenomenal and he deserves more attention and a higher ranking amongst the greats! ⛹️‍♂️⛹️‍♂️💯

Never truly understand why Dr J was so underrated defender, he average 1.7 blocks and 2.0 steals his whole career. How many small forwards even have 1 block per game average?

Dr, J was a legend on the New York City playground courts. He is an icon, a one of a kind superstar. He's a trailblazer, set the tone for modern nba playes.. Truly the best player to play the game on any level.

My ex girlfriend in high school father played for the Cavs as a 6ft 7in forward and he told me how he knew before the games even started Doc was gonna embarrass him just from watching Doc in the layup line before the games. Lol

I loved the video, but in my opinion, Dr. J is number one.

Julius was the reason I discovered basketball in 1976..... still have all my Dr J Converse posters from the 70s and Early 80s.....

Dr. J is a great symbolism for all of the Swag and innovation the ABA brought into the ABA. The ABAs impact on modern basketball often gets overlooked, but it must have been an amazing league to watch, with a lot of superstars who later shined in the NBA!

How great was Dr. J? I was Dr. J in 1978 as a 7yr old with an ABA basketball. Everyone wanted to be the Doctor.

I think you are spot on- as someone who lived in the dr. J era i remember him being the player that every kid wanted to be- in fact he is the pioneer of the "above the rim" basketball

He had the best dunk ever! So classy player!

The Doctor was the 1st and original. So cool, so athletic and so humble at total class act.

Some of those dunks against Portland are among the greatest ever. He was power and poetry. A truly amazing talent.

Great video. Funny how he's overshadowed by his own dunking flair legacy. His pure stats and wins as a player are overlooked by some.

I was a New York Nets fan in the 1970s. It was major news in New York when the Nets acquired "The Doctor" from the Squires. I was lucky enough to watch him regularly both on TV and in person the entire time he was with the Nets. I don't know about number rankings. All I can say is that Erving was as dominant and unstoppable a player as any of the usual suspects, Jordan, Bird, Magic, Lebron, Koby. He's right there with all of them. When he went to the Sixers, he dialed his game back a bit to fit into a team concept and accommodate other very talented star players. If the NBA hadn't been the stodgier league when he came over from the ABA, he could have easily put up the same numbers and played the same way. As it was, whenever his team needed him to take over a game, he could do it.

In the 82-83 season dr j was older and wasn’t in his prime his prime days was when he was in the ABA

7:00 that layup still blows my mind nearly 40 years later.

I am biased on the the subject, but I grew up in the era of the "Doctor " and I agree with you that he has to be one of the top three forwards in the game

I love the empirical insight you add to your videos when reviewing what the numbers really mean.

Had the pleasure of seeing Doc in person many times at Rucker Park! 🏀🏀🏀 CLASSIC! Doc was as stand up as they come!! Shout out to the Doc 🏀🏀🏀

2:17 His right foot actually walked on the air. Insane....

Dr. J is The Greatest Of All Times he revolutionized the basketball. Period

He was a good enough small forward to start on a NBA team in any area. His best years were in the ABA so we didn't see the best of him in the NBA. My all time favorite player.

I'd like to see the NBA recognize the ABA stats of the players that made the move. Great video. Dr. J. is among my favourites.

This may sound impossible but Dr. J is probably the most underrated basketball player ever

The Doctor was so good, I thought there would never be another player like him ever, that is until MJ came along.

I am glad they put this video out.... I am one of the old schoolers who remembers growing up in the late 60s and early 70s. Dr J or Julius Erving was one of my fav basketball stars. How people forget that he was the first to fly through the air and net the ball. Before Michael Jordan and this shoe endorsement there was Dr. J... the original skywalker. Michael Jordan is just a young padawan in my opinion.

#1 on my list, not because he is the Greatest, but because he is "The Doctor". Thanks Doc for all the Great Memories.. My Brother and I, who we played side by side on the Court, we were at your Last Game...and I/we watched you hold the ball up..., as you slipped away, down the tunnel...Brilliant, Fun, Exciting, inspiring Career. Thanks So Much. Ah ha, Love It.. John.

One of the Best to ever play the game!

He was great point blank end of discussion my all time favorite (when NBA wasn't watered down like it is now )

Julius Erving, next to my father and mother, is my hero! From the first moment I saw Dr. J play his first year for the Virginia Squires and until the present, I have the deepest respect for Mr. Erving. His contributions to the game of basketball and humanity, as well, is immeasurable. For 50 plus years, Julius Erving's positive impact on my life is evident. I strive to be a better human being because of the ethical and moral standards I have learned from the and only Doctor J!

Thank you for posting I AGREE DOC IS MY FAVORITE ALL-TIME FOR ME.

I love doctor j he will always be my all time great loved watching him play the game

Reminds me how great Bobby Jones was as teammate. Totally unselfishly, shot blocking, passing.

I look forward to seeing your how good was he videos. It's so cool & in a class of its own. Thanks Jon.

Top 3 most aesthetically pleasing to watch play the game

Doc is always #1 overall in my book 4ever ,pure excitement was what he was and is nuff said !!!!!

Doc is top 10 NBA all time for sure, I'm old, I saw his entire career. Don't even argue with me if you are not old enough to have seen his career since the ABA. Dude was dominant.

Great post. My all time favourite player. he changed the game. took it new heights. he was the reason they merged the two leagues. no one was queuing up to see Wilt leap two inches off the floor to dunk it or to see lanky Lew do a skyhook, no they was falling over themselves to get a glimpse of the flashiest, most dynamic & exciting player on the planet, Dr J.

The original hang time before MJ. That reversed layup was insane !

I grew up watching Dr. J destroy players at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island with the Nets. I even went to his basketball clinics at Nassau Community College. He was super athletic and extraordinarily graceful. TV could NEVER capture the beauty of his movement entirely. You had to see him live.

I had the privilege to see Dr. J play with the 76ers at the Spectrum in Philly back in the early 70’s. As usual he gave a master class both offensively and defensively. Definitely one the best players of all times at the NBA.

The Doctor Julius Eeeeerrrrvvvingg!!!...my all time favorite player!

Someone please tell me honestly how many people won championships in both the aba and nba? Please and thank you.