Brooklyn Nets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Nets
By Phil Watson
The New York Nets made the most important acquisition in their history in August 1973 when they picked up Julius Erving and Willie Sojourner from the Virginia Squires in exchange for George Carter, the rights to Kermit Washington and cash.
Erving made the Nets instant contenders in the ABA, delivering three straight MVP awards (sharing the 1974-75 honor with George McGinnis of the Indiana Pacers), three All-Star berths, three All-ABA selections and an All-Defensive nod in 1975-76.
Along the way, he led the ABA in scoring in 1973-74 and 1975-76, finishing second in 1974-75, was fifth in rebounding and 3-pointers in 1975-76, third in blocks and steals in 1973-74, fourth in both categories in 1974-75 and third in steals again in 1975-76.
Erving led New York to ABA titles in 1974 and 1976, for good measure. He averaged 28.2 points per game as the Nets beat the Utah Stars in five games in 1974 and put up 37.7 points per game in a six-game triumph over the Denver Nuggets in 1976.
The Nets went into the NBA in the summer of 1976 as part of the merger between the rival leagues, but Erving wanted a new contract and New York needed cash. That led to Erving’s contract being sold to the Philadelphia 76ers in October 1976.
In three seasons in New York, Erving averaged 28.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.1 blocks in 39.9 minutes per game, shooting .508/.343/.789.
Erving was the 12th overall pick out of Massachusetts by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1972 NBA Draft, but had already signed with the ABA’s Squires in April 1971.
He was an All-Rookie selection in 1971-72, a two-time All-Star and two-time All-ABA selection for Virginia, leading the ABA in scoring in 1972-73.
With the 76ers, Erving was the NBA MVP in 1980-81, an 11-time All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA pick, helping Philadelphia to an NBA title in 1983. He retired in June 1987.
He was second in ABA history with 764 steals and an average of 28.7 points per game, fourth with 648 blocked shots and an average of two blocks per game, fifth with 11,662 points, third with averages of 40.7 minutes and 2.4 steals per game, sixth with an average of 12.1 rebounds per game and 10th with an average of 4.8 assists per game.
Erving is 42nd in NBA history with 1,508 steals, 46th with 1,293 blocked shots, 30th with an average of 22 points per game and 31st with an average of 1.8 steals per game.
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Named to the NBA’s anniversary all-time teams in 1981 (35th) and 1996 (50th), he was also named to the ABA’s All-Time Team in 1997 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.