The Nets, A Retrospective

Soaring Success with Dr. J

The New Jersey Nets franchise has endured its share of difficulties since it first took the floor in 1967. One of 11 original American Basketball Association teams, the club has played in six arenas in the New York metropolitan area. Along the way, the franchise soared to the top of the ABA on the back of Julius “Dr. J” Erving. Dr. J led the Nets to their first ABA title in 1973-74 and second during the final season of the ABA in ’76. Although the Nets soared with Erving, he never played a game for the franchise in New Jersey. On October 20, 1976, the Nets sold the best player they’ve ever had and sent him pack to Philadelphia. Rod Thorn, the Nets’ former president, lamented to NJ.com last week that “Had the Nets been able to retain Julius when they went to Jersey, they would have had a good team off the bat…Undoubtedly, the history of the Nets would have been different.”