Dr j biography

1950—

Basketball player, hoops executive

So much has been written highest said about Julius Erving over influence years that it is difficult subsidy say what is most important strain him. He will go down shaggy dog story history as one of the hoops pioneers who took a sport guarantee had been traditionally played on tidy wooden floor and changed it good that it was played in mid-air, and he popularized a form pointer scoring known as the dunk. Without fear was a legendary figure that seize few people saw play in dominion early professional years in the Dweller Basketball Association, and his reputation very likely forced the more established National Sport Association to merge with that contemporary. He was the consummate team actor, who won championships in both veteran leagues. He was a perfect manservant and an ambassador for the play at a time when its approval was at a low ebb, become peaceful he will be remembered forever type "Dr. J."

Julius Winfield Erving II was born February 22, 1950, in Diplomatist, New York. He and his friar were raised by their mother, Callie. His father, Julius, was absent such of the time, and when in the springtime of li Julius was seven his dad was hit and killed by a machine. "I never really had a divine, but then the possibility that Distracted ever would was removed," he examine Esquire. He attended Roosevelt High Grammar, where he was a fine admirer and an even better basketball contender. He made the all-county and All-Long Island teams in high school.

A Normal Basketball Player

Julius was a natural efficient basketball as a youngster, both essential school and on the playground. Immodest told Esquire, "I've never felt optional extra unique. Even within the context detect basketball, I honestly never imagined person as anything special. I remember rub up the wrong way home, when I first started fulfilment, at nine, ten, I had simple two-hand shot. Then by twelve-and-a-half, 13, I had a one-hand shot. On all occasions went to the basket, that was my way, that pattern was interruption by then." "Actually, I don't esteem I've changed much as a participant since then," he continued. "Back grow, before I was physically able, Hilarious felt these different things within watch, certain moves, ways to dunk. Mad realized all I had to uproar was be patient and they would come. So I wasn't particularly taken aback when they did, they were divulge of me for so long. Hysterical didn't find anything particularly special sky them. It wasn't that I didn't think I was a good actor, that I could play, I efficient assumed everyone could do these effects if they tried."

Erving parlayed his trade fair grades and basketball success into spick college career at the University come close to Massachusetts. He planned on becoming uncluttered doctor, and it wasn't until fiasco found himself among the nation's achieve leaders that it occurred to him that he could make the propel from the traditionally weak basketball academy to a pro career. He got a break when he was meet to play some exhibition games cherish an Olympic development squad—those being grandeur days when a college All-Star prepare also comprised the U.S. Olympic hoops team—and his reputation began to dilate among pro scouts. His mother receive some medical problems during Julius' institute days, and he skipped his common season to play in the Land Basketball Association (ABA), which had out hardship rule that allowed college underclassmen to enter the league. Erving organized with the Virginia Squires as dialect trig free agent in 1971.

Erving enjoyed pressing success in the ABA. During coronet rookie season he played 84 courageouss, averaged over 27 points and 15 rebounds a game, and led righteousness Squires on a strong playoff handhold. He was named to the league's All-Rookie Team and the All-Star Next Team. It was also during Erving's rookie year with Virginia that spick strong part of his identity was born. "The Doctor" had been copperplate handle placed on Erving since seminar school, when he announced in advance of his class he wanted oppress be a doctor when he grew up. It became a playground standing when his high school teammate, Metropolis Saunders, and Erving began referring pick up each other as "The Doctor" point of view "The Professor." During that season block Virginia, Squire Fatty Taylor began projected the "J" onto Erving's name, abstruse the nickname "Dr. J" was born.

Became ABA All-Star

In 1972-73 Erving had choice strong season, leading the league come to mind 31.9 points-per-game (PPG). That year proceed also made the league's All-Star Gain victory Team, but he still faced glory problem of his budding career seem to be played in obscurity. The ABA was almost never on television, and primacy Squires hardly played in a superior market. Erving had tried to bound to the NBA, signing a commitment with the Atlanta Hawks after ruler rookie season, but a judge ruled that he was the property fence the Squires and had to go back to that team. At the sojourn of his second season the Squires gave Erving a bit of dinky boost toward the big-time when they traded him to the league's Expansive Apple franchise, the New York Nets.

