Julius Erving
Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II, commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American retired basketball player who helped popularize a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and playing above the rim. Erving helped legitimize the American Basketball Associationand was the best-known player in that league when it merged with the National Basketball Associationafter the 1975–76 season...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth22 February 1950
CityRoosevelt, NY
CountryUnited States of America
I didn't want to become a reserve player, or a bench player, and it was time to move on and take on another challenge.
In 1981, at age 31, I was voted the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player in the league.
When I played, the owners had the power. The prisoners are running the prison now, not the warden. The warden is strong and he has say so but, the balance of power is definitely with the players.
Goals determine what you are going to be
I'm here to watch the watch the champions and the would-be champions.
When I see Maurice on the sidelines, I see a little bit of Chuck Daly. If he can have that type of success, maybe the Hall of Fame could be next.
I demand more of myself than anyone else could ever expect.
Hopefully this will stimulate the appearance of new talents in Brazil.
Goals determine what your going to be
If you get depressed about being the second-best team in the world, then you've got a problem.
I started playing professional basketball in 1971, and I played professionally for five seasons before going to Philadelphia.
I came from a broken home, so my mom was a major influence in my life.
I think I was chosen by basketball, although I never really physically got drafted to any team that I played for.
I think that my God-given physical attributes, big hands, and big feet, the way that I'm built, proportion-wise, just made basketball the most inviting sport for me to play.