Julius Erving
Julius Erving, known as Dr. J, was an American basketball player who starred in the ABA and NBA and helped popularize above-the-rim play.
Moses Malone: An American basketball center who played in the ABA and NBA and became a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player. Malone joined Erving on the Philadelphia 76ers, helping them win the 1983 NBA championship.
1976 ABA Finals: The championship series in which the New York Nets defeated the Denver Nuggets in six games. Erving led the Nets to the title and was named Finals Most Valuable Player.
Above-the-rim play: Basketball play that uses elevation for dunks, blocks, and other actions near or above the basket. Erving made aerial moves a prominent feature of professional basketball’s spectacle.
Michael Jordan: An American basketball player whose scoring, championships, and global fame made him a defining NBA star. Jordan’s later global prominence contrasts with Erving’s role in popularizing the modern aerial style.
Small forward: A basketball position typically assigned to a versatile player who scores, defends, and rebounds. Erving played primarily as a small forward, using mobility and leaping ability at both ends.
Larry Brown: An American basketball coach who led teams in the ABA, NBA, and NCAA. Brown coached Erving with the Virginia Squires and helped launch his professional career.
1983 NBA Finals: The championship series in which the Philadelphia 76ers swept the Los Angeles Lakers. Erving earned his first NBA championship after a career of stardom in both leagues.
Slam dunk: A basketball shot scored by forcefully putting the ball directly through the hoop from above. Erving’s powerful, acrobatic dunks helped make the move a signature spectacle.
Wilt Chamberlain: An American basketball center who set numerous scoring and rebounding records in the NBA. Chamberlain’s dominance centered on size and statistical records, unlike Erving’s celebrated airborne artistry.
ABA All-Star Game: An annual exhibition game featuring selected players from the American Basketball Association. Erving’s ABA All-Star appearances helped establish him as the league’s standout attraction.