Dr. J is one of the most influential and famous basketball players of all time. He is one of the best dunkers and finishers of all time. Most people don’t know his full career so today I will be breaking down the career of Julius Erving from high school, to retirement.
Julius Erving attended Roosevelt High School and played for its basketball team. He received the nickname “Doctor” or “Dr. J” from a high school friend named Leon Saunders. Erving enrolled at the University of Massachusetts in 1968. In two varsity college basketball seasons, he averaged 26.3 points and 20.2 rebounds per game, becoming one of only six players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game in NCAA Men’s Basketball. After playing amazing at Massachusetts, Julius signed a 4 year contract with the 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, led the ABA in offensive rebounds, and finished second to Artis Gilmore for the ABA Rookie of the Year Award. He led the Squires into the Eastern Division Finals, where they lost to the Rick Barry-led New York Nets in seven games. After playing in the ABA Erving was eligible to join the NBA and was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks. Unfortunately due to rights Julius had…