On This Date in Sports May 10, 1974: Dr. J Leads the Nets
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The New York Nets defeat the Utah Stars 111-100 in Game 5 of the ABA Finals at Nassau Coliseum to win their first championship. Julius Erving who averaged 28.2 points per game it the Finals is named ABA Playoff MVP. The Nets had acquired Erving from the Virginia Squires before the season. He was the MVP of the season as the Nets posted the best record in the ABA at 55-29.
The New York Nets had their ups and downs over the first six seasons. In 1972, under coach Lou Carnescca the Nets reached the ABA Finals, losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games. However, with the departure of Rick Barry, the Nets struggled in 1973, posting a 30-54 record and losing in the first round to the Carolina Cougars. Carnescca returned to St. John’s leaving Kevin Loughery to take of the Nets as coach for the 1973/74 season. However, the biggest move came when they acquire Julius Erving from the Virginia Squires.
Julius Erving was born February 22, 1950, and raised on Long Island. After playing at UMass, Erving taking advantage of the ABA’s rules left to play with Virginia Squires after his junior season. After a solid rookie season, Erving attempted to sign with the Atlanta Hawks of the ABA, despite the Milwaukee Bucks holding his draft rights. Meanwhile, the Squires held his contract leading to a court hearing that ruled that he Dr. J must remain in the ABA for Virginia. While Erving scored 31.9 ppg in his second season, the team could not afford to keep him and were forced to sell him to the New York Nets for $750,000 in a deal that also saw the Nets get Willie Sojourner while George Carter and the draft rights to Kermit Washington went to the Squires.
The deal brought Julius Erving home, as the Nets played at Nassau Coliseum not far from the schoolyards in Hempstead where he learned how to play. With the Nets Dr. J became the face of the ABA, as the Nets posted a record of 55-29, with Erving win the ABA MVP with 27.4 ppg and 10.7 rebounds per game. Facing the Squires in the first round, the Nets won in five games. In the Eastern Division Finals, the Nets would sweep the Kentucky Colonels to reach the ABA Finals for the season time in three years.
The Utah Stars who won the ABA Championship in 1971 were the Nets opponent in the ABA Finals. Coached by Joe Mullaney the Stars finished first in the Western Division at 51-33. The Stars needed six games to beat the San Diego Conquistadors led by Wilt Chamberlain. In the Western Finals, they needed seven games to beat the Indiana Pacers, winning the finale 101-87.
Seeking his first championship, Julius Erving had a monster Game 1, scoring 47 points as the New York Nets edged the Utah Stars 89-85. The Stars, meanwhile, were led by Jimmy Jones who had 25. In Game 2, Erving scored 32 as the Nets won again at home 118-94. As the series shifted to Salt Palace in Utah, the Stars hoped to get back in the series. Jimmy Jones had a big night scoring a game-high 28 points, while Zelmo Beatty had 22 and Willie Wise had 20. Dr. J. meanwhile scored 24 points but was helped by five teammates who all had double-digit scoring games, Larry Keon (18), Billy Paultz (17), Brian Taylor (15), John Williamson (14), and Mike Gale (11). This was enough to help the Nets get a 103-100 win in overtime. Looking for the sweep the Nets looking for the sweep, lost 97-89 as Jones scored 24 points with Ron Boone adding 22 for the Stars. Back at the Nassau Coliseum, the Nets finished off the Stars 111-100. Unlike the rest of the series, where Julius Erving dominated, the Nets got big games from Larry Keon, scoring 23 while Billy Paultz scored 21 ahead of Erving’s 20.
Julius Erving would win the ABA Playoffs MVP. He would win three straight MVP awards and a second ABA Playoffs MVP in the ABA’s Final three seasons as the Nets won two of the rival league’s last three championships.