Al Albert hopped on top of a table, courtside, surrounded as bedlam threatened far more than his game notes. Even for a member of America’s first family of broadcasting, this marked a first (nearly trampled by a court storming) and a most (ridiculous postgame ever).
Backing up a few hours: He never could have anticipated this. On May 13, 1976, the Nets trailed the Nuggets in a basketball finals series by 22 points late in the third quarter. David Thompson couldn’t stop scoring (42 points). Dan Issel couldn’t stop multitasking (30 points, 20 rebounds). The Nets led the series, 3–2. But it seemed likely, nearly certain, that Denver would force a Game 7 back home in Colorado.
Likely? Near certain? O.K., said Dr. J. The Nets’ star, Julius Erving, took over (31 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, five steals and four blocks in 45 minutes), while three teammates reached double figures to erase the deficit and net the championship with a 112–106 triumph. This wasn’t the NBA title, by the way. It was for the American Basketball Association crown. And, on a historic night, no less: This would become the final game ever played in the ABA.
