The time Julius Erving almost joined the Milwaukee Bucks

It is onerous to think about now, however as soon as upon a time, the NBA wasn’t the one main basketball league within the States. The ABA was an actual factor filled with gifted gamers, a few of which even turned NBA legends in the long term. Considered one of them was Julius Erving.

Becoming a member of the large league

After a powerful rookie marketing campaign with the Virginia Squires throughout which Erving averaged 27.3 ppg and 15.7 rpg, then-22-year-old determined to terminate his contract and begin looking for an NBA job. However the scenario was a bit extra difficult.

“The NBA got here out with an announcement saying all legitimate ABA contracts could be honored by the NBA. When that occurred, all however one NBA group backed out. Atlanta was the group that confirmed good religion,” Erving defined.

This may result in Julius signing a 4-year contract with the Hawks; one that may come into impact one his take care of the Squires expired. However to Dr. J’s want, that info wasn’t publicized, as he went into the 1972 Draft as an unavailable participant.

That is the place the Milwaukee Bucks got here into play.

The Bucks-Hawks drama

Regardless of profitable a championship in 1971 and going deep into the 1972 Playoffs, the Bucks nonetheless had two excessive first-round picks, they usually regarded so as to add to already deep roster led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor on the time) and Oscar Robertson.

The Bucks used their sixth decide to pick out Russ Lee and their twelfth decide to get themselves Julius Erving. It was a tremendous steal, however Milwaukee quickly realized the chilly fact of Erving’s unavailability resulting from his contract with the Hawks.

The group proprietor Invoice Putnam was adamant about their rights to maintain Erving.

“Julius Erving has signed an settlement with the Atlanta Hawks that may change into legitimate on the expiration of his contract with the Virginia Squires. Even when we do have to attend three years to get him, he is nonetheless value it. He is simply turned 22 and is among the most enjoyable gamers I’ve ever seen,” Putnam defined.

However the Bucks additionally thought that they had the rights to Julius. That is the place the drama started. 

Each groups engaged in in depth negotiations, all whereas Erving’s contract with the Squires obtained terminated by a Supreme Choose, permitting him to instantly take his skills to the NBA.

Dr.J. then joined the Hawks’ coaching camp earlier than the 1972-1973 season and even performed in preseason video games, regardless of the Board of Governors awarding the 22-year-old to the Bucks, which sparked hefty fines in the direction of the Hawks group from the commissioner.

Issues obtained actually tense, and the entire drama ended with a federal decide issuing an injunction that prevented Erving from taking part in skilled basketball for any group besides the Squires. Julius returned to the ABA for yet another yr; he led the league in scoring, and finally obtained traded to the New York Nets in 1973.

Quick ahead to 1987, Erving retired as among the best gamers within the league’s historical past. However all through his all-time nice NBA journey, he by no means obtained to play for the Bucks.