Sportsmanship in Black: Julius Erving

Julius Winfield Erving II was born February 22,1950 in Roosevelt, N.Y.  I only mention his real name out of respect to the family name, but we all know Julius Erving's real name.  "Dr. J" soared across ABA and NBA courts before Michael Jordan ever got out of flight school.  He played college basketball at the University of Massachusetts, but was a mostly unheralded pro prospect.  Erving signed with the ABA's Virginia Squires in 1971.  In two seasons with the Squires, Erving scored 27.3 points per game and 31.9 points per game respectively.  The 31.9 points per game he posted in his second season would be a career high and the first of his three ABA scoring titles.  Erving was traded to the New York Nets prior to the 1973-74 season. 

The Nets enjoyed the three most successful years in franchise history with Erving; winning two ABA Championships.  Erving also fared well individually.  He garnered two more scoring titles and three consecutive ABA Most Valuable Player awards.  The 1975-76 season was the ABA's last, but it was also a first.  An event that has become a staple of the NBA's All-Star Weekend, the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest, was introduced by the ABA during the league's final campaign.  You'll never guess who won the first ever Slam Dunk Contest.  Here's a clip of Dr. J's contest-winning dunk.  I swear I've seen this somewhere before (Email subscribers click here).



The New York Nets, San Antonio Spurs , Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers were absorbed into the NBA and the other players entered into a dispersal draft.  Due to a contract dispute with the Nets, Erving found himself with the Philadelphia 76ers when the new NBA began the 1976-77 season.  He also had tremendous success in Philadelphia; winning an NBA Championship, a league MVP award, and being named an All-Star in each of his 11 NBA seasons.  Erving was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame n 1993 and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.

Jordan, Barkley, Drexler and other high-flying stars of the '80s and '90s have publicly stated that Erving was a tremendous influence on their style of play.  As a player, Erving was a near perfect blend of style and substance - a winner who looked good doing it.  Dr. J wasn't a medical doctor.  He was a basketball specialist; a surgeon on the floor.  Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol