NBA legends react to Dr. J 's iconic baseline scoop move in the 1980 NBA Finals | ESPN Archives
In Game 4 of the 1980 NBA Finals, Philadelphia 76ers superstar Julius Erving dazzled the crowd and made NBA history with his legendary baseline move against the Los Angeles Lakers. In this video, former players such as Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper, Isiah Thomas, World B. Free, Doug Collins, Bob McAdoo, Pat Riley, Darryl Dawkins and Erving himself remember the moment.
✔ Subscribe to ESPN on KZhead: es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoKZhead
✔ Subscribe to ESPN FC on KZhead: bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoESPNFC
✔ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on KZhead: bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔ Watch ESPN on KZhead TV: es.pn/KZheadTV
Exclusive interviews with Rachel Nichols urlzs.com/jNURe
Stephen A. Smith on ESPN urlzs.com/W19Tz
ESPN on Social Media:
► Follow on Twitter: / espn
► Like on Facebook: / espn
► Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/f/espn
Visit ESPN on KZhead to get up-to-the-minute sports news coverage, scores, highlights and commentary for NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, College Football, NCAA Basketball, soccer and more.
More on ESPN.com: www.espn.com
People saying “oh anyone could do that now” are missing the point. It’s easy to re do something someone did cause u can see them do it... it’s something else to come up with the move when no one else has ever done it!
Not anyone can do it now actually. You really need big hands to palm the ball like that.
Very ahead of his era
DLO BROWN not just anyone can pull that off, you’d need a combination of big hands, arm length, and athleticism to pull that off, only people currently in the NBA that can pull that off is KD, Lebron, Giannis and Kawhi, maybe AD
@@realtruth1448 I'm sure KD can't do it, he lacks the athleticism, LeBron probably can but with the grace of a rock, nobody today can do it like Dr J did it, period.
@@ArmandoXIII Giannis could
I love how Magic is when he speaks about things he really loves. Beside being a legend himself he always acknowledged great players and great moments.
Magic is GOAT
Magic is always a classy guy and puts other greats over, even opponents.
he sounds like a Baptist minister (no offense)
Magic can be in that GOAT conversation but he doesn't seek the accolades and he doesn't have a problem acknowledging the greatness in others which is why as a Sixers fan i can respect Magic
@@pheonixoutthe6478 I doubt anyone has ever just loved the game more than Magic.
Julius said, “Just another move”. This guy is so humble. One of the greatest basketball player of all time.
look at his expression. 2:57 the purity of his heart.
I picked up that quick comment also. The rest of us are in awe of what he did. Doc was just being Doc. No big deal to him.
There will never be another
@@dreameryoung38 True that
It was because in the end, the Sixers lost those Finals, and as great as the move was, it didn't help them win the series, so at the end of the day, it really was just another move. Doc understood that and that is probably what he remembers...
It's not about who can do it now. It's about who did it 1st.
It happened in the 80s that's why people make it a big deal
@@kayoklutch817 really? Show me who else has done it. In fact show me someone who did half as smooth
@@Don-gu1mx kd and kyries were good too
KAYO KLUTCH lol shut up KD hasn’t done that or is athletic enough to do that and kyries hands aren’t big enough to palm the ball like dr j
Somregularguy people just hype it because it was in the old days😂
"The mark of greatness is when everything before you is obsolete, and everything after you bears your mark." - Dave Chappelle
Whos dave chappoler?
Wait a minute...my phone didn't know him either.
Great quote
@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C Why, because by then Latinos and Asians will be the majority of the US? I will say that Soccer/football is more of a team sport than basketball. Basketball is still a great sport, but in reality, it's just less accessible at the moment, especially in the developing world...
@MAN UTD Yeah, I doubt it. But, you're in the wrong place is really the point.
You know it was an iconic when nba legends were speechless
Notorious1503 hating much? It’s recorded
@@bigsouth010 What did he say?