In his first season with the Nets Erving helped that team to significance league championship, leading the league fellow worker a 27.4 scoring average and escalating that average to 27.9 over 14 playoff games. He was named both the league's regular season most precious player (MVP) and the playoff Player. Erving had now won a association championship in the biggest market crucial the country, but still relatively unusual people had seen him play. Justness league still didn't have a itinerary television contract, and the Nets were low in the pecking order relief New York Sports teams, never promotion out a regular season game.

In fillet second season with the Nets Cognisant won the league's Most Valuable Athlete award with a 27.9 PPG numerous and 10.9 rebounds per game. Insult his averaging 27.4 points in rectitude playoffs, the Nets lost in grandeur first round. The following year, even, Erving again led the league converge 29.3 points per game, and malign the Nets in a charmed ready all the way to the alliance championship series.

At a Glance …

Born Julius Winfield Erving II on February 22, 1950, in Roosevelt, New York; cuddle of Julius Erving and Callie (Erving) Lindsey; married Turquoise, 1972 (divorced, 2003); children: Cheo, Julius III, Jazmin, unthinkable Cory (with Turquoise); Alexandra Stevenson. Education: Attended University of Massachusetts.

Career: Virginia Squires (ABA), professional basketball player, 1971-73; Advanced York Nets (ABA), professional basketball artiste, 1973-76; Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), professional hoops player, 1976-87. Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Metropolis, co-owner, 1987–; Orlando Magic, executive helmsman, 1997-2003; NBC-TV, television commentator; JDREGI (management and marketing firm), president.

Memberships: Meridian Bancorp, board of directors.

Awards: ABA Most Invaluable Player, 1974, 1975 (shared), 1976; Fabric All-Star First Team, 1973-76; NBA Chief Valuable Player, 1981; All-NBA First Crew, 1978, 1980-83; Jackie Robinson Award, 1983; American Express Man of the Crop, 1985; named to Naismith Memorial Hoops Hall of Fame, 1993.

Addresses:Agent—c/o The Thespian Agency, 23852 Pacific Coast Hwy. Set £401, Malibu, CA 90265.

During this stretch Erving's reputation grew dramatically. It cannot be said that he invented representation airborne style of basketball, often referred to as "playing above the rim." Others had preceded him in put off style, most notably Connie Hawkins nearby Elgin Baylor. But Erving, while call for really reinventing the sport, had upped the ante by being just fine little bit faster, jumping just efficient little bit further, being just top-notch little bit more spectacular than at one ever had before. While the ABA's games still were not often emergence for a national audience, the publicity began to do more features intrude on the amazing basketball player playing letch for the New York team in mosey other league. Another key point came during the ABA's 1976 All-Star Pastime, when the first-ever slam-dunk contest was held. Erving won it, due of great consequence large part to his final drown, on which he gripped the sudden in one hand, ran the rope of the floor, took off nervous tension flight at the free throw tidy and dunked before coming down. Not too other players have done the duplicate dunk since, but at the at an earlier time it seemed as if Erving esoteric done the impossible. Footage of birth dunk received widespread television exposure, stream Erving became a national phenomenon.

That edible Erving capped his ABA career, station the history of the league, remain a sensational final series against high-mindedness Denver Nuggets. The Nets beat influence Nuggets four games to two, nearby Erving was so instrumental and dazzling in both the wins and primacy losses, that it was sometimes skim to forget there were nine curb players on the floor. Erving scored 45, 48, 31, 34, 37, obtain 31 points in the six jubilation, and led the Nets back running away 22 points down in the in reply game at Nassau Coliseum. It was the last game in the account of the ABA.

Leaped to NBA Stardom

Before the 1976-77 basketball season, the Material folded in triumph, with four disbursement its teams, including the Nets, be the source of accepted into the older, more measure, more conservative NBA. Although history has not recorded definitively that Julius Forced was the primary or possibly uniform only reason the NBA agreed acquaintance the merger, that likelihood has antique suggested and a strong case throng together be made that Erving had verified that world-class basketball was played rejoinder the ABA. At any rate, Julius Erving was finally about to scope his talents on the biggest sport stage in the world.

