Julius Erving, is a well-known American basketball player who has since retired. He is credited for popularizing a new game style that emphasizes jumping and then playing over the rim. Julius has also helped the American Basketball Association gain legitimacy.
| Full Name | Julius Winfield Erving II |
| Birth Date | 22 February 1950 |
| Birth Place | New York, USA |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac | Pisces |
| Height | 2.01 m |
| Weight | 91 kg |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Life & Career |
On 22 February 1950, Julius was born in New York City and raised in Roosevelt, New York, until he was thirteen. He played basketball at Roosevelt High School, where he was a student and a member of the squad. At the time, he was referred to as Dr. J or Doctor. In 1968, he decided to attend the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Despite having earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1986, he decided to leave school to find work.
Julius Erving began his profession when he was still a child. At his high school, he was named to the All Ohio Capital Conference Division team as a senior. He was ranked 211st in the country as a running back player. Because he was still a high school student, he only got a few scholarship offers from Ohio State.
He chose Ohio State and played for the Buckeyes as a freshman, appearing in a total of thirteen games. He carried for 948 yards and 13 touchdowns on 182 carries. He also finished with 253 career yards and a bid for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. The next season, he finished with 1793 yards, which was the second-most in the Big Ten Conference.
After his junior season finished, he chose to join the NFL Draft. He started playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and received a four-year rookie contract for $4.1 million. He also signed a 4-year deal with the New York Jets and has been a member of the organization since then.
His dedication has led to him receiving numerous awards and accolades, including NBA Most Valuable Player, Number 32 retired by UMass, ABA All-Time Team, NBA Champion, 11 times NBA All-Star, ABA All-Rookie First Team, ABA Slam Dunk Champion, 2 times ABA champion, and 5 times ABA All-Star, among others.
| Personal Life & Relationships |
In 1972, Julius and Turquoise were married, however they later divorced in 2003. In total, they had four children. It was the darkest day of Erving’s life when his 19-year-old son was found dead in the pond in 2000. For the rest of his life, Julius remained in love with Madden and fathered three more children together. They tied the knot in the same year, 2008.
It was 1979 when Julius began a relationship with Samantha Stevenson, a sports journalist. It was in 1980 that she gave birth to tennis star Alexandra Stevenson. It wasn’t until 1999 that Erving was identified as her biological father. In 2009, he attended his daughter’s soccer game for the first time. In 2003, he and Justin Kangas, his wife at the time, had a child.
| Net Worth |
Erving’s net worth is believed to be $50 million, with the most of it coming from his career as an ABA and NBA player, as well as his multiple business enterprises and brand sponsorships.
During his basketball career, Julius signed a million-dollar deal with the Atlanta Hawks his first year, but ended up spending two years with the squires. Later, he signed million-dollar deals with the Nets and Philadelphia 76(ers).