30 players who define each NBA franchise
By Adam McGee
SF. Philadelphia 76ers 1976-87. Julius Erving. #6. player. 93.
Honorable Mentions: Allen Iverson, Hal Greer, Dolph Schayes
Julius Erving was the star of the old ABA, and had built up quite the reputation for himself by the time he left the Nets and moved to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia had been forced to settle for mediocrity in the decade since their last title, and then Dr. J arrived.
The Sixers made the playoffs for each of Erving’s eleven seasons in Philadelphia, but describing his time in the City of Brotherly Love like that is doing it a great disservice. Erving’s Philadelphia made three losing appearances in the NBA Finals, before eventually winning it all in 1982-83.
Here I was, trying to win a championship, and my mouth just dropped open. He actually did that. I thought, ‘What should we do? Should we take the ball out or should we ask him to do it again? – Magic Johnson
Aside from the team honors that he picked up, Dr. J made a lasting impression in an individual sense too. Erving was one of the greatest athletes of his generation, and that translated to him being one of the most spectacular dunkers the game has ever seen.
Philadelphia has seen plenty of other great players, notably Allen Iverson, but Erving’s artistry helped the team to not only rediscover their identity in the 70s and 80s, it also delivered the city the most recent NBA title they’ve won up to this very day.
Next: Phoenix Suns