1. November 1st, 1973: The New York Nets acquire Julius Erving, Willie Sojourner for George Carter, the rights to Kermit Washington, and cash
Due to financial constrictions, the Virginia Squires were forced to trade their young star, Julius Erving, after he spent just two seasons in The Old Dominion. Erving, AKA Dr. J, AKA the greatest basketball nickname ever, spent three magical seasons with the New York Nets; The Doctor led the Long Island-based franchise to two ABA titles (1974, 1976), was named ABA MVP in all three seasons, and most importantly, won the dunk contest at the 1976 ABA All-Star game with the original free throw line dunk.
The NBA-bound Nets ended up giving him to the Sixers after that 1976 season, but let’s just reminisce about the good ol’ days on Long Island (a phrase I never thought I’d see from my keyboard).
As for George Carter and Kermit Washington? Carter spent just one year with the Squires and retired two years later. Kermit never played a minute in the ABA, but did have a solid journeyman career in the NBA as a member of the Lakers, Celtics, Clippers, Blazers, Warriors and Muppets, best known for nearly killing Rudy Tomjanovich in 1977 when Washington punched the future Rockets’ coach in the face. The incident was the most infamous physical altercation in NBA history until the “Malice at the Palace.”
