Julius Irving, also known as Dr. J, recently shared the reason behind his decision to not join the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972. According to Irving, it was a matter of lifestyle.
Irving's agent, Irvin Weiner, who was also Clyde Frazier's agent, was against the move to Milwaukee. He wanted Irving to go to New York instead. After spending two years with the Virginia Squires, Irving entered the draft and the Milwaukee Bucks acquired his rights. However, thanks to Weiner, Irving had a contract with the Atlanta Hawks in his back pocket.
For Irving, it was about lifestyle, not about joining the "Big Three" or anything of that sort. Milwaukee had a great team, led by Bobby Dandridge, and they won a championship. So perhaps it would have brought him a title much earlier, but Irving truly wanted to be in Atlanta - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually," said the Hall of Famer.
Irving was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1972 NBA draft but signed a contract with the Atlanta Hawks one day before the draft while still being under contract with the Virginia Squires of the ABA. This sparked a dispute between the three teams from the two leagues. In October 1972, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that Irving had to return to the Squires. Eventually, Irving played in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers.
When Irving joined the Hawks, there were around four people on the team who were called "Doctor." So the coach said, 'You will be Dr. J.' And the rest is history," Irving recalled.
