Geographic Connection to Pennsylvania: Philadelphia,
Philadelphia County
Keywords: American Basketball Association; Most
Valuable Player; Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of
Fame; New York Nets; Philadelphia 76ers; University of Massachusetts
Abstract: Born in Roosevelt,
New York on February 22, 1950, Julius Erving was one of the greatest
players to ever play the game. He had a strong work effort, and
his skills dominated the players of his time. His aspirations
to become a doctor carried over to the court as he earned the
nickname “Doctor J.” His above-the-rim style of play
changed the game and has left its mark on it till this day. Julius
Erving was a disciplined and dignified man who was respect highly
on and off the court. He will forever be remembered for his impact
on the game of basketball.
Biography:
Julius Winfield Erving was born February 22,
1950 in Roosevelt, New York. He and his brother were raised by
their mother, Callie, most of their lives because their father,
Julius, was killed by a car when he was seven. Erving was a student
at Roosevelt High School, he was a very strong academic scholar,
but an even stronger basketball player. A natural basketball player,
Erving made the All-County and All-Long Island teams in High School.
He eventually earned the nickname “Doctor” because
of his aspirations to become such, and because of the methodical
way he played the game. After high school he continued his basketball
career at the University of Massachusetts, where he continued
to excel on the court. With two varsity seasons under his belt
Dr. J averaged 26.3 points along with 20.2 rebounds per game.
With his performance, he is one of only five players in Mens NCAA
Basketball to achieve an average of 20 points and 20 rebounds
per game. Eventually, Julius Erving was asked to join the U.S.
Olympic team where he began to catch the attention of numerous
pro scouts. Erving skipped his senior season at Massachusetts
in order to play in the American Basketball Association (ABA).
He signed with the Virginia Squires as a free agent and led them
to a strong playoff run. At the end of his second season with
the Squires, Erving was traded to the New York Nets in order to
propel his professional career.
In Erving’s first year with the Nets,
he was sure not to disappoint. He led them to the league championship,
he also led the league in scoring average with 27.9 points per
game. He was named the regular season as well as the playoff MVP.
Erving began to change the game with his “above the rim”
style. He was faster, stronger, and better than everyone else
in the NBA. Eventually, Julius Erving ended up on the Philadelphia
76ers where he would eventually end his career. Erving helped
the Sixers win a championship in the 1982-1983 season when he
hit a shot from the top of the key to give the 76ers a three point
lead in the closing seconds to clinch it. For years Erving was
the face of the 76ers with his trade mark short afro and high
Chuck Taylor Converses. He made the Sixers a strong team and helped
them make the playoffs every year he played.
Julius Erving was a class act on and off the court. As Pat Riley
said, there may have been some better people off the court, like
a few mothers and the Pope, but there was only one Dr. J the player.
When Erving was in the last of his playing days he made business
investments in the Coca-Cola bottling Company and eventually bought
the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Also, he tried to
open a dress shoe store that failed. Julius Erving keeps busy
in his days of retirement, he still works with his company, and
does work for charitable causes. In 1997, Dr. J was hired by the
Orlando Magic as the executive vice-president. He still is influenced
by the game of basketball, and the marks that he made on the game
will never be forgotten.
