Long Island Nets to Honor Julius “Dr. J” Erving and the return of Long Island’s J.J.Moore at Season Opener on November 4
LONG ISLAND (October 26, 2017) – The Long Island Nets will honor legendary player Julius “Dr. J” Erving and the Village of Hempstead Mayor Don Ryan at their season opener on Saturday, November 4, when the Nets host the Fort Wayne Mad Ants at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
During the game, Erving will present Mayor Ryan with the Long Island Nets’ first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. Ryan will be recognized for his community contributions as a local civic leader, coach, and teacher. Ryan coached and mentored Erving, who was 12 at the time, while volunteering as the Biddy Basketball coach at the Salvation Army’s Hempstead headquarters.
In conjunction with the season-long celebration of bringing professional basketball back to Long Island, the Long Island Nets will be retiring Erving’s #32 jersey for the first time ever at the Coliseum. Erving spent three years with the New York Nets, winning two ABA championships in 1974 and 1976 at the Coliseum, and earning the MVP Award three times. The jersey retirement ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m., 30 minutes prior to tipoff. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a replica Dr. J jersey mini banner to commemorate the celebration.
