'Dr. J' said playing against this rookie in the ABA Finals made him feel 'like an elder statesman'

Julius Erving was the star of the 1976 ABA Playoffs, winning the postseason MVP award after averaging an impressive 34.7 points over 13 games and playing a crucial role in the New York Nets' eventual title win.

However, this journey to success wasn't without its challenges. For instance, during the Finals series against the Denver Nuggets, one opposing player posed a significant threat: shooting guard David Thompson, who was just a rookie at the time. In an interview back then, "Dr. J" reflected on how much he felt the impact of a young "Skywalker."

"David came in here like a young gunslinger after me. At 26, I feel like an elder statesman. I don't go screaming in the night over this, but he does get me more involved, more up. He's helped make Denver the best," remarked Erving, per Sports Illustrated.

"Dr. J" hadn't anticipated such a closely contested series

When the last ever ABA Finals took place, Julius surely felt confident about winning the title. Erving later mentioned that "early on," he thought the Nuggets "weren't deep," indicating a lack of roster depth. The small forward legend also doubted their standout rookie Thompson, believing he'd face "stamina problems," common for young players in such intense series.

Overall, Erving, who would become an 11-time NBA All-Star, confidently believed his team "would take them."However, instead of easily securing their second title after defeating the Utah Stars in the Finals two years earlier, this series would prove to be a tougher challenge.

The opening game became a nail-biting win for New York, who won by just two points. To Julius's surprise, the Nets then faced a six-point loss in Game 2.

"Skywalker" stole the show

With the series tied, the Nets clinched a win in Game 3. However, this time, it wasn't "Dr. J," who had scored 45 and 48 points in the first two contests, but Thompson who took the spotlight. The former Wolfpack shot 12 of 22 from the field and was flawless at the free-throw line, making all eight attempts and finishing the game with 32 points.

The following two games were split, bringing the series to a 3-2 score before Game 6. In this contest, it was once again "Skywalker" who topped the scoring charts. Playing for 36 minutes, the future Nuggets legend racked up 42 points, shooting 16-23 from the field and hitting 10-12 from the charity line.

The 1975 Draft's top pick delivered an impressive offensive performance, but sadly for him, it didn't lead to a win, as the game concluded with a 112-106 victory for New York, who consequently clinched the series.

Although Thompson, who averaged 28.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in the Finals, didn't get to celebrate the title that night, David did receive recognition from one of the greatest scorers in basketball history, Erving—so there was at least one bright spot.