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NBA: 1980s All-Decade second team

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Former NBA Legends help celebrate Bill Russell
Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Former NBA Legends help celebrate Bill Russell /
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Oct 9, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; NBA great Julius Erving laughs before the start of the Orlando Magic game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports /

Second Team: G – Julius Erving

1980s Resume: Eight seasons, three NBA Finals appearances, one NBA title, one regular season MVP award, four-time All-NBA First Team, one-time All-NBA Second Team, eight-time NBA All-Star, 21.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.8 SPG and 1.6 BPG, 22.1 average PER

Ok, so technically Julius Erving was a small forward and not really a shooting guard, but putting Dr. J in the other guard spot and cheating a little bit was the only way to balance out the Second Team. Given the fact that Dr. J was pretty much Michael Jordan before there was a Michael Jordan, it makes sense to pair him in backcourt with MJ. Plus it’s my list, so sue me.

A significant portion of Erving’s prime was spent in the ABA during the 70s, but he managed to lead a Sixers team to the Finals three times, win one championship and take home one regular season MVP award during the 80s as well. He was one of the league’s most popular players and helped usher in the “coolness” of the NBA, bringing it with him from his ABA days with the Virginia Squires and New York Nets.

Everyone remembers the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rivalry and rightfully so, but sometimes the Larry Bird-Julius Erving rivalry gets lost in the mix. Until the Sixers added Moses Malone to make up for their weakness in the paint, Dr. J had to carry Philly at times in the playoffs. He was the epitome of class, style and grace in the air, and he was a key influence that made basketball a more popular sport in the 80s.

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