Dr. J. -Julius Erving turns 63 today. Dr. J. now THAT is a nickname. That is a great nickname. Kind of like Magic Johnson-it tells you about the player. If your name was Julius Erving and they called you “Dr.J” you knew the guy had to be great.

I cannot remember the first time I saw a lot of players in sports play but I can recall clearly the first time I saw Dr.J. There was this legend of this player who was playing in the ABA. His name was Julius Erving and he had this great nickname -Dr. J. It was an ABA All-Star game and I was watching for only one reason-to see this guy named Julius Erving. He did not disappoint. He seemed like a player from another galaxy. He was fantastic, exciting. I can’t help but think that Dr. J. was at his peak during his years in the ABA, playing in dimly lit arenas, without the national spotlight on him. He was a great player with the 76ers later on in the NBA of course but I think his prime years-most of us missed. During his NBA years his teams won 3 championships, 3 scoring titles and 4 MVP awards.

Elgin Baylor came first. I never saw Baylor except at the end when he was no long “Elgin Baylor.” Then came Dr.J..then that Jordan guy. I never rooted for the 76ers, I would root for whoever was playing them not because of Dr. J. though. I loved to watch Dr.J play.

When you combine the ABA-NBA totals he is the 5ifth highest scoring player of all time. He was an 11 time NBA all-star. Led the 76ers to a World Championship in 1983, was the league MVP in 1981. He averaged 24.2 points a game during his career. You can look at all the numbers and awards he won but the greatest thing about Dr.J. was watching him play. One of the most exciting players I’ve ever seen. He hasn’t played in 25 seasons now but I can still see him out there. The highlights still run in my head when I think of him.