| Julius Erving | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): Small forward |
Jersey #(s): 32, 6 |
| Height: 6 ft 7 in (2. The three basketball positions normally employed by organized Basketball teams are guard forward and center The small forward, or colloquially the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation Basketball game In team Sports the squad number, shirt number, jersey number, sweater number, or uniform number is the Number 01 m) |
Weight: 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Born: February 22, 1950 Roosevelt, New York |
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| Career information | |
| Year(s): 1971–1987 | |
| NBA Draft: 1972 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12 | |
| College: Massachusetts | |
| Professional teams | |
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| Career stats | |
| Points | 30,026 |
| Steals | 2,272 |
| Rebounds | 10,525 |
| Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Basketball Hall of Fame | |
Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22, 1950 and raised in Roosevelt, New York), commonly known by the nickname Dr. Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Roosevelt is a hamlet (and Census-designated place) in Nassau County, New York, United States. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m
Erving helped legitimize the now-defunct American Basketball Association (ABA). The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National Much as some players are considered "the team," Dr. J was considered "the league. " He was the main asset of the ABA when it merged with the National Basketball Association (NBA) after the 1976 season. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Erving won three championships, four Most Valuable Player Awards, and three scoring titles while playing with the ABA's Virginia Squires and New York Nets and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. The Virginia Squires was a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association that existed from 1967 through 1976 The New Jersey Nets are a professional Basketball team in the National Basketball Association that plays in the Eastern Conference 's Atlantic The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania He is the fifth-highest scorer in professional basketball history, with 30,026 points (NBA and ABA combined).
Erving was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time team and in 1993 was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. The 50 Greatest Players in National Basketball Association History (also referred to as the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team or NBA's Top 50) were chosen The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in downtown Springfield Massachusetts, honors players who have shown exceptional skill at Basketball In 2004, he was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame. The Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame[http //wwwnassausportsorg/awdsdinner/halloffame Many consider him among the most spectacular basketballers ever, and one of the best dunkers. His signature dunk was "the Tomahawk. "
Contents |
Career
High school and college
Erving earned the nickname "Doctor J" in high school, where he displayed a precise method of play for Roosevelt High School.
He enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in 1968. The University of Massachusetts Amherst (otherwise known as UMass Amherst, Massachusetts, or UMass) is a research and Land-grant university in Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In two varsity college basketball seasons, he averaged 26. College basketball most often refers to the American Basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA 3 points and 20. 2 rebounds per game, becoming one of only five players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game in NCAA Men's Basketball. The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single elimination Tournament held each spring featuring 65 College basketball teams in the [1]
At that time, professional basketball was in flux, split between two leagues whose players rapidly switched clubs and leagues. Erving joined the ABA in 1971 as an undrafted free agent with the Squires. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar.
Virginia Squires
Erving quickly established himself as a force and gained a reputation for hard and ruthless dunking. He scored 27. 3 points per game as a rookie, was selected to the All-ABA Second Team, made the ABA All-Rookie Team, and finished second to Artis Gilmore for the ABA Rookie of the Year Award. Artis Gilmore (born September 21 1949 is a former professional Basketball player in the American Basketball Association (ABA and National Basketball Association He led the Squires into the Eastern Division Finals, where they lost to the Rick Barry-led New York Nets. Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player The New Jersey Nets are a professional Basketball team in the National Basketball Association that plays in the Eastern Conference 's Atlantic
When he became eligible for the NBA draft in 1972, the Milwaukee Bucks picked him in the first round (12th overall). ESPN's David Schoenfield described the 1972 NBA Draft as "maybe The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional Basketball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. This move would have brought him together with Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24 1938 in Charlotte Tennessee) nicknamed " The Big O " is a former American NBA player with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr; April 16 1947 is an American athlete and retired professional Basketball player widely considered Instead, the 6'7", 210 pound Erving signed a contract with the Atlanta Hawks before the 1972-73 season. The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional Basketball team based in Atlanta Georgia. He played three exhibition games with Pete Maravich until, because of a legal injunction, he was obliged to return to the ABA Squires. Peter Press Maravich (June 22 1947 &ndash January 5 1988 was an American Basketball player known for his dazzling ballhandling, incredible shooting Back in the ABA, his game flourished, and he achieved a career-best 31. 9 points per game. The graceful forward with the trademark Afro was dazzling people with his flashy, exciting style of play, which fit well with the ABA's up-tempo image. An afro, sometimes called a "natural" or shortened to "fro", is a Hairstyle in which the Hair extends out from the Head
New York Nets
The Squires, like most ABA teams, were on rather shaky financial ground. They were forced to trade Erving to the Nets in 1973--a move which eventually sent the Squires into oblivion. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. The Nets had been an also-ran for their first six years of existence, but Erving led them to their first ABA title in 1973-74, defeating the Utah Stars. This page is about the American Basketball Association (ABA team Erving established himself as the most important player in the ABA. His spectacular play established the Nets as, finally, one of the better teams in the ABA, and brought fans and credibility to the league.
