Remembering Dr J’s “greatest shot ever”

UncleScoopy

If you have been watching Winning Time, you know that is leading up to the 1980 NBA finals. The Lakers won, thanks to Magic’s incredible game six, when he started at center to replace the injured Kareem, an amazing feat for a rookie point guard. Before that, however, came the razzle-dazzlest play of the Doc’s dazzling NBA career, when he made a layup from behind the backboard in game four. He created enough hang time to smoke a cigar, nailed the shot, then collapsed to the floor before hustling back on D.

* I specified NBA because Julius did this kind of thing almost every game in the ABA, when he was highly encouraged to put on an individual show, given that his aerobatics sold tickets, and the league needed that desperately.

6 thoughts on “Remembering Dr J’s “greatest shot ever””

  1. Those two, the Hawk, and Elgin Baylor pretty much invented aerial basketball. Thanks, guys!

  2. Erving did it on a regular basis too in the ABA, there just was no TV coverage then. I was able to see him with the Nets a couple of times.

    His other famous immortalized shot was the “rock the baby” dunk against the Lakers in 1983. That one is probably neck and neck with the reverse layup.

    1. Yeah, like I said, not taking anything away from Erving — I’m a Sixers guy through-and-through. But Jordan was on another level from everyone, really.

      Dr. J is also significant in that before he and a few others came along, basketball simply wasn’t played that way. Those guys changed the face of the game.

      1. The only Erving I can think of is Senator Sam Erving of the Watergate hearings. I am going to assume you mean him. I further assume that the comedic effect will be immense. You are welcome.

        1. I think you’ve assigned Senator Sam a superfluous “g,” ‘

          and I don’t think he was too strong in the paint, although there is a rumor that he could nail it from downtown in the congressional gym.

          Kidding aside, the only thing I can remember about him is that he sounded just like Foghorn Leghorn.

  3. That’s right up there with Jordan’s all-time great shots. Of course, and not to take anything away from the Doctor, Jordan did it on a regular basis.

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