SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – A part of World Basketball Day was a very special bench dedication at Mason Square, that site was chosen in particular as it commemorates the first-ever basketball game played– ever.
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame President and CEO John L. Doleva was in attendance, along with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and State Representative Bud Williams just to name a few.
Dr. J himself, NBA Hall of Famer and UMass Amherst alumni Julius Erving, was in attendance, and he said he was happy to be back in western Mass and wrapped up by saying he’s happy he gets to be called Dr. J, because it’s similar to Dr. James, as in James Naismith, who created the sport of basketball.
“Now I’m happy to come back and see that it’s a very diverse campus, and maybe there’s some people standing here listening to me now that might wanna go to school here,” Erving said.
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