The Doctor begins with archival footage of Magic Johnson asking Isaiah Thomas for his favorite memory of Julius Erving. The Hall of Famers smile as Thomas recalls Erving’s visit to his summer camp as a kid. All the kids started clapping in unison as Erving sped toward the basket, took flight from the top of the key, then stopped in midair. He was up there so long he had time to invite the kids to join him. Magic and Isaiah double over in laughter—just another legendary story in the nearly mythological career of Dr. J. It’s a fitting way to kick off this 90-minute documentary, which debuts tonight at 9 p.m. on the NBA Network and aims to give Erving his due props as a true sports pioneer. The film sticks mostly to the chronology of Erving’s career, from his childhood playing ball in the projects of Long Island, to the origin of his nickname in high school and his journey to the pros. Most basketball fans today can’t recall the ABA, a renegade street-ball sideshow with threes and dunks—neither of which were allowed in the NBA of the 70s. Erving’s career with the New York Nets was more the stuff of rumor than record, since the ABA didn’t have a big-time TV contract. When the leagues merged and the Nets shipped Erving to the Sixers, his high-flying wizardry transformed the game.