He was a athletic GOD in my eyes....pure grace and class...I'd become so entranced by his game..I'd sometimes forget about THE game.

That under layup on the end line was no joke on Cowens by Dr. J too. Classic NBA!😂😂

@woolhat1 You have immaculate taste in your choice of a class act to love as an NBA legend

LeBron check this guy out . Get some class

@@carlsandefer5678 Absolute truth

Say it again "Oak"!!! The players let their play and athleticism do the talking for them...

I couldn't of said it better myself

That’s cool they did it like how they want to do it and we going to continue do it the way we want to do it By your statement and standards I know u hated Larry bird the way he played the ultimate trash talk, finger pointing , stare down

@@thatguy4154 Does your WeDoItTheWayWeWantTo Club meet weekly?

My fav of all time! Dr. J doesn’t get the Love Magic, MJ & Bird get, but he was JUST AS MINDBLOWING & IMPACTFUL!

Good point. This was his first year in the NBA (76-77) and he was much more athletic then, as opposed to when he was squaring off against the Lakers in the 80's. But he was a better team leader by then

Sometimes I forget just how amazing Doc was.

His dunks were a thing of beauty but he should have worked more on his jump shot over the years

@@senseichess8688 yes maybe. But it does not take away from the Incredible creativity this man had

@@ednunez7682 when a man can dunk like he did it is a showcase for great athleticism

Lebron said his 3 greatest are MJ,Larry and Dr.J

How about that finger roll...Best Move!!! 🥇and the dunk on Cowens.

Dr.j was about to operate on a Boston celtics defender

Watch the movie the fish that saved pittsburgh

@@brianliscum6905 I saw it Brian when i was a kid love that movie.

Couldn't have said it better....my favorite athlete (person?) of all time.

whatever

@@mistermousterian Whatever what?

@@brettrobinson2901 Wilt, Bill, Elgin, Gus, Oscar, Lew, Connie etc. you bouncing babe.

@@mistermousterian Never said Doc was THE GOAT....said he was MY favorite player of all time...his class , his demeanor, not just WHAT he did with the basketball 🏀...but HOW he did it. I'll be the first to admit Erving has been somewhat superseded by others...but..you go back and look...Dr. J was REVOLUTIONARY in the game of pro basketball. The man DESERVES much respect.

Yes!!

Poor Hondo, he played perfect D on that one bounce,one hand last fingerroll by Julie and got eternally took! Like vitamin F, watch it Once-A-Day

SOMETHING SPECIAL IS PRECISELY RIGHT^THAT FINGER ROLL TOOK ROUTE AND LANDED AS LIKE ONLY A CERTAIN JUMP SHOT COULD ANGLE ITSELF^DR. J WAS AS MICHAEL JORDAN WAS UNSTOPPABLE PERIOD^SO NEVER A COMPARISON^

The Iceman

Spent a good portion of my childhood trying to finger roll like Doc

Dr J underrated??? First time ever i heard that. He's my all-time favorite NBA. Player and a lot of other people's all-time favorite. He ain't underrated to us. They'll never be another Dr J. He's in a class of his own. That ain't underrated buddy.

Underrated? Why do folks use this frickin word on KZfaq in the wrong context all the time can u believe somebody said prince was a underrated guitar player? Bro ur insulting this iconic hall of famer with that underrated comment

@@anthonytaylor7928 I believe it's the new generation that says that the most because they only experienced what they've seen or heard in the now. They don't really want to believe that they missed something , when they really did. LOL. Im 58. The Dr. J era was off the F ing chain. He ain't underrated just because some missed it. LOL. And Prince for dam sure was not underrated. Hey , if they missed it they missed.

@@quintonluster4886 Dr. J is underrated. He is hardly in anyone's TOP 5 young or old. For some reason he is forgotten alot. So that makes him underrated.

@@arbonnenetwork2205 None of that what you stated matters. Dr. J is in a class of his own. You don't know shttt about the sport , obviously. He has better highlights than anybody you name. He's the grandmaster of basketball. He has the single greatest dunk in basketball history that'll be showed until basketball is no more. You don't know shttt . Your brain is overrated. LOL Good night.

