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Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22,
1950, raised in Roosevelt, New York),
commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a
former American basketball player who helped
launch a modern style of play that emphasizes
leaping and play above the rim.
Erving helped legitimize the now-defunct
American Basketball Association (ABA). Much
as some players are considered "the team,"
Dr. J was considered "the league." He was the
main asset of the ABA when it merged with the
National Basketball Association (NBA) after
the 1976 season.
Erving won three championships, four Most
Valuable Player Awards, and three scoring
titles while playing with the ABA's Virginia
Squires and New York Nets and the NBA's
Philadelphia 76ers. He is the fifth-highest
scorer in professional basketball history,
with 30,026 points (NBA and ABA combined).
Erving was named to the NBA's 50th
Anniversary All-Time team and in 1993 was
inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. In
2004, he was inducted into the Nassau County
Sports Hall of Fame. Many consider him among
the most spectacular basketballers ever, and
one of the best dunkers. His signature dunk
was "the Tomahawk."
Tags : basketball |
