"I'll help nominate you" - When Julius Erving endorsed a streetballer's Hall of Fame induction
The great Julius Erving had accomplished a lot as a pro, but streetball has always held a special place in his heart. In fact, Dr. J continued playing streetball at the famous Rucker Park in New York even though he was already a pro.
Erving has a great deal of respect for streetballers, especially those who have what it takes to take it to the next level. For The Doctor, there are a lot of them out there and one of the first guys he had on his mind was Taurian Fontenette, better known as "Air Up There."
Erving was invited to a "Ball Up" event in 2013 and witnessed the unbelievable dunking prowess and leaping ability of Air Up There. Famous for his 720 dunk, Air Up There earned Dr. J's seal of approval not only to go pro but to even be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"So many people are great in their own right. I'd like to see Air Up There get into the Hall of Fame," Dr. J said in 2013 via Slam 170. "I'll help nominate you...[Air], just keep doing what you're doing. It's about contributors to the game, you made a contribution to basketball. That's what the club is all about."
Mr. 720
Like most streetballers, Fontenette began hooping since childhood. At age 12, he was already performing a 720-degree dunk in a lowered rim, a move that would later become his trademark in the world of streetball.
Air Up There was one of the most prominent AND1 Mixtape Tour players. It was in an AND1 game in Houston, Texas, in 2006 when he first gained nationwide popularity after successfully doing a 720 dunk.
"My dad bought me a portable goal that goes to 7.5 - 8 feet, and I tried to do a 360 and I did it so hard that I kept going a little bit and my dad was like, 'What did you do? Try to do it again!" Mr. 720 recalled. "And after he asked, I did a complete 720."
Like Dr. J, Air Up There also believes that streetball is not just for show. Fontenette defined it as a platform where amateur players showcase their skills and prove themselves.
"Lots of people are realizing it's not a gimmick, it's real basketball" Fontenette said of streetball. "You gotta bring your A-game, because if you don't, you're gonna get embarrassed."
Streetball deserves proper acknowledgment
Even though some people still don't take streetball seriously, there are also those who have learned to appreciate its essence and relevance. Among those who had been enlightened by what streetballers brought to the sport was former NBA player Tracy Murray.
"At first, I didn't care for it," Murray admitted. "As I kept watching it and doing my research, all of these guys, most of 'em-played D-1 ball. They do know how to play basketball! It's a very exciting game to watch! After realizing what it was all about, I broadened my horizons."
As Murray further understood the importance of streetball to these players, he didn't hesitate to become a Ball Up coach.
As it stands, Erving, Connie Hawkins and Nate Archibald were the only known streetballers who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Though it's very unlikely for Air Up There to present a strong case for Hall of Fame induction, it's already a great honor to have the legendary Dr. J to back him up.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