Same here. What can you say that hasn''t already been said? Just phenomenal. The Doc was the greatest, bar none, in my estimation.

@@azurskyz Hell nah. Aint even top 15.

Yeah man you know I grew up watching the doctor and you're right I'm not saying he's the best dunker of all time but I never seen any other player dunk on centers like it just ain't nothing

Children should be seen and not posting. The grownups are talking here.

That's doctor J. He knew he could dump on anybody

That's why i had a poster of him growing up. I salute that brother!

Facts

Yes, you are100% right. He was incredible and seems like people are forgetting.

Great comment about how the doctor would glide - they called Clyde drexker ckyde the glided cause it was catchy but ultimate graceful majestic awesome glider of all time was dr j

Think of the years before video. Damn.

Doc traveled on that last move.

He is not better than Lbj, Duncan and especially Bird

@@josephraymondreyes1088 Offense-wise, he's better than Duncan.

Larry bird was a forward

@@harrygrenier so was Doc.

Nah, let's say it right. Jordan was the Dr. J of the 90's not vice versa

Actually that IS a MUCH better way to say it...Dr. J was the original jawdropping player!!

NO DOC WAS THE DOC OF THE 70 S AND 80 S. THE ONE AND ONLY.

​@@MrCcoolgFacts reverse that. 😂

Bull shit. Doc was my guy growing up but he's not as good as Jordan, no way. Jordan was better offensively and defensively by a wide margin.

KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR HAKEEM THE DREAM LARRY BIRD DAVID THOMPSON GEORGE ICE MAN GERVIN. MICHAEL JORDAN KOBE BRYANT.

How many people have told you, they forgot how good he was?

@@Mr._X84, pick a number from one to ten, if you can count that high.

You are right. The new generation of course never saw Doc in his prime. He was magical!

@@Mr._X84 You do forget. I know I did.

Thanks for your comment about his mid-range jumper and bank shot, which he used throughout his career. It's a shame most people do not appreciate that part of his game, and most of today's players treat that shot a a criminal act - avoiding it at all costs to attempt a "low-percentage" 3-point shot.

I agree. Now when that rate dunkers, his name isn't even mentioned more often than not! I saw him play twice in the ABA at the Nassau Coliseum back in '75. Some of the things he did have yet to be duplicated by anyone. If he played today, he'd still be the biggest draw in the game. That he ended up in Philadelphia with that bunch of one one one, ball hog underachievers is a real shame.

On big man for sure

he kinda walked on the air too on that move... unreal

7 "Thumbs-Up' for your comment!

Reggie Jackson becoming Mr .October that year was the biggest sports story , given all of the circumstances that surrounded it .

"The Dr. Making house calls at the Spectrum" WTF! This statement is both stoopid and hilarious.

The skill level ..

Today is just a skill shooting competition. Back then, you needed creativity and good footwork. Those skills aren't as necessary today...just shoot 3s.

Hey Joe. Everything is about circus-shots now. No more low-post play. No more ‘pass-pass-pass’ fastbreaks. Now, both wing-men on a fastbreak run to the 3 line. Consequently rebounds are made by everybody today since most guys are far from the hoop, including big guys. The game’s initial intention was to get a shot off from as close to the basket as possible. Not the same game at all anymore. Some of the most beautiful aspects of the old game are now aberrations. I too prefer watching older games.

@@curly8029 And that explains why for the first time in my life I fall asleep during an NBA game.

@@joemartin1253 You don't understand.

Yeah, he didn't have a good game but this move was spectacular.

Probably Jordan as well. These players have gigantic hands and insane athleticism to pull it off.

Can’t forget the Ice Man

Or a fellow by the name of Bird.

@@Riles3152 Yup Mr. Finger roll from the foul line.

I have never seen before. Ever. Til this day. Incredible shot!!!

Yes that finger roll at the end was awesome, he palm the ball while he was dribbling and did a finger roll five feet away from the rim.

