Julius Erving facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Julius Erving

Erving in 2016
Personal information
Born	(1950-02-22) February 22, 1950 (age 75) East Meadow, New York, U.S.
High school	Roosevelt (Roosevelt, New York)
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College	UMass (1969–1971)
NBA Draft	1972 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Pro career	1971–1987
Career history
1971–1973	Virginia Squires
1973–1976	New York Nets
1976–1987	Philadelphia 76ers
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (1983) 2× ABA champion (1974, 1976) 2× ABA Playoffs MVP (1974, 1976) NBA Most Valuable Player (1981) 3× ABA Most Valuable Player (1974–1976) 11× NBA All-Star (1977–1987) 5× ABA All-Star (1972–1976) 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1977, 1983) 5× All-NBA First Team (1978, 1980–1983) 2× All-NBA Second Team (1977, 1984) 4× All-ABA First Team (1973–1976) All-ABA Second Team (1972) ABA All-Defensive First Team (1976) ABA All-Rookie First Team (1972) 3× ABA scoring champion (1973, 1974, 1976) ABA Slam Dunk champion (1976) No. 32 retired by Brooklyn Nets No. 6 retired by Philadelphia 76ers ABA All-Time Team ABA All-time MVP NBA anniversary team (35th, 50th, 75th) Third-team All-American – NABC, UPI (1971) No. 32 retired by UMass Minutemen
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points	30,026 (24.2 ppg)
Rebounds	10,525 (8.5 rpg)
Assists	5,176 (4.2 apg)

Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22, 1950), known as Dr. J, is a famous American former professional basketball player. He was a superstar in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He helped make the ABA popular before it joined with the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Dr. J won three championships and several Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. He played for the Virginia Squires, New York Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets), and Philadelphia 76ers. In his 16 seasons, his teams always made it to the playoffs. He is one of the top scorers in basketball history.

Erving was known for his amazing slam dunks, especially dunking from the free-throw line! He was the only player to be named MVP in both the ABA and NBA. His moves were so cool that the term "posterized" was created to describe them. Many people think he is one of the most talented players ever. He made dunking a common and exciting part of basketball.

Early Life and His Famous Nickname

Julius Erving was born on February 22, 1950, in East Meadow, New York. He grew up in Roosevelt, New York. He played basketball for Roosevelt High School.

His famous nickname, "Doctor" or "Dr. J," came from a high school friend, Leon Saunders. Julius called Saunders "the professor," and Saunders called him "the doctor." Later, when people gave him other nicknames on the court, he told them to just call him "Doctor." This eventually became "Dr. J."

College Basketball Career

Erving playing for UMass around 1970–71

In 1968, Erving went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In his two years playing college basketball, he averaged over 26 points and 20 rebounds per game. This made him one of only six players in NCAA history to achieve such high numbers.

At that time, the NCAA had a rule against dunking in games. So, only his teammates saw his amazing dunks during practice. Years later, Erving went back to college and earned his degree. He also has an honorary doctorate from UMass. In 2021, UMass honored him with a statue outside their basketball arena.

In 1970, Erving played for the U.S. Olympic Development Team. He was hoping to join the 1972 Olympic team. He was a top scorer and rebounder for the team. During this time, he learned about the American Basketball Association (ABA). The ABA was trying to sign college players.

Professional Basketball Journey

Starting with the Virginia Squires (1971–1973)

NBA rules did not allow teams to draft players who had been out of high school for less than four years. However, the ABA had a "hardship" rule. This rule allowed players to leave college early. Erving used this rule and left UMass after his junior year. He signed a contract with the Virginia Squires.

Erving quickly became a star player. He was known for his powerful dunks. In his first year, he scored 27.3 points per game. He was named to the All-ABA Second Team and the ABA All-Rookie Team. He led the Squires to the Eastern Division Finals.

ABA and NBA Team Disputes

After his first year, the 1972 NBA draft made Erving eligible for the NBA. The Milwaukee Bucks drafted him. Before the draft, he also signed a contract with the Atlanta Hawks. This created a big problem between three teams in two different leagues.

The NBA Commissioner ruled that the Bucks owned Erving's rights. He even fined the Hawks for letting Erving play in exhibition games. A judge then said Erving could only play for the Squires. So, Erving went back to the ABA. He had an amazing season in 1972–1973, scoring 31.9 points per game.

Becoming a Star with the New York Nets (1973–1976)

The Virginia Squires were having money problems. They sold Erving's contract to the New York Nets. This was a big deal that kept him in the ABA. Erving signed an eight-year contract with the Nets.

Erving led the Nets to their first ABA championship in 1973–1974. He became the most important player in the ABA. His exciting play made the Nets a top team. It also brought many fans and respect to the league.

The 1975–76 ABA season was the last one before the ABA and NBA merged. Erving led the Nets to win the final ABA championship against the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 34.7 points in the playoffs and was named MVP. He was a top player in many stats that season.

Joining the Philadelphia 76ers (1976–1987)

Erving playing for the 76ers in 1976

When the ABA and NBA merged, the Nets joined the NBA. However, the New York Knicks demanded a large payment from the Nets for joining their territory. Because of this, the Nets' owner could not keep his promise to raise Erving's salary. Erving refused to play.

