Julius Erving Player History & Career Recognition

Dr. J

Julius Erving is known as one of the greatest and most influential players ever. “Dr. J’s” style of play changed the game. His high-flying moves and all-around play set him apart as he was named to the All-NBA Team seven times, won the 1981 NBA MVP Award, and led the 76ers to the 1982-83 NBA title.

Dr. J was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game in each of his 11 seasons in the league and is one of only two 76ers players to be awarded MVP of the All-Star Game on two occasions (1977, 1983) (Allen Iverson). Erving was a member of the 76ers’ 1983 championship team and is the franchise's all-time leader in blocked shots.

Before his time in Philadelphia, Erving was among the most elite players in the American Basketball Association. In his time with the Virginia Squires and Nets, he made the All-Rookie First Team, collected five All-ABA Team honors (4x First Team, 1x Second Team), appeared in five ABA All Star Games, earned an ABA All-Defensive Team nod, won three scoring titles and three MVPs, and was the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Champion.

HIGHLIGHTS

To celebrate Black History Month, Julius Erving discusses the mentorship he received from Bill Russell, and the inspiration that came along with his friendship with the Celtics great.

AWARDS + Recognition

1 time NBA Champion

Averaging 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a clean sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, Erving, alongside Moses Malone and Maurice Cheeks, led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1983 NBA Championship, the team’s first since 1967.

1 time NBA Most Valuable Player

In the 1981 season, Erving’s 24.6 points, 8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game were enough to earn him his first and only NBA MVP. He had previously been named Most Valuable Player of the ABA three times.

11 time NBA All-Star

Erving’s 11 NBA All-Star appearances are the most for a Philadelphia 76ers player in NBA history. In franchise history, Dolph Schayes has the most (12) all of which came as a member of the Syracuse Nationals.

2 time NBA All-Star Game MVP

In his first NBA All-Star game in 1977, Erving scored 30 points and was awarded the Most Valuable Player trophy, becoming only the second player at the time to be named MVP in a losing effort (Bob Petit, 1958). He won it again in 1983 with Billy Cunningham also representing the Sixers as Eastern Conference Head Coach.

7 time All-NBA Team

In his 11 NBA seasons, Erving was named to five All-NBA First Teams (1978, 1980-83) and two All-NBA Second Teams (1977, 1984). Making him one of only three players to earn at least seven total selections as a part of the franchise (Hal Greer, 7; Dolph Schayes, 12).

1 time Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award was given from 1975-2020 to a player or coach who showed “outstanding service and dedication to the community”. Erving was the 9th recipient in 1983, the first for the 76ers franchise. Since, Dikembe Mutombo (2002) and Samuel Dalembert (2010) have won as members of the Sixers.

3 time NBA Anniversary Team

Alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers, Erving was one of only two active players to be selected to the NBA’s 35th Anniversary Team in 1980. He has since been selected to the NBA’s 50th (1997) and 75th (2022) Anniversary teams.

Erving’s 1982-83 Season

In 1981-82, Erving played in 81 of his team’s 82 games, averaged 24.4 points per, and had the most efficient scoring season of his career to date, finishing the year with .546 FG%. He grabbed a career high 18 rebounds at home against the Spurs on December 2, 1981 and dished out a career best in assists with 10 in Philadelphia against the Atlanta Hawks on March 5, 1982. Despite his record-setting season, in the 1982 NBA Finals, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar proved to be too much for the 76ers to handle, and the Lakers won the championship, 4-2.

After acquiring Moses Malone that offseason, Erving’s all-around productivity was as good as ever, as he averaged 21.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game throughout the regular season as the Sixers dominated the Eastern Conference, finishing with a 65-17 record. He was named Most Valuable Player of the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, leading the Eastern Conference to a 132-123 victory with 25 points.

Behind Erving and Malone, the Sixers swept the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs; topped the Milwaukee Bucks in five games; and then overwhelmed the Lakers in the NBA Finals in four straight, avenging their previous Finals losses and giving Dr. J his first NBA title.

More 76ers Alumni