Doc : The Rise and Rise of Julius Erving

The definitive biography of basketball genius Julius Erving--the icon who transcended his sport and defined an eraJulius Erving, aka Dr. J, was a wizard with the basketball, performing feats the world had never seen before: midair spins and whirls punctuated by powerful slam dunks, which he was the first to glamorize. In a career that lasted from the 1970s well into the 1980s, he was one of the first players to make extemporaneous individual expression an integral part of the game, setting the style of play that has prevailed ever since. He's also long been respected as a gracious, dignified, and disciplined man. As there are great men of history, there are great men of sports, and Dr. J is just such a man.This book tells Dr. J's amazing story, following his basketball journey from his Long Island childhood to the street games of New York City to a college career as his skills, reputation, and character grew. It follows his entrance into the ABA, where he revolutionized the game by glamorizing the dunk, and his conquering of the NBA, where he was Michael Jordan before there was a Jordan. It relates the family struggles he's had since leaving the game and charts the transformation of the man into myth. The first complete biography of one of the greatest and most popular basketball players of all time Draws on interviews with Dr. J's childhood friends and his family to teammates and coaches at all levels Written by a New York Times sports journalist and author of Asphalt Gods: An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament Includes Erving's years as a player with the Virginia Squires, New York Nets, and Philadelphia 76ersRead Doc and follow the incredible journey of the basketball genius who elevated the game off the hardwood and helped make it America's passion.

He won three ABA scoring titles and was an All-Star in each of his eleven NBA seasons. He scored more than 30,000 lifetime points, was named the 1981 NBA Most Valuable Player, and led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1983 NBA championship. But what distinguished Julius Erving from the greats that preceded him were his incredible leaps and his unprecedented style-the midair spins and twists, the faultless fakes, the limitless grace with which he moved. In Doc, you'll meet the real Dr. J, follow his career from the asphalt courts of his childhood to the mammoth arenas of the NBA, and discover the qualities that made him not just a basketball star, but an admired and respected hero to millions.