54 Facts About Julius Erving

1.

Julius Erving won three championships, four Most Valuable Player awards, and three scoring titles with the ABA's Virginia Squires and New York Nets and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.

2.

Julius Erving was well known for slam dunking from the free-throw line in Slam Dunk Contests and was the only player voted Most Valuable Player in both the ABA and the NBA.

3.

In 1993, Julius Erving was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

4.

In 1994, Julius Erving was named by Sports Illustrated as one of the 40 most important athletes of all time.

5.

In 1996, Julius Erving was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team.

6.

In October 2021, Julius Erving was again honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

7.

Julius Erving's signature was the slam dunk, since incorporated into the vernacular and basic skill set of the game in the same manner as the crossover dribble and the no look pass.

8.

Julius Erving was born February 22,1950, in East Meadow, on Long Island, and raised from the age of 13 in Roosevelt, New York.

9.

Julius Erving attended Roosevelt High School and played for its basketball team.

10.

Julius Erving received the nickname "Doctor" or "Dr J" from a high school friend named Leon Saunders.

11.

Julius Erving enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1968.

12.

Fifteen years later, Julius Erving fulfilled a promise he had made to his mother by earning a bachelor's degree in creative leadership and administration from the school through the University Without Walls program.

13.

In September 2021, Massachusetts honored Julius Erving by unveiling a statue outside the Mullins Center on the university's campus.

14.

Julius Erving took advantage of the rule change and left Massachusetts after his junior year to sign a four-year contract worth $500,000 spread over seven years with the Virginia Squires.

15.

Julius Erving quickly established himself as a force and gained a reputation for hard and ruthless dunking.

16.

Julius Erving scored 27.3 points per game as a rookie, was selected to the All-ABA Second Team, made the ABA All-Rookie Team, led the ABA in offensive rebounds, and finished second to Artis Gilmore for the ABA Rookie of the Year Award.

17.

Julius Erving led the Squires into the Eastern Division Finals, where they lost to the Rick Barry-led New York Nets in seven games.

18.

Julius Erving discovered that his agent at the time, Steve Arnold, was employed by the Squires and convinced him to sign a below-market contract.

19.

Julius Erving joined Pete Maravich at the Hawks' training camp, as they prepared for the upcoming season.

20.

Julius Erving played two exhibition games with the Hawks until NBA Commissioner J Walter Kennedy ruled that the Bucks owned Erving's rights via the draft.

21.

Julius Erving enjoyed his brief time with Atlanta, and he would later duplicate with George Gervin his after-practice playing with Maravich.

22.

Julius Erving agreed to report to the Squires while his appeal of the injunction made its way through the court.

23.

Julius Erving signed an eight-year deal worth a reported $350,000 per year.

24.

Julius Erving established himself as the most important player in the ABA.

25.

The Julius Erving-led Nets defeated the Denver Nuggets in the ABA's final championship.

26.

Julius Erving refused to play under these conditions and held out in training camp.

27.

Julius Erving quickly became the leader of his new club and led them to an exciting 50-win season.

28.

Julius Erving took them into the NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers of Bill Walton.

29.

Julius Erving enjoyed success off the court, becoming one of the first basketball players to endorse many products and to have a shoe marketed under his name.

30.

Julius Erving starred in the 1979 basketball comedy film, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.

31.

The Bird vs Julius Erving matchup became arguably the top personal rivalry in the sport, inspiring the early Electronic Arts video game One on One: Dr J vs Larry Bird.

32.

Julius 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.

33.

Julius Erving was an excellent all around player who was an underrated defender.

34.

Julius Erving is considered by many as the greatest dunker of all time.

35.

In 1993, Julius Erving was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

36.

When he retired, Julius Erving ranked in the top five in scoring, field goals made, field goals attempted and steals.

37.

Julius Erving ran to the opposite end of the court and back, and dunked the basketball from the free throw line.

38.

Julius Erving performed a crossover to blow by multiple defenders, seemingly gliding to the hoop with ease.

39.

Julius Erving drove past Lakers forward Mark Landsberger on the right baseline and went in for a layup.

40.

Julius Erving earned his bachelor's degree in 1986 through the University Without Walls at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

41.

Julius Erving, a racing fan himself, stated that his foray into NASCAR was an attempt to raise interest in NASCAR among African-Americans.

42.

Julius Erving has served on the Board of Directors of Converse, Darden Restaurants, Saks Incorporated and The Sports Authority.

43.

Julius Erving was ranked by ESPN as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.

44.

Julius Erving made a cameo appearance in the 1993 movie Philadelphia starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, and in the sitcom Hangin' with Mr Cooper in 1995.

45.

Julius Erving made a cameo appearance as himself in "Lice", the tenth episode of the ninth season of the comedy series The Office.

46.

Julius Erving appeared as himself in the 2022 movie Hustle starring Adam Sandler and Juancho Hernangomez.

47.

Julius Erving was married to Turquoise Julius Erving from 1972 until 2003.

48.

In 1979, Julius Erving began an affair with sportswriter Samantha Stevenson, resulting in the 1980 birth of Alexandra Stevenson, who would become a professional tennis player.

49.

Julius Erving had provided financial support for Stevenson over the years, but had not otherwise been part of her life.

50.

Julius Erving met Stevenson for the first time on October 31,2008.

51.

In 2009, Julius Erving attended the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament to see Stevenson play, marking the first time he had attended one of her matches.

52.

In 1988, Julius Erving received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.

53.

In 2003, Julius Erving fathered a second child outside of his marriage, Justin Kangas, with a woman named Dorys Madden.

54.

Julius and Turquoise Erving were subsequently divorced and Erving continued his relationship with Madden, with whom he had three more children, Jules Erving and two others.