Julius+Erving

Tyler

media type="custom" key="8560732"

pictures:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/14/20041021_cd35900e2b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/15/20041078_53ac4703c8.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/15/20039881_841fd546ed.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/15/20040988_34137446b1.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/2544025468_81dbacfc64.jpg


 * __ Summary of Accomplishments of Julius “Dr. J” Erving __**

Julius Erving began his professional basketball career in 1971 when he signed with the Virginia Squires to play in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Prior to this, he had played at the college level at University of Massachusetts. Erving had never even planned to play professional basketball and instead had plans since elementary school to become a doctor, which he followed until his senior year of college. This is part of how his nickname became ‘Dr. J’ since he had been nicknamed ‘The Doctor’ in high school because of his dream to become a doctor. The second half came during his time on the Virginia Squires where the ‘J’ was added and Erving became known as ‘Dr. J’. While playing with the Squires, Erving averaged 27 points per game (PPG) and 15 rebounds per game his rookie season. He saw even more success his second season by averaging about 32 points PPG. It was after his second season with the Virginia Squires that he was traded to the New York Nets.
 * __Successful Basketball Career__**

Dr. J’s time with the Nets was even more successful than the Squires and was where he began gaining fame. He averaged around 28 PPG in both his first and second seasons with New York while increasing to 29 PPG his third season. Erving led the Nets to the championship series twice with one championship victory of the ABA.

Although Erving had success in his seasons with the Squires and Nets, it was his long career with the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA where “Julius Erving was finally about to showcase his talents on the biggest basketball stage in the world” (Gale Biography in Context, Julius Erving). While on the 76ers from 1976-1987, Erving led the team to multiple championship series and one championship victory during the 1982-83 season. Throughout his time with Philadelphia, Dr. J’s points per game were at least 20 and, in some seasons, closer to 30. Throughout his career, Julius Erving proved himself to be one of basketball’s legends who truly changed the game.

During Julius Erving’s basketball career, he played in All Star games and won the Most Valuable Player award countless times, beginning in his rookie year playing professional basketball with the Virginia Squires. It was that season that he made the ABA’s All-Rookie Team and All-Star Second Team. The following year, Dr. J made the All-Star First Team. Then, once traded to the New York Nets he was named the regular season and playoff Most Valuable Player (MVP) his first season. Erving was once again awarded MVP his second season as well. However, it was Dr. J’s third season All-Star game that he gained much of his fame. In this, he won the first ever slam-dunk contest with a final one handed dunk jumping from the free throw line. Television footage of this allowed for Dr. J to become nationally known. Julius Erving goes on to play for the Philadelphia 76ers where his career skyrockets with countless MVP awards and All Star game performances. He was awarded league MVP in 1981 with countless All Star game MVP awards. As well as this, he was also part of the All Star First Team or All Star Second Team every year except for one season. Julius Erving is recognized as one of the greatest players that basketball has ever seen which is demonstrated through his incredible career and significant success.
 * __Basketball All Star and Most Valuable Player__**


 * ** Social ** || ** Political ** || ** Economic ** ||
 * Awarded Doctor of Arts Degree from Temple University in 1983 || *As seen, Erving has a majority of social events including awards and philanthropic work with some economic business opportunities. There was no information on any political ventures. || Purchased the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company (which is the fifteenth largest bottling plant in the world) in 1986 ||
 * Received Father Flanigan Award for youth work in 1984 ||  || Hired as studio analyst insider on NBC’s Showtime in 1993 ||
 * Served as Special Olympics coach ||  || Hired by NBC Sports in a multiyear contract ||
 * Was an advisor in the March of Dimes ||  || Became Executive Vice-President of the Orlando Magics in 1997 ||
 * Became National Chairman of the Hemophilia Foundation ||  || Vice-President of RDV Sports ||
 * Was a spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation (to honor his brother) ||  ||   ||
 * Was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 during his first year of eligibility ||  ||   ||
 * Was named one of forty most important athletes of all time by Sports Illustrated in 1994 as part of its 40th anniversary ||  ||   ||
 * Named one of top 50 players in the history of the NBA in 1996 as part of the 50th anniversary of the NBA ||  ||   ||
 * Awarded Walter J. Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1983 ||  ||   ||
 * Received the Whitney M. Young Award from the Urban League ||  ||   ||
 * Received the American Express Man of the Year Award ||  ||   ||
 * Received the Big Brothers New York City Sports Award ||  ||   ||

media type="custom" key="8698826"

1) What college did Julius Erving go to before playing professional basketball? a) Duke University b) Ohio State c) Temple University d) University of Massachusetts

2) Before playing basketball, what had Erving planned to become? a) Basketball player b) Lawyer c) Doctor d) Baseball player

3) What year did Dr. J begin his professional basketball career? a) 1967 b) 1971 c) 1976 d) 1983

4) For the majority of Erving’s career, what were his average points per game (PPG)? a) 15-20 PPG b) 20-30 PPG c) 5-15 PPG d) 30-40 PPG

5) What team was Dr. J playing for when he won the slam-dunk contest with his famous dunk? a) Philadelphia 76ers b) Virginia Squires c) New York Nets d) Boston Celtics

6) A reason, other than being a great player, Julius Erving was so honored by the NBA and different teams at his retirement was: a) Being a respectable sportsman and gentleman b) Making a lot of money c) Leading each team he played for d) Being awarded MVP many times

7) What year was Dr. J inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame? a) 1983 b) 1987 c) 1991 d) 1993

8) What team did Julius Erving become the Executive Vice-President of in 1997? a) Philadelphia 76ers b) Los Angeles Lakers c) Orlando Magics d) Miami Heat

9) He was named one of 40 most important athletes in 1994 by which magazine? a) Sports Illustrated b) ESPN c) Time d) Seventeen

10) Which leagues did Erving play in? a) NCAA and NBA b) NCAA and ABA c) NHL and MLB d) ABA and NBA

Answers: 1) D 2) C  3) B  4) B  5) C  6) A  7) D  8) C  9) A  10) D

Works cited:

Mallozzi, Vincent M. DOC: The Rise and Rise of Julius Erving. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Print.

"Julius Erving." National Civil Rights Museum. N.p., 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. .

 "Julius Winfield Erving." //Notable Sports Figures //. Ed. Dana R. Barnes. Detroit: Gale, 2004. //Gale Biography In Context //. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.

"Julius Erving." //Notable Black American Men, Book II //. Ed. Jessie Carney Smith. Detroit: Gale, 1998. //Gale Biography In Context //. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.

"Julius Erving." //Contemporary Black Biography //. Vol. 47. Detroit: Gale, 2005. //Gale Biography In Context //. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.

"Julius Winfield Erving." //Encyclopedia of World Biography //. Detroit: Gale, 1998. //Gale Biography In Context //. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.