Julius Erving, or “Dr. J,” was an acrobatic player in the NBA and ABA. His dunks and graceful play helped change the game.

Hall of Fame basketball forward Julius Erving, or “Dr. J,” was an acrobatic player in the NBA and ABA. His dunks and graceful play helped change the game.
Synopsis
In Hempstead, New York in 1950, Julius Erving was born. He assisted the New York Nets win the 1974 and 1976 ABA Championship, then joined the NBA and the 76ers in Philadelphia. He helped guide the club to the international title in 1983. When he retired in 1987, he had played in over 800 games, averaging 22 points per game.
Early Years
July Erving –referred to his fans as “Dr. J”-was born on 22 February 1950 in Roosevelt, New York during his 16-year career in professional baseball, renowned for his atmosphere and ease on and off the field.
His name was said to be “Dr. J.” He was a strong performer at Roosevelt High School. While the precise details as to how he got his name are not clear, a friend was supposed to have started calling him because Erve had named him “Professor” Erve liks the name.
In 1968 he was registered at the University of Massachusetts, and not hired by many major basketball programs. He performed for only two weeks in school— freshmen could not join college, and before his high school season, Erving left — but he marked the programme. He had an average 32.5 points at Massachusetts and a match with 20.2 rebounds, with one of only five teams having more than 20 points on average and 20 rebounds per match.
ABA Career
He left his college in 1971 and entered Virginia Squires, a freelance unwritten officer of the American Basketball Association (ABA). When he played ahead, he rapidly became a pro player. In the first year Erving earned more than 27 marks a match. The All-ABA Second Team and the ABA All-Rookie Team were chosen.
Erving’s life took a difficult turn in the spring of 1972. Instead, he signed a twelfth general agreement with the Atlanta Hawks and was selected by the National Basketball Association’s Milwaukee Bucks (NBA). But the Squires rapidly submitted court documents demanding that it be prohibited from competing in the NBA and decided to a tri-judicial committee to return it to the ABA.
When Erving returned to his ancient team, he still became his greatest star. He performed with the Squirs in the 1972-73 season and joined the New York Nets in 1974 and 1976. For each of those seasons he also got the Most Valuable Player Award.
Not only his score but how he performed the match fell in admiration. Erving has taken a quick and athletic match to the field with graceful swings, spectacular jump shots and strong slam dunks. Erving completed the ABA Slam Dunk contest, the first dunk contest ever organized by any professional team, in 1976, his last year in the ABA, as well as his last years in a team.
NBA Career
The cash-strapped Net sales Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers for $3 million when the ABA was plied into the NBA in 1976. Erving rapidly contributed to making the squad a permanent champion in Philly.
The 76ers were bustling in the playoffs during the 1976-77 season, reaching the NBA Finals and falling in six matches onto the Portland Trail Blazers. Following two consecutive years in the NBA semi-finals, in 1980 Erving returned to the Finals, where the club lost Earvin “Magic” Johnson to the Los Angeles Lakers and to his rookie guard.
During L.A. Erving received the trophy as the series ‘ main highlight when, at the end of Game 4, he glided past a series of defensemen in midair, from one end of the hoop to the other. The playing was initially called “Baseline Move.” MagicJohnson recalled later that “My mouth had just fallen open.” “Indeed, he did that. I believed,’ If we took the ball out or were we going to invite him to do that again?”
In the following season, Erving did not have enough cast to take his squad back to the championship round, although he received MVP awards. In 1982 the 76s resumed their roster, Houston Rocket Moses Malone, for the upcoming year, after another heartbreaking loss in the Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 1982-83 season proved almost perfect for Erving and his teammates. Philadelphia burned through the finals and just once lost the lakers and finished in the final with a four-game sweep after completing the regular season with a record of 65-17
.However, less success was achieved in the next few years. Philadelphia began its shift to a younger club with an aging roster, anchored by Charles Barkley. Erving retired after the 1986-87 season. He was a member of 11 teams of NBA All Star and played in over 800 games. Erving scored over 30.000 points during his career between his NBA and ABA stints.
In 1993, he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame Naismith Memorial.
Post-Basketball Career
Erving has remained close to the game since he left as a player. He has worked for the NBC TV network as a sports analyst and for Orlando Magic as a management officer. He also pursued many other possibilities for company.
Erving is eight kids ‘ dad. In 2008, Dorys Madden married his second wife. The couple have together three kids.
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