The Philadelphia 76ers then offered to buy Erving's contract for $3 million. The Nets had to accept this deal to join the NBA. This trade left the Nets struggling. But it made the 76ers a very strong team.

Erving quickly became the leader of the 76ers. He led them to a great season in 1976–1977. They won their division and were very popular. They reached the NBA Finals but lost to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Erving playing against the Atlanta Hawks in 1981

Off the court, Erving became one of the first basketball players to endorse many products. He even had a shoe named after him. He also acted in a basketball movie called The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.

The 76ers continued to build a strong team around Erving. They added great players like Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones. The team became very successful.

The 76ers often faced the Boston Celtics in the playoffs. The rivalry between Erving and Celtics star Larry Bird was one of the best in sports. In 1980, the 76ers reached the NBA Finals again. Erving made a famous "Baseline Move," a reverse layup behind the backboard. But they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Erving continued to be one of the league's best players. He was named the NBA MVP in 1981. The 76ers kept reaching the finals but kept losing.

For the 1982–1983 season, the 76ers added Moses Malone. With Erving and Malone, the team was unstoppable. They dominated the season and won the NBA title! Malone famously predicted they would sweep the playoffs, saying "fo-fo-fo." They almost did, losing only one game.

Erving during his final season in 1987

Erving remained an All-Star player in his later years. In 1986, he announced he would retire after the next season. In his final season, opposing teams honored him in their arenas.

Retirement and Legacy

Erving retired in 1987 at age 37. Many people say he was always inventing new moves on the court. He is one of the few players to have his jersey number retired by two teams. The Brooklyn Nets retired his No. 32, and the Philadelphia 76ers retired his No. 6.

He was a great all-around player and a strong defender. In his ABA days, he often guarded the best forwards for most of the game. He was also a top passer, ball handler, and scorer. Many of his amazing plays were not widely seen because the ABA had little TV coverage. He is considered by many to be the greatest dunker of all time.

In 1993, Erving was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He scored over 30,000 points in his combined ABA and NBA careers. He ranks among the top scorers in basketball history.

Famous Plays and Moments

1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest

Erving statue in South Philadelphia

In this famous contest, Erving competed against other great players. He started by dunking two balls. Then, he did a move that made the slam dunk contest famous. He ran from the opposite end of the court and dunked the ball from the free-throw line! Other players had done this before, but Erving showed it to a much larger audience.

Dunk Over Bill Walton

This happened during Game 6 of the 1977 NBA Finals. After Portland scored, Erving ran the length of the court. He dribbled past several defenders. Then, with the tall Bill Walton waiting, Erving threw down a powerful slam dunk over him. Many consider this one of the strongest dunks ever.

The "Baseline Move"

One of his most memorable plays happened during the 1980 NBA Finals. He drove past a defender along the baseline. Then, the 7-foot-2 center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar blocked his path. While in the air, Erving reached over the backboard and scored with a right-handed layup! This move, along with his free-throw line dunk, is a signature part of his career.

"Rock the Baby" Dunk

Another famous play came in 1983 against the Los Angeles Lakers. After a steal, Erving charged down the court. He faced Lakers defender Michael Cooper. As he got closer to the basket, he held the ball in his wrist and forearm, rocking it back and forth. Then he took off and slammed the ball over Cooper, who ducked! This dunk is often called one of the greatest dunks ever.

Life After Basketball

Erving (top left) with other former NBA players at the New York NBA Store in 2005

After retiring from basketball, Erving became a businessman. He owned a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Philadelphia. He also worked as a television analyst. In 1997, he joined the Orlando Magic front office.

Erving also owned a NASCAR racing team for a few years. This made him one of the first minority owners in NASCAR. He wanted to help more African-Americans get interested in racing. He has also served on the boards of several companies.

In 1991, he narrated a musical piece called "Lincoln Portrait" with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also appeared in movies like Philadelphia (1993) and Hustle (2022). He also made guest appearances on TV shows.

Erving standing next to the statue depicting his likeness at the UMass unveiling ceremony in Amherst, Mass., in September 2021.

In 2021, Erving attended a ceremony at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Statues honoring him and other UMass basketball legends were unveiled.

Community Art

There is a large mural of Dr. J in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located on Green Street and Ridge Avenue.

The mural was painted by artist Kent Twitchell. He wanted to show Julius Erving in a business suit. This was to portray him as a role model, not just an athlete. The mural is very tall and detailed. Local residents say that Dr. J was very emotional when he first saw it. This mural helped show that public art can be truly great.

Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Images for kids

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  Erving in 2016

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  Erving at UMass, c. 1970–71

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  Erving in 1974

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  Erving in 1976

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  Erving playing against the Atlanta Hawks in 1981

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  Erving during his final season in 1987

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  Erving statue in South Philadelphia

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  Erving (top left) with other former NBA players visit the New York NBA Store in January 2005

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  Erving standing next to the statue depicting his likeness at the UMass unveiling ceremony in Amherst, Mass., in September 2021.