Dr J: The Most Underrated Superstar Ever

[WillC]

This article explains why: http://basketballjournalist.blogspot...star-ever.html

He was so overrated that he became underrated.

He should be ranked in the top 10 players ever.

Is there a convincing argument for Erving not being ranked ahead of the likes of Kobe, West and Hakeem? Let alone Malone, Pettit, Havlicek and Baylor.

[D-Wade316]

Underrated as hell. I just can't grasp why people don't rank him in their top 10.

[Yung D-Will]

Underrated as hell. I just can't grasp why people don't rank him in their top 10.

Because there's 10 people + Oscar that are better than him.

[WillC]

Because there's 10 people + Oscar that are better than him.

That's certainly the perceived public consensus.

For some reason it has become accepted that players like Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Hakeem Olajuwon should all be ranked ahead of Erving.

I was in agreement too, until recently. I'd now take Erving's career over all four of those players.

That would put Erving in the top 10 players of all-time.

Here's a top 100 players list according to multiple sources: http://basketballjournalist.blogspot...a-history.html

I just think Erving is too low at number 15.

[D-Wade316]

Because there's 10 people + Oscar that are better than him.

In terms of historical relevance, he is only behind MJ, Wilt, and Russell.

2-time ABA Champion
1-time ABA Champion
3-time ABA MVP Awards
1-time NBA MVP Award
2 NBA All-Star game MVP awards
3 Player of the Month Awards
4 All-ABA First Team Awards
1 All-ABA Second Team Award
1 All-ABA First Rookie Team Award
5 All-NBA First Team Awards
1 All-NBA Second Team Award

[rodman91]

Definetely not underrated. He is one of the guys always mentioned in history of NBA.

Moses Malone is more underrated compared to Dr.J

[WillC]

Definetely not underrated. He is one of the guys always mentioned in history of NBA.

Sure, Dr J is a household name. But he's underrated on all-time player rankings lists, compared to other superstars.

Most people have Kobe in their top 10 players ever. Some people think Kobe is in the top 5 or 6 players ever.

How many people say that about Julius Erving? None.

I'd argue that Dr J was every bit as good as Kobe Bryant.

[DuMa]

its because he played in the ABA and had his best statistical outputs during the ABA's most prominent years. younger people are quick to dismiss the competition in the ABA compared to the NBA back then.

its hard for the Doctor to get respect in the all time rankings, i agree. the stuff he did in the ABA he would have done just as well in the NBA. imho

[rodman91]

Sure, Dr J is a household name. But he's underrated on all-time player rankings lists, compared to other superstars.

Most people have Kobe in their top 10 players ever. Some people think Kobe is in the top 5 or 6 players ever.

How many people say that about Julius Erving? None.

I'd argue that Dr J was every bit as good as Kobe Bryant.

Ranking depends on stats,individual and team accomplishments. Kobe crushes Dr.J in these categories. (except ABA)

I don't see a reason Dr.J should be considered higher rank than Kobe.

[WillyJakk]

@ Jerry "The Logo" West and Oscar Robertson being better than Doc.

Dr. J stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...ervinju01.html

Career avg: 24pts/ 8rebs/ 2stls/ 2blks/ 50% FG

His best season:
32ppg/ 12 rebs/ 4asts/ 2blks/ 2stls/ 50%

All of this in a League where black athletes were at a premium VS the "good ol days" of the NBA where they weren't at a premium.

White athletic players sought out the ABA due to the higher level of competition.

The rankings are a way for the NBA to "claim" West etc were better players when in fact they weren't.

No knock against any of those OG's cause unfortunately that's how the World (US) was and they played who was in front of them so it's not on them.

Once they integrated the ABA w/ the NBA you saw just how different the competitive landscape became.

[WillC]

its because he played in the ABA and had his best statistical outputs during the ABA's most prominent years. younger people are quick to dismiss the competition in the ABA compared to the NBA back then.

its hard for the Doctor to get respect in the all time rankings, i agree. the stuff he did in the ABA he would have done just as well in the NBA. imho

I agree with you.

By all accounts, Dr J was at his peak when he played in the ABA. He might have averaged a couple less rebounds per game if he'd been in the NBA during those years, but he'd still average close to 30ppg to go with 10-12rpg, 5apg, 2spg, 2bpg, etc.

[D-Wade316]

Sure, Dr J is a household name. But he's underrated on all-time player rankings lists, compared to other superstars.

Most people have Kobe in their top 10 players ever. Some people think Kobe is in the top 5 or 6 players ever.

How many people say that about Julius Erving? None.

I'd argue that Dr J was every bit as good as Kobe Bryant.

True. And if we compare their numbers, it also holds true. Kobe's numbers are also going to decline as his career continues.

What people don't understand about Dr. J is his cultural relevance. It is not his accolades that people should see, but his immeasurable impact on the game by taking to the air. Many miss that point completely.

[millwad]

In terms of historical relevance, he is only behind MJ, Wilt, and Russell.

2-time ABA Champion
1-time ABA Champion
3-time ABA MVP Awards
1-time NBA MVP Award
2 NBA All-Star game MVP awards
3 Player of the Month Awards
4 All-ABA First Team Awards
1 All-ABA Second Team Award
1 All-ABA First Rookie Team Award
5 All-NBA First Team Awards
1 All-NBA Second Team Award

Historial relevance? Haha, that was the biggest load of crap I've read today..

And don't mix his ABA accomplishments with his NBA. ABA was a weaker league with weaker players, just watch how much Erving dropped in terms of stats when he joined the NBA and no, 21 year old ABA-Julius was not in his prime.

[WillC]

True. And if we compare their numbers, it also holds true. Kobe's numbers are also going to decline as his career continues.

What people don't understand about Dr. J is his cultural relevance. It is not his accolades that people should see, but his immeasurable impact on the game by taking to the air. Many miss that point completely.

A player's legacy, cultural relevance and impact on the game are all important, I agree. But even when you forget all that, Dr J should still be ranked alongside Kobe. I really don't get why people have him like 5 or more places lower on their all-time lists.

[DMAVS41]

don't think so at all. how is he under-rated when he's in just about every top 15 list.

was dr. j better than barkley, moses, dirk, kg, malone, lebron????

hard to say. i saw dr. j from about 79 on....he was great. definitely one of the best players i've seen.

kobe is definitely better. i'd rather build a team around barkley, kg, lebron, and dirk as well.

he deserves to be somewhere in that 15 range. which is exactly where he is on pretty much every list.