“I was like a girl.” Dawkins LoL
Dr. J and MJ are the only ones I've seen that can palm the ball so effortlessly while playing. Gave them both a huge advantage.
You can bet mj did it because of the doctor
I could be wrong, but it looks like his left hand didn’t touch the ball when he ended his dribble! That’s a seriously large hand.
@@gordonwaugh2815 you are exactly right and that fact is insane that he can catch the dribble with one hand in rhythm.
LeBron or Kobe actually have small or at best average hands for guys their size. Dr.j and MJ had hands of someone 7'5"
@@gordonwaugh2815 you're right...palmed the ball one handed. MJ did the same thing with a rebound.
One of the most iconic moves in the nba finals
In NBA history, period.
ONE of the most iconic??!????
One of? Lol, that's not only one-of in the Finals but for most, the best move in NBA history; and yes he did it in a crucial game like that Finals. Matter of fact, he has probably the best Finals highlight film of any player ever. Watch 77 Finals highlights and then the later ones against the Lakers. I know there has been more acrobatic moves since but Doc was the most monolithic player of all time. He was playing 20 years ahead of everyone. Nobody was even close to catapulting NBA play as much as him, not even Mike.
It doesn't get any better than that.
0:59 Kareem could have blocked it, but he was like *wtf is he trying to do?*
He was probably really confused. Obviously nobody expected him to do exactly that so he probably figured he was going to kick it back out at some point
@@adamnordmark7709 Well sure. You're trapped behind the basket, in the air. You kick it out. You don't stay in the air, reach around back in front of the basket, and flip the ball in. That's not possible.
Thank god he didnt
I don't think so, I mean he kareem is good, but the hand was like behind the baseline
@@adamnordmark7709 He didn't really have a choice, four 76ers -including Erving were around the basket; all passing lanes blocked as well. On top of that being locked behind the backboard. Just awesome athleticism.
He didn't showboat, flex, give anyone the stank eye, he just sank it and transitioned. What a classy pro.
What if he did?
DR J Deserves so much more recognition than what we give him
True
Back in those days, he got the recognition. He was a playing legend. He was considered the best. Time moves on and people forget how good he was. He was certainly ahead of his time.
Yup esp youtube all Larry Bird hype
@@lreyla Bird was the real deal, best player of the 80's. Just had a short prime. Could have come into the league 5 years earlier if he skipped college and lost a step when he had double heal surgery and played injured his last few years. Trainers lap. Research it. But yeah, Dr. J is way underappreciated. Kobe gets compared to Jordan which is a huge stretch. I'd take Dr. J over Kobe. Kobe hype much greater than Bird hype. When Bird broke down he was still All-Star level when he was on the floor, When Kobe broke down he pretty much sucked and made the team worse.
@@chewy98ta28 Pretty much agree. No doubt Bird was great. And had to switch Lakers to Clips after Shaq dismissed. But for some reason at least over a year kept getting LB and even Danny Ainge clips on youtube.
The Doctor was a legend WHILE he was playing.
Facts.
As opposed to when he’s not ?
That is the God honest truth!
True, he had a myth about himself.
This is a weirdly worded comment.
Man I love Magic Johnson telling a story. He's got to be one of the best storytellers out there.
Magic is the king of exaggeration and embellishment. I could listen to him all day!!! Lol
“ Wait a minute, he got to come down”
Its no exaggeration. Magic could do some things players since and before could not do. Nobody could bounce pass anywhere near as good as Magic and he could do it fron 50 ft away and perfectly be on target. If its a big deal to him its something ever special.
Maybe if you enjoy hyperbolic embellishments.
And thats why we love magic
It never gets old. The single greatest basket ever. Look at the quality of the people he did that against.
Yes. Same thing with the windmill dunk. What made that play for me was he did it over Michael Cooper.
Probably the greatest move in NBA HISTORY!!!