It's called a finger roll not an underhanded shot

Most unique player ever this was the 70s

One of his signature moves, seen him do it several times and not once did he miss. Nothing fluke about it

George Gervin could've got that as well

Yes, the Iceman.

Lol chocolate was not playing bout his rebounds. Anybody gets near this gonn catch a kneecap AND elbow at the same time

Daryl had the size and talent but never could quite pull it all together to really be an all star. Some guys like Moses Malone were great without playing in college. A few years with a good college coach would have helped Dawkins.

Double D liked to have fun.

Lol! He was snaring rebounds like get out my way.😂😂😂

He sure was fun to watch and always seemed like a class guy.

Wasn’t he out of his prime by this time?

I would love to see some ABA videos.

@@BornOnASaturday Definitely not

He's No. 1, already.

Dude, HE IS ANYWAY.

@@liecrusher3506 Ya buggin

@@iranianintelligenceagency9337 Who choose YOU, to opine on MY statement?

I would take him over MJ. Team player

I thought the same thing. Had to rewind a few times. And I thought I knew every Dr. J move. He did a similar finger roll over Corky Calhoun in the finals that year. There was a still photo of it in Sports Illustrated. Decades later, I saw the move on film. If memory serves, the caption read..."Erving rising majestically over Corky Calhoun, was the heart and soul of Philadelphia"s effort."

When Dr. J palmed the basketball, look out!😂😂

Let it go gramps.

@@rockroad4505 REAL MEN don't need to gloat. Only immature, insecure, self-centered, entitled, coddled people do.

@@georgewagner2352 So you’re the authority on real men ? FOH

@@largegod77 I simply stated my opinion. Whatever you took from it is in your head. Just out of curiosity, what do you disagree with in my comment?

Yes.Bumping your chest means"my bad".So comical these days.

Look up his windmill dunk over a retreating MJ. Dr schooling

That's why he himself (MJ) recognize it's unfair to compare players from different eras

Lol

Dr.j did the moonwalk dunk on Dave Cowen

once he palmed the ball and left earth, it was show time.

@@hardcorps5317 together ❤ watching nba 1970s basketball 🏀 dr.j

@@lloydkline6946 moonwalk dunk on cowers was superb but all time dr j in game dunk ever was rock the cradle get out the way Michael cooper - I was 25 years old and was in a white recliner and I jumped off it and two feet in the air celebrating the Michael cooper rock the cradle dunk - best ever!!!

Dawkins was a beast off the boards? His highest season average was 8.7, career 6.1. Hardly a beast off the boards.

The air was thicker back then... they hadn't heard of "hang time"yet...that man could actually fly...

hi keith. I watched this dunk in super slow motion a few times Cowens did get up pretty high. Doc was just higher. Amazing play!

Dr.j did the airwalk moves towards the basket 🧺, on dave Cowen

The last basket was much more spectacular. They were other players that could do dunks like this, but this sick drive-layup-fingeroll-hook only Dr.j could do it.

@@aftastosk6016 the thing that was amazing about that dunk was that he was still on the way up

1738...

No comparison... Irving couldn't shoot at all... one dimensional with those monster size hands...

@@jwabell He had a killer mid-range game! Try watching full games with him like the 80-83 playoffs and some finals, also the 83,84,87 all-star games etc. Nobody wants to see highlights of his JUMP SHOT

@@021881mt I watched... no D and no mid range and jump shot... his skill was being able to palm the ball and jump.... nothing else. Irving was the basketball version of Joe Namath... most overrated athletes of their sports ever!!!!

@@jwabell You didn't watch nothing clearly, stop lying. "No D" everything else especially defense was obvious if you actually know the Docs legacy so I stuck with the jump shot point, but you exposed yourself with the no defense shit. You have no valid points to slam Dr J (no pun intended) and you sound bitter too like it's personal. Must not be a true fan of the game if you have to depend solely on highlight reels and that makes no one an expert.

@@021881mt Give me a break, I forgot about more ball than you ever watched! I know Irving and saw him play often... you check his highlights, no shooting or passing, just around the basket and dunks. I agree his jams were awesome, but that was his whole game, nothing else... WAY overrated. Long arms and big hands... didn't take much work to learn that!!!

