In the fall of 1976, just hours after "Dr. J" announced his joining the NBA, someone rushed to the ticket window in the show hall of the Detroit Expo, slapped the salary he had just received from ford motor company on the counter and shouted, "Give me all the game tickets for 'Dr. J'!"
Today's children are confused when they hear such a storyline, because they simply can't appreciate the amazing charm of "Dr. J" in that era.
Julius Owen was already famous in high school, when he exchanged nicknames with the dead party, because his friends liked to talk about it, Owen called him "Professor", and responded with "Dr. J" for convenience.
Since then, the nickname "Dr. J" has spread. Irving spent three years at the University of Massachusetts, averaging 26.9 points and 19.5 rebounds per game in the final season of the NCAA.
Irving began his career at the ABA, playing for the Virginia Squire and new York Nets, and in his five seasons with the ABA, he averaged 25.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, winning three regular season MVPs and two championships.
"In his last season in the ABA, he was the scariest player I've ever seen." Former New York Nets coach Kevin Langley said, "40 points, 20 rebounds, 15 assists, plus a dozen blocks, is just commonplace." "People think the biggest difference between the ABA and the NBA is the ball, the exploding head, and Julius Irving.
ABA Council Member Dave Debschell said: "Irving is not only a symbol of the team, but also a sign of the entire league.
In 1976, the ABA officially merged with the NBA, and the Nets, which owned Archibald and Irving, showed good competitiveness, but the team did not make good on its promise to sign a new contract with "Dr. J", the two sides were in a fake situation, and when the news of Irving's uncompromising came out, the blue Net's ticket sales came to a complete standstill.
The Philadelphia 76ers eventually won the battle for "Dr. J" with a $3 million check, which was undoubtedly a lifesaver for the financial crisis of the blue net, and Irving was also awarded a new contract with an annual salary of 600,000, but it was not a win-win deal.
Team hero John Wittems, who turned the tide in game 6 of the 1976 ABA Finals, blatantly rebuked the BlueNet for selling the core: "No one with a normal brain will sell Dr. J."
On October 27, 1976, the 76ers played away against the Rockets, and 15,676 fans watched live, setting a Houston home attendance record.
People love "Dr. J" because no one can refuse a performance on the basket, as Kevin Minguely puts it: "Dr. J was the first 'Skywalker' who made dunks popular, bringing the violent act of conquering the basket from the carnival's affiliated performance area to the spotlight." ”
Irving slid through the air, and defenders eventually surrendered to the law of gravitation and fell, still hanging high above the basket, sublimating the dunk into art with the style of a dancer.
Once, chicago bulls' Mickey Johnson tried to create Irving hit someone with the ball while defending a fast attack, and he found nothing, "Dr. J" easily leapt over him, and Johnson wisely lowered his head to avoid being kicked by Irving's shoes.
Irving has performed countless wonderful aerial performances, and the most fascinating thing for basketball fans is not the free throw line jump dunk at the 1976 All-Star Game, nor the swooping dunk done above Michael Cooper's head, nor the brutal dunk against Bill Walton in the 1977 Finals, but a backhand layup that has been recorded in history.
On May 11, 1980, in game 4 of the NBA Finals, the 76ers beat the Lakers 105-102 to bring the total score back 2-2.
In the middle of the fourth quarter, Bobby Jones delivered the ball to Dr. J with a long pass that ran through the field. Pressed by the opponent, the "Doctor" dribbled through with his right hand, grabbed the ball with one hand and jumped high, his body flew into the air behind the rebound, and his left space was completely covered by Lansberg and Abdul-Jabbar.
But see "Dr. J" ape arm lightly, draw a wonderful arc in the air and then shoot, pluck the ball, wipe the board, the ball into. The "magician" under the basket was stunned: "I couldn't believe my eyes, it was the greatest goal I've ever seen in my life, not one of them. "
Irving injected the NBA not only with dazzling performances and dunk freshness, but also became a torchbearer at a critical moment when the NBA's embers were about to go out. At that time, most of the players behaved rudely and aggressively, but "Dr. J" was a personable gentleman.
Even when people had come home from their baths, he was willing to sit down and put ice packs on his sore knees. Face countless microphones and notepads and patiently answer all your questions.
In the first season of the ABA's merger with the NBA, "Dr. J" led the 76ers to the Finals, regrettably losing to the Blazers. He proved to be no vase player.
In the 1980/1981 season, Irving averaged 24.6 points, 8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.1 steals per game, was elected regular season MVP, and in 1980 and 1982, the 76ers twice killed in the Finals.
Like most outside players, Irving needed the full support of Optimus Prime on the inside, and before the 1982/1983 season, 76 people offered sky-high contracts for MVP Moses Malone of the previous season, the Rockets had no choice to match, and the most dominant center finally arrived in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia won an impressive record of 65 wins and 17 losses in the regular season, Malone won the regular season MVP, chanting the slogan of "FO-FO-FO", 76 people were invincible in the playoffs, the Finals swept the old enemy Lakers, revenge, 32-year-old "Dr. J" for the first time wore the NBA championship ring.
At the 1984 Denver All-Star Game, "Dr. J" once again performed the iconic free throw line dunk, which was the game he shocked the world eight years ago, just a month before his 35th birthday. On the same field, his head hit the rebound, and eventually the NBA decided to cut the bottom end of the rebound by 10 centimeters.
When the "Doctor" officially announced his retirement in 1987, Pat Riley gave him a very high evaluation: "He was a great player, and what is really memorable is the way he plays." Dr. J's "goodness and greatness are like all the mothers of the world, and like the Pope of Rome, they are superior and different."
But "Dr. J" is unique, and it is precisely because of what he does on the field that makes his other side known to everyone. His game firmly captured the hearts of thousands of children, which established them the right course. I will remember 'the greatest player I've ever met') "Dr. J".
"Professional basketball itself is an illusory existence." "Dr. J." said, "God has given us superior bodies, and you have to be grateful for it and take responsibility for it, and I used my talents correctly." ”
The "Doctor" who is now far from the professional arena will still try dunks, and when the 63-year-old Owen flies again, he is still the aerial dancer who makes the world crazy.
Are fans amazed at such a trapeze artist?