JULIUS ERVING STARS IN THE ABA

Julius Erving, affectionately known as “Dr. J”, was the best known player in the American Basketball Association (“ABA”) during the league’s final five years from 1971-1976. After starring at the University of Massachusetts, Erving joined the ABA’s Virginia Squires as an undrafted free agent for the 1971-1972 season. In his rookie season, Erving averaged 27.3 points per game, and finished 2nd to Artis Gilmore for the Rookie of the Year Award. After averaging 31.9 points per game in his 2nd season, the cash-strapped Squires sold Erving to his hometown New York Nets. Erving led the Nets to two ABA championships in three years before the ABA merged with the NBA. In five seasons in the ABA, Erving averaged 28.7 points per game and 12.1 rebounds. He won 3 ABA Most Valuable Player Awards and 3 scoring titles. Erving scored more than 30,000 career points in the ABA and NBA in aggregate, placing him 5th on the all-time scoring list when combining the statistics of both leagues. Julius Erving was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.