Doc just being humble. No player has the athleticism with the imagination. His hands along with leaping and style. Players today just can't replicate

I think l got you beat. I met him in Long lsland' when he was caretaker of a park. He literally jumped OVER everybody. He wasn't 'Doctor J' then, he was about 6'3" then and unassuming. Next thing l know this bloke is on TV.....who KNEW?

In his second year he was paired up with a rookie named George Gervin. That was my first live professional sporting event I attended. Basketball royalty!

To me he will always be a Virginia Squire!

@@JCFRFutterman very good Eric....doc was first a Virginia Squire

Crowd went wild!!!

@@andrewharichandran3465 do we even have that anymore?

@@acewilliams7917 yes... At the hometown high school games. NCAA does it too but I think that's more passion for showing off on social media than love of the team and basketball

The definition of “Small Forward” has changed since he played. Remember, he is listed at 6’7”. That’s a Center for some squads nowadays. At worst, I think he’s top 4 all-time SF. Top 3 at best, with the other 2 still debatable as to which is #1.

@studio bauhaus Using a general definition of "Small Forward", and keeping in mind that the 2 players I'm about to name didn't play the 3 their entire careers: Bird & James, in no particular order.

@studio bauhaus I knew you'd come at me like that. I'm stating a personal opinion, not a scientifically-proven factoid. I don't need to be reminded of Erving's impact on the game of basketball. However, I immediately tuned you out when you actually referenced a video game with an apparently straight face to bolster your argument. Let's just agree to disagree. Have a great day!

@@Fakename70 ​ @Fakename70 Respectfully, a lotta people have changed their definitions of Small Forward, but that - in no way, shape, nor form - obligates me to follow the crowd and do the same. You can feel free to do so if you choose, and if that's the case, then more power to you. As for me, I gots my own mind, and I'd never change it simply due to the whispers of unnamed people 'changing' how they define the role. At the very least, those people would have to justify that change, and that justification would have to transcend the tired ass, circular argumentation of 'well, the game is different now..' Again, at the lowest, I'd list Dr. J as the #2 all time greatest Small Forward. You mentioned earlier that you're just statin' a personal opinion, and not a scientifically proven fact. Again, I say this respectfully, but what probly confused folks as far as whether or not you're speakin' factually or preferentially was your use of the word 'definition', which immediately implies objectivity. Beyond that, you even went on to 'remind' me of Dr. J's height and how it factors into today's League. Again, this type of tone is what might lead others to believe that your goal is to educate someone on real, factual things, if not at the very least call out an error in somebody else's thinkin'. Like, yo, if all you're doin' is statin' your personal opinion, why do it in such a contrarian way? Why not use constructive language and build common ground as opposed to comin' in hot by highlightin' contrast and emphasizin' a disconnect between how I presumably define the role versus how others supposedly do? Peace

Made his whole game possible.... greatest jam of all time but the rest was pretty average

Mj was Little Doc in the 90's. Could not beat Kareem,. Dr j did and a healthy bird

The 'fro added a few inches.

G W ...Doc was 6'7" tall.

I suspect that Elgin Baylor may have done the same to Hondo in Havlicek's earlier Celtic days.

Yeah john was almost 38 years old here

I watched a couple games on TV where havlicek outplayed Erving obviously not this time....havlicek used to contain him pretty well. Most times though...when asked how he did it he said.....the trick to stopping Dr j is to make him work real hard to get his hands on the ball because once the ball is in his hands John said no player in the world could stop him...of course havlicek was a perennial all defensive team member...he should know

@Michael Walters no one said that Michael Jordan invented basketball we talking about all the moves and the everything' and high flying dunks acrobatic moves Dr j started it first and then Michael Jordan came along with it next and Kobe Bryant after that we not talking about people who invented basketball sir

@Michael Walters dr j was around before dominick Wilkins and if you ask in a basketball fans who was the best between all them players your name and Dr j 9 out of 10 will say Dr j thank you sir

Connie Hawkins

Shaq as well.