Questions about Julius Erving
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who is Julius Erving and why is he called Dr. J?
Julius Winfield Erving II, born on the 22nd of February, 1950, is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Virginia Squires, New York Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. The nickname Dr. J originated in a private exchange with his high school friend Leon Saunders, who called Erving "the doctor" after Erving called him "the professor." The nickname later evolved into "Dr. J" after being used by his friend and future teammate Willie Sojourner.
What records did Julius Erving set across the ABA and NBA?
Erving finished his career with 30,026 combined ABA and NBA points, making him the ninth-highest scorer in combined ABA/NBA history. He was the only player ever voted Most Valuable Player in both the ABA and the NBA, and he won three championships, four MVP awards, and three scoring titles. None of his teams ever missed the postseason across 16 seasons.
What did Julius Erving do in the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest?
At the 1976 ABA All-Star Game Slam Dunk Contest, Erving ran the full length of the court and dunked from the free-throw line, introducing that feat to a national audience. He also dunked two balls simultaneously in the same contest. While Jim Pollard and Wilt Chamberlain had performed foul-line dunks in the 1950s, Erving's performance brought it into mainstream basketball culture.
How did Julius Erving end up playing for the Philadelphia 76ers?
When the ABA-NBA merger forced the New York Nets to pay the Knicks $4.8 million for territorial rights, owner Roy Boe was unable to honor a salary promise to Erving. Erving held out from training camp. The Philadelphia 76ers offered $3 million for his contract, which Boe accepted. Boe later said the merger agreement had killed the Nets as an NBA franchise.
What is Julius Erving's most famous play?
Two of Erving's plays are considered iconic. In the 1980 NBA Finals, he drove baseline and reached over the backboard to score a right-handed layup despite his entire body having passed behind the hoop; Sports Illustrated called it "The, No Way, even for Dr. J, Flying Reverse Lay-up." In a 1983 regular-season game, he performed the "Rock the Baby" dunk over the Lakers' Michael Cooper, a move named by broadcaster Chick Hearn.
What did Julius Erving do after retiring from basketball?
After retiring in 1987, Erving became a businessman, acquiring ownership of a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Philadelphia and working as a television analyst. In 1997, he joined the Orlando Magic front office as Vice President of RDV Sports. From 1998 to 2000, he co-owned a NASCAR Busch Series team with former NFL running back Joe Washington, which was the first racing team at any level owned entirely by minority owners.