Portrait | Julius Erving Aka Dr. J, the first virtuoso of the dunk

The filmmaker Jonathan Demme offered him his own role in the film ” Philadelphia »With Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. That is to say if Julius Erving, better known under the nickname of “Dr. J”, is inseparable from the Cité de l'amour fraternal. Great class! No one has forgotten their Afro Cup, its endless arms, its white and red all-star converse, its tomahawks, crazy alley-oops and other dunks from nowhere…

A true balancing balancingist, “Dr. J” (75 years old on February 22) paved the way for all the dunkers of the 90s, starting with Michael Jordan who has always referred to the master. “It was my idol, it was him that I wanted to look like,” said Mike 1st regularly during his media interventions.

Cult player of the deceased Abrive, of which he finished three times better marker (in 1973, 74 and 76), Erving invented the basketball. The Slam Dunk Contest, created by ABA and then taken up by the NBA, will definitively establish its celebrity. In 1976, for the latest All-Star Game of the deceased League in Denver, the doctor faces David Thompson in the final of the “Smashes” competition, as they said at the time.

To win, “Dr. J” must take all the risks. He succeeded in a Windwill Dunk by calling on the free throw line. What Dunk Jordan will he take over to win in the same type of exercise against Dominique Wilkins, the Atlanta Dunking Machine?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Horknd9jq7i

The arrival of Julius Erving at the Philadelphia Sixers in 1976 makes it possible to fill the NBA rooms. He will go up, on his own, the coast of American professional basketball, then drifting. The 1980s should have devoted it. Only, he sees Magic Johnson and Larry Bird tumble down …

In turn, the two lads steal his show. In 1980, it was Magic, then Rookie, who sliced ​​the spectrum of Philadelphia in the NBA finals with 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 interceptions in Game 6. In the 4th round, it is however Erving who realizes a Gesture that has remained in posterity: a Lay Up background line where his Hangtime allows him to pass behind the circle to avoid the interiors of the Lakers.

A gesture he used to succeed in ABA, but it was a first in the NBA. Initially, Julius Erving wanted Dunker, but he saw Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and he was changed. Almost in the second. “” I took off, I rose, and I found myself in the air … I just waited for the last moment, and to have found myself on the other side of the racket to put a small retro effect on The ball. »»

So Rookie, Magic Johnson was blissful. “” I was there trying to win a title, and I remained my mouth wide open. Did he really do this? I said to myself, “What should we do?” Put the ball in touch? Ask him to do it again? It remains the most beautiful move that I have ever seen on a field. The most beautiful of all time. »»

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gsz0fn6zhe

The following year, Julius was elected MVP of the season, but Boston de Bird dismissed the Sixers in 7 games in the conference final was before prevailing against the Rockets. Erving will therefore wait to be 33 years old to know the intoxication, the happiness of raising the Supreme Trophy. His association with Moses Malone, the snowshoe cleaner, allows him to spray 4-0 in the finals of the Lakers very reduced by the absences of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and Bob McAdoo.

Then Bird will find his way but this time, they will come to his hands. On this day of November 1984, the legend also told that Bird Chambra Chambre Erving on his number of points … Julius Erving annoys, and at the end of the 3rd quarter, he obstructed on Bird. The two cling to, and Bird finds himself on the ground.

But the rest becomes epic. While Charles Barkley, then rookie, and Moses Malone retain Bird, Julius Erving wins several lines. There follows a memorable melee putting 18 players in the grip !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxrsmfrHwug

On arrival, the NBA will distribute a fine of $ 30,500, including 7,500 just for Bird and Dr. J. a record for the time.

A month later, they will meet for the Christmas poster with an anxious David Stern for his first weeks at the head of the NBA.

Before the in-between, Dr. J. will take the first step towards Bird to calm the spirits. “” The dispute is behind uswill tell Erving. The two teams will still play four times against each other, not counting the playoffs. And both want to play, and not start a gang war or reproduce what happened. We don't need that. »»

For its part, Bird will use a pretty formula. “” I have always fought with my brothers, and that doesn't mean I don't like them. »»

Two seasons later, at 36, “Dr. J” will retire with a last season at 17 pts on average. The graying hair, he then became an ambassador of the NBA around the world. A “sage” who remains an absolute reference, an avant-garde of basketball that we know today.

Article written by Mondial Basket in “The Saga of MVPs”

MVP title: 1981

NBA champion: 1983

All-Star Game : 11

Top 10 in career

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx1nv36jaec

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; Off = offensive rebound; Def = defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; Pts = points.