Milwaukee Bucks: Julius Erving Speaks Fondly Of Rivalry With Bucks

Although his relationship with the Milwaukee Bucks was far from straightforward, Julius Erving retains fond memories of the fans and franchise.

Throughout a storied history that stretches back almost 40 years, the Milwaukee Bucks have had no shortage of NBA legends suit up in the franchise’s colors. But there’s always one name who stands astride as the one who got away.

As our own Jordan Treske detailed during our Bucks History Month last year, Milwaukee drafted Julius Erving with the 12th overall pick of the 1972 NBA Draft. That move set up the possibility of Dr. J joining up with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson and Bob Dandridge as a part of a Bucks team that was already among the league’s most dominant. Of course, that vision would never come to pass.

Erving instead chose to sign with the Atlanta Hawks, having already been playing as a professional in the ABA, leading to lengthy legal proceedings involving both teams that weren’t settled until 1975. As a result, it was 1976 before Erving would eventually make the move to the NBA.

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For Bucks fans, to this day the Erving situation stands out as one of the greatest hypotheticals in franchise history. Just how dominant could the Bucks have been if Erving had teamed up with their existing stars? Could Dr. J’s presence have been enough to persuade Kareem to stay in Milwaukee longer-term?

Regardless of the ‘what ifs’, the Bucks and Erving saw their fates intertwined throughout a significant section of the next decade too.

Erving’s 76ers regularly found themselves going toe-to toe with the Bucks in a number of highly competitive post-season series, and Dr. J’s final game in the NBA even came in Milwaukee.

In a wide-ranging interview with Jason Mann on The Step Back’s excellent Over and Back NBA Podcast, Erving touched on many of these subjects and revealed his general fondness for the Bucks.

"“I think I probably have more respect for the Bucks players, and the Bucks organization than any other organization we previously mentioned or could mention.”"

From 1981 through to 1987, Erving’s Philadelphia teams faced off with the Bucks in the playoffs on six occasions, only avoiding each other in 1984. The 76ers came out on top in four of those series compared to Milwaukee’s two, but for a competitor like Erving the battles still stick out in his memory.

"“Sidney Moncrief, and Marques Johnson, and Mickey Johnson, and Bob Lanier, Junior Bridgeman, Quinn Buckner, you know, such a core group of guys who I just respected so much. And the fact is that year in and year out, we’d look at the statistics and just say ‘wow, these teams are so evenly matched’. And the team that seemed to have the home court advantage in the playoffs, maybe one loss, each win three times on each other’s court. We end up 3-3 and the scoring differential was something like four points, six points, 10 points or less. Over six games, which is scary.”"

Erving reflected on the poignant conclusion of his career coming against a team, and in a city where he had so many standout memories over the years. Dr. J also took a moment to specifically single out the reception he was given by Milwaukee’s fans on that final night.

"“It was kind of befitting that my last game in the NBA was against the Milwaukee Bucks. We played a playoff series in which they were clearly the better team in my last year, and the last game was walking out of their stadium and those fans recognizing what I’d given for those 11 years. And it kind of started as it ended, as I was MVP in my first All-Star game in Milwaukee, and those fans booed because the West team had won. But there was a little bit of poetic justice that they cheered me that night, and that’s how I got to say goodbye to basketball.”"

For fans of Erving, or NBA history generally, the entire podcast which can be found below is a must-listen.

Next: Milwaukee Bucks History: 1981, Milwaukee’s Last 60 Win Season

Considering the history between the two sides, it’s certainly interesting to hear Erving speak of his respect for the Bucks organization and fans.