12/27/1975 Julius Dr. J Erving Career 10,000 Point ABA Basketball Autographed by the 1974-75 Nets Team

Official Rawlings RSS ABA game-ball with “10,000 POINTS December 27, 1975 painted on logo panel in white. This basketball is autographed by 16 total. Teammate signatures include; Billy Schaeffer, Bill Melchioni, “Super” John Williamson, “peace” Brian Taylor, Al Skinner (handwritten not autograph). Opposing team player signatures include the likes of; Rick Jones, Swen Nater, and Chuck Terry. Others include; W. Rooney, and Kevin Hughes. Basketball is in VG condition overall. All autographs are done in blue marker rating 6-9. Accompanied by an Erving family LOA as well as a LOA from JSA.

Notes: This basketball represents the foundation of one of the most prolific pro basketball careers in the games history. In an interview, the Doctor’s first pro coach was asked “tell me about the first time that you actually saw Dr. J performing on a court.” Al Bianchi’s response was “The first time I actually saw him was in a rookie camp. He played about five minutes and Johnny Kerr (then the team's GM) came up behind me and said, 'You better get him out so he doesn't get hurt.” On April 4, 1972, Erving scored 53 points--tying Roger Brown’s ABA playoff single game record--in a 118-113 win over the Floridians; Erving's total is still an NBA/ABA record for most points by a player in his first road playoff game. Julius’ athleticism was so advanced, modern players still marvel at his grace. Erving wasted no time, gathering his 10,000th career point on December 27, 1975 against the San Antonio Spurs. This very basketball in fact proves how poor the ABA was. The ball was used on 12/27/1975 when Dave DeBusschere was the league’s commissioner, but is stamped with “Robert S Carlson” as commissioner and “Denver Rockets 73” which means the ball was carried over from two seasons prior. The basketball offered here is truly transcendent, and would be well served in the Smithsonian.