By 1976, the ABA and NBA merged. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Nets and Nuggets actually applied for admission to the NBA before the season, in anticipation of the eventual merger that had first been proposed by the two leagues in 1970 but delayed for various reasons including a court case. The Erving-led Nets defeated the Denver Nuggets (who had also applied to join the NBA) in the swan-song finals of the ABA. The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. In the postseason, Erving averaged 34. 7 points and was named Most Valuable Player of the playoffs.
In his five ABA seasons, Erving won two championships, three MVP trophies, and three scoring titles.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs joined the NBA for the 1976-77 season. The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. The 1976–77 NBA season was the 31st season of the National Basketball Association. With Erving and Nate Archibald (acquired in a trade with Kansas City), the Nets were poised to pick up right where they left off. Nathaniel "Tiny" Archibald (born September 2 1948 New York City is a retired American professional Basketball player The Sacramento Kings are a professional Basketball team based in Sacramento California.
However, the New York Knicks threw a monkey wrench into the Nets' plans when they demanded that the Nets pay them $4. 8 million for "invading" the Knicks' NBA territory. Coming on the heels of the fees the Nets had to pay for joining the NBA, owner Roy Boe reneged on a promise to raise Erving's salary. Erving refused to play under these conditions and held out in training camp. Boe had little choice but to sell Erving's contract to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Erving quickly became the leader of his new club and took them into the NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers of Bill Walton. The 1977 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1976-77 NBA season. The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. William Theodore "Bill" Walton III (born November 5 1952 is a retired American Basketball player and current Television Sportscaster After the Sixers took a 2-0 lead, however, the Blazers defeated them with four straight victories. In contrast, the Nets crashed into the cellar.
However, Dr. J enjoyed success off the court, becoming one of the first basketball players to endorse products and to have a shoe marketed under his name. It was at this time that he appeared in television commercials urging young fans asking for his autograph in an airport to refer to him henceforth as "Dr. Chapstick". ChapStick is a Brand name for Lip balm manufactured by Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, used in the United States, Australia, Canada He also starred in the 1979 basketball comedy film, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh is an American sports/fantasy comedy Film that was released in 1979.
In the following years, Erving coped with a team that was not yet playing at his level. The Sixers were eliminated twice in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams and organized in three divisions of five teams each In 1979, Larry Bird entered the league, reviving the Boston Celtics and the storied Celtics-76ers rivalry; these two teams faced each other in the Eastern Conference Finals for the next four years. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Larry Joe Bird (born December 7 1956 is a retired American NBA Basketball player widely considered as one of the best players of all time and one of the top The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Bird vs. Dr. J matchup became arguably the top personal rivalry in the sport (along with Bird vs. Magic Johnson), inspiring the early Electronic Arts video game Julius Erving-Larry Bird One-on-One. A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device.
In 1980, the 76ers prevailed over the Celtics to advance to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1979-80 NBA season. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. There, Erving executed the legendary Baseline Move, an incredible behind-the-board reverse layup. However, the Lakers won 4-2 with a superb Magic Johnson.
1981 and 1982 were also sour grapes for Erving, as the Sixers stranded twice, once against the Celtics and once again against the Lakers. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Nevertheless, Erving was named the NBA MVP in 1981. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 But for the 1982-83 season, the Sixers obtained the missing element to combat their weakness at their center position, Moses Malone. The 1982–83 NBA season was the 37th season of the National Basketball Association. Moses Eugene Malone (born March 23 1955 in Petersburg Virginia) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA Basketball player who Armed with one of the most formidable center-forward combinations of all time, the Sixers dominated the whole season, causing Malone to make the famous prediction of "fo-fo-fo (four-four-four)," meaning all the Sixers needed to do was win four games in each series. The media misinterpreted the comment and thought he meant the Sixers would sweep the entire playoffs. In fact, the Sixers went four-five-four, losing one game to the Milwaukee Bucks in the conference finals, then sweeping the Lakers to win the NBA title. The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional Basketball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California.