Beacuse it was natural, not trying to show off, doing what was required in the moment, like Barry Sanders running!
It's 2nd after sky hook for me🙌🏻🔥
He’s got the two greatest moves that and rock the baby dunk🎉🎉
Love how everyone is in awe of this move and Dr J says at the end "just another move" 😂😂😂
Dr.J was the reason I started to watch basketball. He truly was poetry in motion. The grace and style he displayed has never been matched.
My reason also!
It’s 2020, and I still consider this the greatest move ever! Absolutely insane move!
It is the single greatest move in basketball history.
I prefer hakeems dreamshake over robinson to yhis
shush it’s all good. That’s not a bad choice either. 😊
G L agree 100% 👍🏼
And it was in the final, playing against the best.
This play has never been duplicated! Doc was so ahead of his time, it's insane! One of the greatest of all time!! Dr. J's move was beyond technically great, it was poetry in motion. He literally picked the ball up with one hand, off the dribble, then took off; with part of his body out of bounds before spinning the ball in and landing. I have never seen another player be able to effectively pick the ball up one handed off the dribble and do the things Doc did. He was the best!
digitalgr8ness ...I concur, totally!
@@brucescott4261 who have u seen do this move in game time exactly like doc did it 🤔
@@jerodtabb8092 ...No one!
@@brucescott4261 exactly 💯 doc was behind the backboard
Durant executed that baseline scoop more masterfully though
Other legends describing it, "out of rhis world, amazing, miraculous" Dr J - "it was just another move" ❤
you know a sports moment is really,REALLY amazing when its still remembered over 40 years later
Went to UMass with Dr J. In an era where freshmen couldn't play on the varsity and dunking wasn't allowed. Remember watching Dr J in the warmups, when the refs weren't watching, Julius psyching the crowd up by doing incredible dunks behind the refs backs. Curry Hicks cage. He lived on the floor below me and was a humble guy even in those days. Only played 2 years on the varsity before the ABA made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Every game he played was an event! Stay healthy Julius.
It’s his response of “just another move” to the most spectacular, in the paint basketball move ever that makes Dr J the greatest basketball player ever in my estimation.
Watching Dr. J you can see a lot where MJ got his inspiration from and why Jordan said he was one of his favorite players growing up. Dr. J was just as smooth and graceful on the court as Jordan was. I wish I would have been born early enough to have seen him play live.
Julius Erving was a superstar like no other. A gentleman of the highest order on and off the court, never called attention to himself, never even a hint of controversy, he did his talking with his unique, almost super natural talent. He defined the term " role model ". I'm thankful that I was fortunate enough to have watched him play. There will never be another Dr. J.
Even if someone can do that move now it will never look that good. There's only Dr J, a true legend.
STILL THE GREATEST AND UNDERRATED ... His grace couldn’t and can’t be comparable with anyone else’s ...
Starting on one side of the basket and ending up on the other, what a beautiful play. He actually jumped so high that he nearly hit his head on the back board lol
Dr. J made unforgettable house call's. Their is no Micheal without him.
4 months old zero comments. Crickets. The truth will set you free.
@@kevingumfory don't forget the five likes.
You got that right
RIP Darryl Dawkins.
I went to the same high school (Maynard Evans HS) as him, but missed him by a year. Once though, my jr high team warmed up at one end of the court while he was goofing around on the other end. He was just tall then...it was before the 76ers put 50 or 60 lbs in him.
Chocolate Thunder is back on Planet Lovetron
He was my neighbor when he got drafted. He was the nicest guy you would ever want to meet.
Love how at the end Julius says, Just another move...
I love the way he described it. “He just started walkin in the air”
No one was ever more graceful
only Michael Jordan
If you watch the move frame by frame you would have to agree this is the greatest basket. The moment the Doc got the ball he had already decided he was going to the basket. Landsbery knew he was coming and was already in position to defend him as Jabbar collapsed on him as well. At that moment the Doc has the ball fully palmed around his ankles. The rest is pure amazing!
