Julius Winfield Erving II, better known as Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player.
He played a key role in legalizing the American Basketball Association and was the best known player when it merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976.
His impressive skills and charisma helped cement the sport’s popularity among fans. Erving is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and his contributions to the sport will always be remembered.
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- Full name: Julius Winfield Erving II
- Stage name: Dr. J
- Date of birth: February 22, 1950
- Age: 74 years old
- Place of birth: East Meadow, New York, USA
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: retired American basketball player
- Height: 2.01m
- Parents: Callie Mae Erving, Julius Erving
- Siblings: 2, Marvin Erving, Alexis Erving
- Spouse: Dorýs Madden (m. 2008), Turquoise Brown (m. 1972–2003)
- Children: 7, Alexandra Stevenson, Jules Erving, Corey Erving, Justin Kangas
- Relationship: married
- Net worth: 50 million USD
Early life and education
Dr. J, also known as Julius Erving, is a retired American professional basketball player born on February 22, 1950 in East Meadow, New York.
He was raised by his parents Callie Mae Erving and Julius Erving and has two siblings Marvin Erving and Alexis Erving.
Erving is African American and follows the Christian faith. He attended Roosevelt High School before earning his bachelor’s degree in 1986 from the College Without Walls at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
After a successful basketball career, Erving became a businessman and owned a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Philadelphia. He also worked as a television analyst.
Career
Julius Erving, commonly known as “Dr. J,” considered one of the greatest basketball players ever. His acrobatic moves and smooth playing style revolutionized the game.
Erving’s early career was highlighted by his time playing college basketball at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he demonstrated his outstanding scoring ability and athleticism.
However, it was in the American Basketball Association (ABA) that Erving truly shined. He quickly became a superstar, leading the Virginia Squires and New York Nets to two ABA championships and winning three league MVP awards.
His dominance in the ABA helped pave the way for his successful career in the NBA and solidified his place as one of the all-time greats in basketball history.
Julius Erving, also known as Dr. J, had a huge impact on the NBA and basketball in general.
In 1976, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers, immediately raising the team’s profile with his impressive skills and athleticism.
In 1983, he led the 76ers to their first NBA championship, solidifying his superstar status and earning NBA Finals MVP honors.
Erving’s ability to dunk from above the rim, including from the free throw line, made him globally famous and earned him the nickname “Dunk King.”
His dunks are so iconic that they are often called “posterized” for their ability to humiliate opponents.
In 1993, Erving was duly inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and he is also a member of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All Time. His legacy and impact continue to inspire future generations of basketball players.
Awards and nominations
- ABA career (1971-1976)
- ABA Champion: 1974, 1976
- ABA Player of the Year: 1974, 1975 (Co-MVP), 1976
- First Team ABA All-Star: 1973-1976
- ABA scoring champion: 1975
- NBA career (1976-1987)
- NBA champion: 1983
- NBA Most Valuable Player: 1981
- NBA Finals MVP: 1983
- First Team NBA All-Star: 1978, 1980-1983
- NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1977, 1983
- Other titles
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1993
- 50 Greatest NBA Players: Selected in 1996
- J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: 1983
Social Media
- Instagram handle:@juliuserved
- Facebook manager: Julius “Dr. J” Erving
- Twitter name:@JuliusErving
Personal life
Julius Erving, also known as Dr. J, is a professional basketball player who played for teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Nets.
He was married to Turquoise Erving from 1972 to 2003 and they had four children together. Tragically, in 2000, their 19-year-old son, Cory, died after crashing his car into a pond.
In 1979, Erving began an affair with sports journalist Samantha Stevenson, which resulted in the birth of their daughter, Alexandra Stevenson, in 1980.
Although they were not in a relationship for many years, in 2008 they reconnected and Erving finally met his daughter for the first time. He even attended one of her tennis matches in 2009 to show his support.
Julius Erving had a complicated personal life, he was married and divorced twice. After his second divorce, he began a relationship with Turquoise Erving and they had three children together.
However, he eventually married his longtime partner, Dorys Madden, in 2008, and together they moved to Georgia to manage a golf and country club in Atlanta.
Many relationships and marriages marked Erving’s life, but he found stability with Madden and their family.
Net worth
Julius Winfield Erving II, also known as Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
He is known for his creative and acrobatic playing style as well as his contributions to the ABA and NBA leagues.
With an estimated net worth of $50 million, he has also achieved success off the court as a businessman and philanthropist.