Erving maintained his all-star caliber of play into his twilight years, averaging 22. 4, 20. 0, 18. 1, and 16. 8 points per game in his final seasons. In 1986, he announced that he would retire after the season, causing every game he played to be sold out with adoring fans. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar)
Career summary
Erving retired in 1987. He is one of the few players in modern basketball to have his number retired by two franchises: the New Jersey Nets (formerly the New York Nets) have retired his No. 32 jersey, and the Philadelphia 76ers his No. 6 jersey.
In his ABA and NBA careers combined, he scored more than 30,000 points. In 1993, Erving was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in downtown Springfield Massachusetts, honors players who have shown exceptional skill at Basketball When he retired, Erving ranked in the top 5 in scoring (third), field goals made (third), field goals attempted (fifth) and steals (first). On the combined NBA/ABA scoring list, Erving ranked third with 30,026 points. As of 2005, Erving ranks fifth on the list, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr; April 16 1947 is an American athlete and retired professional Basketball player widely considered Karl Anthony Malone (born July 24 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player and active businessman Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21 1936&ndashOctober 12 1999 nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards
Post-basketball career
After his basketball career, he became a businessman, obtaining ownership of a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Philadelphia and doing work for TV as an analyst. Coca-Cola is a carbonated Soft drink sold in stores restaurants and Vending machines in more than 200 countries Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə In 1997, he joined the front office of the Orlando Magic. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The Orlando Magic is a professional Basketball team based in Orlando Florida.
He and former NFL running back Joe Washington fielded a NASCAR Busch Grand National Series team in the late 1990s, becoming the first ever NASCAR racing team at any level owned completely by minorities. Joe Dan Washington Jr (born September 24, 1953 in Crockett, Texas) is a former American football Running back who The team had secure sponsorship from Dr Pepper for most of its existence. Dr Pepper is a soft drink marketed in North America, South America and Europe by Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Erving, a racing fan himself, stated that his foray into NASCAR was an attempt to raise interest in NASCAR among African-Americans.
He has also served on the Board of Directors of Converse (prior to their 2001 bankruptcy), Darden Restaurants, Inc., Saks Incorporated and The Sports Authority. Darden Restaurants Inc ( is a multi-brand Restaurant operator Saks Incorporated ( is a Fortune 500 operator of high-end department stores in the United States. Sports Authority is one of the USA's largest Sporting goods Retailers.
New Jersey Nets star Vince Carter, who was playing for the Toronto Raptors at the time, preferred Erving as the choice for the team's next General Manager, after Glen Grunwald was dismissed in 2004. Vincent Lamar Carter (born on January 26, 1977) known as Vince Carter, is an American professional Basketball player in the The Toronto Raptors are a professional Basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. Glen Grunwald (born June 13, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois) is currently the senior vice president for basketball operations of the New York However, the team owners hired Rob Babcock instead. Rob Babcock (born ca 1953 is an assistant general manager with the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA.
He was ranked #10 on SLAM Magazine's Top 75 NBA Players of All Time in 2003. SLAM Magazine is an American Basketball magazine that has been in circulation since 1994, and is published by PRIMEDIA. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
Erving is the father of professional tennis player Alexandra Stevenson. Alexandra Stevenson (born December 15 1980 in La Jolla, California) is a professional Tennis player from the United States. [2]
NBA statistics
Games - 836; Field Goal % - . 507; Rebounds - 5,601; Assists - 3,224; Total Points - 18,364; Points per game [PPG] - 22. 0
Memorable feats
Although dunking from the foul line had been done by other players (Jim Pollard and Wilt Chamberlain in the 1950s, for example), Erving introduced the dunk jumping off the foul line to a wide audience, when he demonstrated the feat in the 1976 ABA All-Star Dunking Contest. James Clifford "Jim" Pollard ( July 9, 1922 &ndash January 22, 1993) was an American professional Basketball player Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21 1936&ndashOctober 12 1999 nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He is revered for his legacy of amazing acrobatic and powerful offensive moves.
The Baseline Move
One of his most memorable plays occurred during the 1980 NBA Finals, when he executed a seemingly impossible finger-roll behind the backboard. The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1979-80 NBA season. [3] He drove past a defender on the right baseline and went up for a layup. See also Basketball moves A layup in Basketball is a two point attempt made by leaping from below laying the ball up near the basket and using one hand to Then 7'2" center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar crossed his way, blocking the route to the basket and forcing him outwards. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr; April 16 1947 is an American athlete and retired professional Basketball player widely considered In mid-air, it was apparent that Erving would land behind the backboard. But somehow he managed to reach over and score on a right-handed layup despite the fact that his whole body, including his left shoulder, was already behind the hoop. This move, along with his free-throw line dunk, has become one of the signature events of his career.