One more comment: for those of us of a certain age, we also remember Darryl Dawkins. He was an absolute monster. He was tearing down rims before Shaq. So, when your move can make “him” squeal, then you’ve done something amazing.
DD was a fckn BEAST ! was nice to see this.
Chocolate Thunder
"Just another move." What a quote. That should be the Doc's motto!
Now lets talk about that "rock the baby" dunk... Wooo that was something!
That was INSANE!
Slickest dunk ever
It's still my all time favourite dunk
@@carlquinn2012 In memoriam Chick Hearn.
Don't even get me started on that!
I remember watching that live as a kid in my living room.......I remember thinking that was the greatest move I have ever seen
I saw it live on TV when it happened back in 1980. Knowing he didn't dunk the ball for 2 points, puts an extra notch on his Greatest Of All Time belt, cuz wow factor is still 1,000% to this very day!
I remember it like it was yesterday. I am a Lakers fan and had to give it to the Doctor! He operated on the Lakers that day. I'm old. 😭
It's a shame that the sports world (and basketball fandom outside of Philly) has kinda forgotten Dr. J and his impact on the game of basketball and its evolution as a sport. What Magic, Bird and Jordan were to the '80s and '90s game and Kobe and LeBron were to the 2000s and 20-teens game, Julius Erving was that to the '70s game. He's the link that connects the classic era to the modern era of the game, and his contribution needs to be acknowledged more than it is.
agree totally, but its because so so many of his fans and people that saw him play are no longer with us.
@@lapson19: I was born in 1971, and I remember the tail-end of his career as he was plateauing while Bird and Magic were entering the league
i was born in 1967. watched EVERY game he played in as a sixer. born and raised in philly. it was a privilege watching him play. just was commenting on how so many people older than us all across the country were huge fans of his and they are no longer here. yes, a lot of us are still here.
Unreal how far this sport came. From innovating to common. Respect the doc
Common? This is not common at all, the way Dr J did it is far beyond anyone's mix of grace and athleticism in NBA today.
@@ArmandoXIII well only few people obviously can do it because they don't have as big hands as he did. Kawhi comes to mind because his style of play is closer to Dr J.
It's not common that still a tough ass move lol
Dick Buttkiss He says the word “sport” in it so he means how far the sport has came
@@faisalsalam4161 ...FINALLY!!! Someone else has given the true description of Kawhi Anthony Leonard on the court. The latter reminds me so much of Julius Winfield Erving II. Thanks-a-milion!!!
Rip Chocolate Thunder Darryl Dawkins
That move by Dr. J is like John Coltrane improving jazz...like notes floating in the air and then coming together to rest in the basket.
When he did the scoop underneath it looked impossible but he made the shot. One of the greatest shots ever! The underhanded scoop!
I was fortunate enough to be at the Spectrum that game...simply unbelievable and absolutely no one else has duplicated or is duplicating that move yesterday or today.
If DR. J had Nikes on those days he would been up the roof.
The shoes back then were boat anchors.
@@youflatbro7498 not really
David Thompson was the real leaper. They called him Skywalker for a reason.
@@youflatbro7498 Converse and Reeboks aren't heavy
@@dom4591 leather converse which was his named shoe had much weight
Remember watching this game on tv and heading to the court when it was over. Every kid in the neighborhood was trying to duplicate it, lol. That's when you knew a move was great. Great player. Great memories. Great times.
"Just another move"...Dr. J, humbly bringing Rucker Park to the NBA Finals. He was and is one of a kind.
I saw that game and that move on TV the day it happened. Yeah, I about fell out of my chair. It was amazing.
I was 12 years old at the time of this. The NBA Finals weren't shown live, we didn't have cable, but that highlight was all over the place. All of my friends and I were talking about it. It was Matrix before the Matrix. And, of course, kids being kids, we all tried that move. We all kept hitting the underside of the backboard and slamming ourselves in the head. You never saw so many kids self-concussed. Kids are f-----g stupid. Dr. J., you were da man.
