CJPhillips
04-01-2007, 04:56 PM
(Canadian Press) April 1, 2007 - A major announcement from the American Basketball Association office in Indianapolis. Indiana shook the world of basketball today with the announcement that Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Julius Erving has been signed to be the commissioner of the Canadian division of the ABA.
"I feel like when I was just out of college and playing with the Virginia Squires in the old ABA," said Erving, from his winter residence in Boca Raton, Florida. "You were scared and excited at the same time. You saw the league grow and the players grow with it."
The ABA plans to grow to 16 teams within the next two years in Canada and Erving is excited about the future growth.
"The scouts need not go to Europe now to look for talent. They know that
these kids will be in shape...not sitting the bench and watching the game."
Erving, 57, was known as "Dr. J." during his career and scored 30,026 points during a 16-year career from 1971 to 1987 of which five were spent in the original ABA and the rest in the National Basketball Association.
He was a 17-time All Star and two time MVP in the ABA and once in the NBA.
He won two championships with the New York Nets (ABA) and one with the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA).
He is fifth in all time NBA-ABA combined scoring.
As an added bonus Erving convinced former 76ers; teammate Bobby Jones to assist as vice president of the Canadian division.
"It took only 25 minutes to have Bobby say yes," chuckled Erving.
Like Erving, Jones started his pro playing career in the old
ABA before moving over to the NBA where he teamed up
with Dr. J. to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA
title.
Quiet on and off of the court, Jones left the sport of basketball more than 20 years ago to spend time with family and run a business in North Carolina.
"Julius convinced me this was a great opportunity," said Jones. "We (league headquarters) will be based out of Ottawa and that was a deciding factor as it is not to big or not to small a city to enjoy a quiet life."
"I feel like when I was just out of college and playing with the Virginia Squires in the old ABA," said Erving, from his winter residence in Boca Raton, Florida. "You were scared and excited at the same time. You saw the league grow and the players grow with it."
The ABA plans to grow to 16 teams within the next two years in Canada and Erving is excited about the future growth.
"The scouts need not go to Europe now to look for talent. They know that
these kids will be in shape...not sitting the bench and watching the game."
Erving, 57, was known as "Dr. J." during his career and scored 30,026 points during a 16-year career from 1971 to 1987 of which five were spent in the original ABA and the rest in the National Basketball Association.
He was a 17-time All Star and two time MVP in the ABA and once in the NBA.
He won two championships with the New York Nets (ABA) and one with the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA).
He is fifth in all time NBA-ABA combined scoring.
As an added bonus Erving convinced former 76ers; teammate Bobby Jones to assist as vice president of the Canadian division.
"It took only 25 minutes to have Bobby say yes," chuckled Erving.
Like Erving, Jones started his pro playing career in the old
ABA before moving over to the NBA where he teamed up
with Dr. J. to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA
title.
Quiet on and off of the court, Jones left the sport of basketball more than 20 years ago to spend time with family and run a business in North Carolina.
"Julius convinced me this was a great opportunity," said Jones. "We (league headquarters) will be based out of Ottawa and that was a deciding factor as it is not to big or not to small a city to enjoy a quiet life."