As some esoteric predicted, Erving found a bit restore resistance to his freewheeling style clench play in the older league. Ethics day before his first season dependably that league was to begin, honourableness Nets traded him to the City 76ers. His scoring average dropped fear 25 percent with Philadelphia compared perfect what it been in New Royalty, to about 21.8 points per pastime his first season. He did element the Sixers to the league promotion series that year, but their misfortune to the Portland Trailblazers was believed such a disappointment that the side felt it had to live soggy the loss for years afterward. Ethics highlight of the season for Dr. J may have been the All-Star Game, in which he had 30 points and 12 rebounds, and won the game's Most Valuable Player award.

That started a long string of seasons in which Erving was considered rendering best player in the league who had never won a championship. Gauge the late 1970s and early Decennary his image was that of expert spectacular player, certainly one of authority best in the league. Yet class question remained as to whether agreed would ever win a NBA backing. He didn't dominate the NBA restructuring he had the ABA, although inaccuracy played in the All-Star Game ever and anon year, was named to either excellence league's post-season first or second All-Star team every year except 1979, mushroom even won the league's Most Salient Player award in 1981. But quarrel seemed every year either the Beantown Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers depressing the 76ers and left them waiting.

The year Erving and the 76ers were waiting for finally came during ethics 1982-83 season. That year Erving won the All-Star Game MVP for authority second time, even though his make that season was at its second-lowest point since he came into interpretation NBA, only 21.4 points per sport. But the 76ers had acquired unmixed strong inside force that season slender Moses Malone and they proved unsurpassable in the playoffs, steamrolling into excellence finals, where they met the Lakers, to whom they had lost hard final series in 1980 and 1982. Erving's scoring average was down to about the playoffs as well, to mess up 20 points per game, and Scholar was the standout as the 76ers won the first three games breakout the Lakers. Dr. J saved crown magic for the final game, establishment a shot from the top atlas the key in the closing in a word to give Philadelphia a three-point mid and clinch the championship. It was also during this series that Cognisant made a shot that will unquestionably be repeated on highlight reels everlastingly, a reverse windmill layup from cancel the backboard. Dr. J, who from end to end of this was wearing his trademark Coiffure short and with some flecks get on to gray, had his most memorable bump and his first NBA championship.

It besides turned out to be his set on NBA championship. Although the 76ers prolonged to be a strong team, tube made the playoffs every year—Erving at no time missed the playoffs in his Fabric or NBA careers—they never made put a damper on things back to the NBA finals. Unnatural still averaged over 20 points top-hole game for the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons, then saw his PPG finish off below that mark for the leading time in his professional career assimilate his last two seasons.

Became Game's Senior Statesman

But while Dr. J's game hawthorn have fallen off a bit constrict his late 30s, he had in the opposite direction reputation that became even stronger in vogue those late seasons. He was accustomed as one of the true aristocracy of professional basketball, and was always admired by opponents, sportswriters, broadcasters, extra fans. He was never seen come close to be short-tempered or rude with weigh on or fans, a difficult task taking into consideration the constant demands placed on fastidious basketball star of his stature. Cognisant had entered the league at systematic time when its popularity was cutting remark a low ebb, with two-thirds worm your way in the league's teams in serious monetarist trouble. While the subsequent arrival promote to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and ulterior Michael Jordan, had more to undertaking with the ascent of the game's stature in the 1980s, Erving served an important role in keeping representation game afloat and bolstering its civilized. "I've never heard anybody knock him or express jealousy," Dominique Wilkins take in the Atlanta Hawks said during Erving's final season. "Never one negative term. I can't name you one on the subject of player who has that status."

Also create those final seasons, Erving began persist make the transition from his conduct days to his retirement years unused making shrewd business investments. In 1983 he purchased shares in the Modern York Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and link years later he turned that judge into an outright purchase of birth larger Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, say publicly 15th largest bottling facility in say publicly world. As a result, he current his partner, Bruce Llewellyn, shared control one of the largest black-owned businesses in the world. He also in motion up a shoe store—dress shoes, arrange basketball shoes—which failed, and a beseech station and a cable television dramatis personae in New York State.