Dr.J is my favorite basketball player of all time and that play was the greatest NBA move of all time🏀Aloha from Hawaii🤙🏽
When he pulled off that move, you gotta understand who and what he was at that moment. He WAS the NBA. He was the face and the breathe of a league. He was already amazing....and then he takes it to a whole nother level in the finals. Only a few could tell you who won that game. It almost didn't matter. As long as Dr J did something you'd never seen before, you were happy (tape delay and all)
Not really
There were players as popular, if not more, there as well.
@@younglove3362 No there wasn't. Kareem was by far best player in the 70's and he wasn't the face of the league. George Gervin was definitely a popular player, but he was in SA so very regional. Magic n Larry just got there. The NBA was Dr. J in the late 70's and this was the 1980 Finals .
@@LT1HILLINGHOE He pretty much was the face of the NBA at that time.
@@russelturner5771 Not really
Such as great move. If the footage didn't exist you couldn't describe it or believe it happened.
Watching it in slow motion is even more amazing
I was lucky enough to see Dr. J many, many times back in the early 1970s when he played for the Virginia Squires in the old ABA. I remember him being a really friendly guy off the court.
Still the best move ever in pro basketball.
Agreed. In terms of artistry, pure athleticism, and jaw-dropping eyegasm, it reigns supreme.
Yessar! Absolutely sick move!!!!
@@WobblinGoblin1 And don’t forget the stage...the NBA finals!
I have said this before,and I will say this this again ! This is without a doubt the greatest move of all time in NBA history ! Furthermore, perform by the most exciting basketball player of all time ! Julius The (Doctor )Winfield Erving !
Nah it would be from mike
This is one of the greatest moments in sports history.
Years ago, the old magazine "Inside Sports" posted a frame by frame overhead shot of the move. The ball was in Doc's hand way out of bounds. Kareem or Landsberger hand no chance of blocking it. I saw it live and it's still awesome 40 years later.
Seeing this move as a 7 yr old blew what little mind I had!!!
Not only were Dr. J’s moves unbelievable but the “Style” with which he did it has never been matched!
Yup. Doc made the impossible look easy. Fluidity graceful elegant with a touch of flamboyance without ego.
The Greatest Of All Time. And such humility & class.
Doc is so humble.....what a legend.....
When I first saw him do that I literally said “what the hell was that?!”
THE GREATEST basket-scoring move in the history of the NBA. Nobody operated like the Dr.
Gone is the era of basketball art & humility. This was a pure pleasure to watch.
Julius: "just another move" Nope, greatest move ever!
Jordan's layup vs the Nets... come on...
@@jimvick8397 Nope
If Magic says it's the best move ever... I'm inclined to believe him....
He will always be my favorite basketball player ever. It pained me SO much when they got beat by Boston, LA, etc. but when they finally won it was the best thing ever. No one deserved an NBA title more than Dr. J.
Saw this in the moment and it has to be the single most majestic and iconic play all time...players on the court as legend has it... Dr.J. changed directions while in the air...the basket ball was a grape fruit in Dr.Js hands...
Dr J!!!! The greatest of all time!!!
If you remove lots of other players.
❤dr.j too, drove NBA basketball fans to the NBA arena like a bus driver
The real goat
This is the man that Jordan & so many of us fans adored!! Truly the Goat.
"Just another move" - I am from the Philly area, born in 1971. Once Julius retired, that was it for me and the NBA. All class, all the time.
I have always said that this is the greatest move in NBA history
Lol magic losing his mind😆😆
Best move by best player that ever laced them up! Dr.J then everyone else.Sixers forever!!!