Rock The Cradle over Michael Cooper
Another of Erving's most memorable plays came in a 1983 regular season game, after a steal from the Los Angeles Lakers. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) He came down the court on a fast break and, swinging the ball back and forth before taking off on a Rock The Cradle slam dunk, slung the ball around behind his head and dunked over L. A slam dunk (or simply a dunk) is a type of Basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket A. 's Michael Cooper. This dunk is generally regarded as one of the greatest dunks of all time.
Quotes
- "As a basketball player, Julius was the first to actually take the torch and become the spokesman for the NBA. He understood what his role was and how important it was for him to conduct himself as a representative of the league. Julius was the first player I ever remember who transcended sports and was known by one name, Doctor". -- his coach, Billy Cunningham. William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3 1943 is an American former professional Basketball player and coach who was Nicknamed the
- "I saw that basketball could be my way out and I worked hard to make sure it was. "
- "Respect is a lot more important, and a lot greater, than popularity. "
- "Here I was, trying to win a championship, and my mouth just dropped open. He actually did that! I thought, 'What should we do? Should we take the ball out, or should we give him the ball back and ask him to do it again?' It's still the greatest move I've ever seen in a basketball game, the all-time greatest. " -- Magic Johnson on the Baseline Move.
Influences
Erving was idolized by American rapper Dr. Dre, who even rapped using the alias "Dr. Andre Romelle Young (born February 18 1965 primarily known by his stage name Dr J" for a short time.
Legendary smooth jazz musician Grover Washington Jr., a fan of the Philadelphia 76ers, created the song Let It Flow (For Dr. Smooth jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and at times improvisation Grover Washington Jr (December 12 1943 &ndash December 17 1999 was an American Jazz-funk / Soul-jazz Saxophonist. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania J), from the album Winelight, in honor of Erving. Winelight is a 1980 Album by Jazz Musician Grover Washington Jr
Also, professional skateboarder Bam Margera has his nickname, "Dr. Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera (born September 28 1979 is a professional Skateboarder television and radio personality and daredevil. J", tattooed on the underside of his bottom lip.
Glenn "Doc" Rivers got his nickname while at Marquette University for the "Dr. Glenn Anton Rivers (born October 13 1961 in Chicago, Illinois) commonly referred to as Doc Rivers, is a retired American Marquette University is a private coeducational Jesuit, Roman Catholic University located in Milwaukee Wisconsin. J" t-shirt he often wore to basketball practice.
Julius Erving was a hero to famous television star, rapper, and sitcom actor Will Smith.
Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers was named after Erving. The Carolina Panthers are a professional football team based in Charlotte North Carolina, representing both North Carolina and South Carolina in the Defensive end ( DE) is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football. Julius Frazier Peppers (born January 18, 1980 in Wilson North Carolina) is a professional American football player
Family
Erving is the father of American tennis player Alexandra Stevenson, who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1999, the first year she qualified to play in the tournament. Alexandra Stevenson (born December 15 1980 in La Jolla, California) is a professional Tennis player from the United States. The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious
References
- ^ NCAA Basketball Records
- ^ Making a splash - After dancing through Wimbledon, the always-smiling Alexandra Stevenson has dedicated herself to rejuvenating her game, by Chris Nicholson published in USTA Magazine, May 2000
- ^ http://www.nba.com/history/erving_moment.html
External links
- Basketball Hall of Fame profile
- NBA History profile
- The Baseline Move (includes animated GIF)
- Julius Erving Playerfile, career stats, draft, wallpapers
| Preceded by Billy Cunningham |
American Basketball Association Most Valuable Player 1974 |
Succeeded by 'George McGinnis and Julius Erving' |
| Preceded by George McGinnis |
American Basketball Association Playoffs Most Valuable Player 1974 |
Succeeded by Artis Gilmore |
| Preceded by Artis Gilmore |
American Basketball Association Playoffs Most Valuable Player 1976 |
Succeeded by 'ABA merged with NBA' |
| Preceded by Dave Bing |
NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player 1977 |
Succeeded by Randy Smith |
| Preceded by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
NBA Most Valuable Player 1980-81 |
Succeeded by Moses Malone |
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