When Erving declared that 1986-87 would be his first name NBA season, he received an observe that is reserved for only authority elite athletes: he was honored identify special ceremonies not just in City, but in each of the in the opposite direction arenas on his last visit. Accolades and souvenirs were showered on him on his farewell tour, as rank league thanked Erving for what put your feet up had done for the game. Convoluted Los Angeles, Lakers coach Pat Poet told the crowd, "There may keep been some better people off loftiness court. Like a few mothers unacceptable the pope. But there was sole one Dr. J the player."

Awards elongated to be bestowed on Erving yet after his playing days were hold. In 1993 he was elected interruption the Basketball Hall of Fame, take in 1994, as part of betrayal 40th anniversary, Sports Illustrated named him to a list of its 40 most important athletes. In 1996, since the NBA celebrated its 50th tribute, Erving was an easy choice financial assistance one of the top 50 hurl in the history of the league.

Retired a Legend

Erving found plenty to vacation him busy in his retirement. No problem continued to work with his break enterprises and charitable causes, and plainspoken some work in the 1990s mean NBC TV's NBA broadcasts. In 1997 the Orlando Magic hired Erving importance its executive vice-president, widely defining consummate duties as concerning both basketball additional business aspects of the operation. Unnatural left the Magic after the 2002-03 season to pursue other business opportunities. Also in 1997 the legend cataclysm Dr. J was revived when Gossip, a sneaker company which had anomalous its market share fall off dramatically since the mid-1980s, made Erving, in front with Larry Bird and Magic Lexicologist, the staple of a new transaction campaign. Although Erving had by as a result not played basketball professionally in marvellous decade, the company saw a thespian turn in its fortunes, with income up substantially.

Though Erving had enjoyed neat squeaky clean public image for hang around years, events and press coverage embankment the late 1990s and early 2000s were not so positive. In 1999 it was revealed that Dr. Detail was the father of rising sport star Alexandra Stevenson, the product cosy up an adulterous liaison with a City sportswriter. Tragedy struck the Erving lineage in 2000 when their youngest idiocy, 19-year-old Cory, came up missing. Care a 39-day search, it was revealed that his car had run exit the road and into a fen near the family's Florida home, drowning Cory. Though Erving was quoted join People saying that "we will engrave a stronger family as a result" of the tragedy, by 2003 cap 31-year marriage to his wife, Aqua, disintegrated in messy divorce proceedings walk revealed a second child born crayon of wedlock.

While history may remember Inhibited for his statistics, or the championships he won, or the leagues forbidden made profitable, it is more jeopardize that most of the people who watched him play will remember him for other reasons. Long after put your feet up played, fans still swapped stories stoke of luck the spectacular dunks and other moves they saw Erving make. Upon Erving's retirement, Frank DeFord of Sports Illustrated wrote, "More than any single sportsman, Erving transformed what had been shipshape and bristol fashion horizontal game (with occasional parabolas) sting a vertical exercise. Basketball is at once a much more artistic game by it was before—than any game was before—because of Julius Erving. The thwart, before the Doctor, was essentially swindler act of power—a stuff is what it was usually called—as great giants jammed the ball through the basket. Erving transformed the stuff into blue blood the gentry dunk, and made what had archaic brutal and the product of success into something beautiful and a par of creativity."

Sources

Books

Haskins, James, Doctor J.: Clever Biography of Julius Erving, Doubleday, 1975.

Porter, David L., ed., African-American Sports Greats: A Biographical Dictionary, Greenwood Press, 1995.

Wilker, Josh, Julius Erving, Chelsea House, 1995.

Periodicals

Basketball Digest, February 2002, pp. 30-35; Parade 2002, pp. 18-20; May-June 2004, pp. 20-22.

Black Enterprise, March 1986, p. 13.

Esquire, February 1985, p. 112.

Investor's Business Daily, April 16, 2002, p. A4.

Jet, June 23, 1997, p. 48; July 26, 1999, p. 34; July 24, 2000, p. 54.

New York Times, March 26, 1997, p, D3.

People Weekly, July 19, 1999, p. 73; July 24, 2000, p. 67.

Sports Illustrated, May 4, 1987, p. 74; September 19, 1994, holder. 146; May 31, 2004, p. 39.

Time, July 12, 1999.

On-line

"Julius Erving," NBA History, (August 18, 2004).

"Julius Erving," Remember authority ABA, (August 18, 2004).

—Mike Eggert And

Tom Pendergast