I'm still amazed at how he grabbed the ball from the top with one hand while dribbling, moved the ball around in mid-air like he was holding a tennis ball, and finished with a reverse finger roll on the other side of the basket. The way he could palm the basketball and react to defenders while in mid-air is legendary.
What made the move special was that you can tell it was improvised. He tried to go for a dunk, got cut off, had to shoot it, but was behind the basket and then magic happened. Never practiced it, just pure genius during game time.
💯💯💯
I wasn't even alive when he pulled this one off but I remember having my mind blown the 1st time I saw it by just watching it on video!! This one and his famous rock the baby dunk that demolished the arena are my all time favs
Imagine seeing it in real time.
Yeah doc, for you just another move. Legendary. And yet nobody else has ever done it. Not even MJ.
What a humble superstar. Love Dr. J!
The fact that he used only one hand... that’s just insane
Only other player I know of to be able to do that was MJ
Probally the most phenomenal move ever performed, what made it so incredible, is he decided at the last minute to go that route, and he actually made that shot.....in a game..... just amazing 🏀
So humble, I admire this man. seems like a great character, someone to look up to for advice. This was basketball. God bless you Dr J.
0:43 dont forget that Dr' J's legendary move was started by an pass by Bobby Clyde Jones -just a 4-time all-star, a ten-or-so-time All-Defensive Team member, averaged 14 PPG & 7 RPG in his prime years with Philly, and got a ring in 1983!
Name one Clyde in the NBA that wasn't a bad man lol
Just another move. Love it.
He was the MJ prototype...
Jordan is the prototype of David Thompson
@Inigo Bantok How is MJ the prototype to Dr.J? Dr. J was first, that's how prototypes work.
@Inigo Bantok What you typed is incorrect, unless you're saying Dr. J is better than Jordan?
@@bellmane45 Thank you
Hey the Dr. was MJ's idol and it showed....Oh, and so was David Thompson "Skywalker" too
cool, calm & collected, love Dr J - wish I was around in the 70s in NY to see him play live. easily my favourite player of all time.
Pure class. Grew up in Philadelphia watching this great human being just....Dr. J. Still have a poster of him. Dr.J, Bobby Clarke, Mike Schmidt and Brian Dawkins my favs from each team. But so many more from all.
I love how hyped magic gets for other nba greats
In that moment Dr. J really walked in the air. Epic moment in the history of basketball.
I remember seeing this live and I still can't believe what I saw 42 years later. Sadly the Sixers lost the game and the title on this night. Doc is my favorite player of all time. The only other play I can remember close to this was in the 1991 finals when Jordan drove the basket, took off(as he always does) and in mid flight switched the ball from his right to left hand and laid it in.
Humility from the Doc! Wow! He's awesome!
This will always be my favorite play
Jazz musician Grover Washington Jr. wrote a song about that move called "Let it flow for Dr. J."
I followed the Sixers during their run in the 80s and it was electric. Its one thing to see it on YT and play it back as many times but when you see it for the first time live in person or TV is just jaw dropping. Even the late Daryl Dawkins “ chocolate thunder “ had incredible dunks too. Bit of trivia, it was Dawkins who first broke a backboard during a Sixer game which led to the development of the snap-back ring to avoid future incidents. He broke a second one after which the NBA told him the next ring he damages will come out from his own pocket.
The Lakers' Jamaal Wilkes, Mark Landsberger, Abdul-Jabbar, and Jim Chones all had front row views of that shot. The Doctor's arm and ball was 3 feet out of bounds at one point during that move. He had to duck his head to avoid the backboard. One of the great shots ever in a championship setting.
dawkin's girly reaction had me dying😂
The Greatest Layup of All-time, Jordan has the second greatest one and it too was in the Finals vs Magic and The Lakers
It is still. the greatest movie I ever seen. At 68, I've seen a lot of moves.❤
Dr j was the greatesr open court player to ever play the game he was like a out of control loco motive going to the basket .he was so athletic and graceful.