Dr. J

by Julius Erving

  I leave the golf business and find myself with a negative net worth, but I make a commitment to myself to pay all my debts. I will pay all my debts.

  Basketball saves me, as we take my trophies and medals and rings out of storage and auction them and raise nearly $4 million, pay down our debts, and buy a new house in Buckhead. I never displayed any of that stuff, so it was a blessing to be able to share it with the fans all around the world in the most successful athlete’s memorabilia auction ever.

  Now I’m starting over. With my nephew Barry, and my attorney Dorna Taylor, we’re building up Dr. J Enterprises. The main revenue stream right now is through my various endorsement contracts and a new role with the 76ers as a strategic consultant. Last year, our revenue was over $1 million. And now we are joint-ventured in other areas, including cell phone tower development and founding a cord blood bank.

  I always knew I would work for the rest of my life.

  22.

  In the mornings, I drive my children over to Lifetime Fitness in Buckhead with indoor basketball courts. Julieta does gymnastics, spinning cartwheels by the side of the court. “Daddy, look at me.”

  I watch her rise.

  Justin and Jules like to play pickup games with their friends. Both are fine young players. Jules, at six foot three and in eighth grade, already has the height and talent to fulfill his potential and may possibly carry on the legacy, having recently enrolled at a private high school basketball power.

  When they’re done playing pickup, I’ll challenge them to a game of two against one, repeating that two should always beat one. The same rules: no layups, no dunks. At sixty-three, I’m not much of a dunker anymore, but give me some time to limber up and a warm gym, and I’ll still throw some down. Jules is already dunking.

  Jules has gotten more confident, more aggressive, and obviously is looking forward to the day he can dunk on his dad.

  Our games are spirited, as I’m not ready to get posterized by my own son.

  Jules takes a pass from Justin, he faces me, he jab-steps and goes for the rim.

  He rises.

  I rise.

  We rise.

  Acknowledgments

  FROM Dr. J

  Everything I have accomplished in life has been due to the loving support of those people closest to me: my parents, Julius Sr. and Callie Mae; my stepfather, Dan Lindsay; my siblings, Alexis Alfreda and Marvin Vincent; the Abney family and the Erving family, including my wife (Dorys) and children (Cheo, Julius III, Jazmin, Alexandra, Jules, Justin, and Julieta), my grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. They were and are the source of my ability to soar and score and rebound from improbable circumstances that arose during my sixty-three-year journey. Without their love and support, there would be no me.

  In the course of working on my autobiography, I found myself dependent on trusting a number of people to get to the finish line. Karl Taro Greenfeld tops the list because he brilliantly captured my voice and transformed our conversations into tales for generations to enjoy. Dedicated and patient describe David Hirshey and Barry Harbaugh, who managed to keep the project moving after numerous setbacks and who brought experience and editorial input to our collaboration. My team, Dorna Jenkins Taylor, Esq., Barry Bookhard, Val Small, and Ray Wilson, provided legal, business, and personal support every step of the way. Alan Rubin and Matt Guma assisted in making my first publishing deal the win-win that it ultimately became. I sincerely thank all of them.

  Additionally, I would like to thank the following people who have been and are still profoundly instrumental in my journey through life (in alphabetical order by first name):

  Al and Mabel Erving, Al Bianchi, Al Domenico, Al Williams, Albert and Doris Taxin, the Albert Boys (Marv, Steve and Al), Alexandra and Samantha Stevenson, Allen J. Bernstein, Alonzo Somerville, Andy Haggerty, Annie Meyers-Drysdale and family, Archie Rogers, Artie Hecht, Artis Gilmore and family, Artise Irving, Barry Bookhard, Beatrice Turner, Bennett and Judie Weinstock, Bill Cosby and family, Bill Zaruka, Billy Crystal, Billy Cunningham, Billy Melchioni, Bob and Peggy Corrao, Bob Beamon, Bob Billingsby, Bob Brown, Bob Chopper Travaglini, Bob Costas, Bob Elliott and family, Bob McCullough, Brad Martin and family, Brady Speler, Brenda Sabino, Brian Alchermes, Brian and Maryann Thompson, Brian Taylor, the Brower family, Bruce Blackwell, Burdette and Mica Hawkins and family, the Burgess family, Buster Wolosky, Caldwell Jones, Carl Spider Lockhart, Carol Bromery, Catherine Costa and family, Cecil Watkins, Celia Sabino, Charles Barkley, Charles Mcllwain and family, Charlie Scott, Cheo Erving, Chloe and Charles Turner and family, Christine and Grover Washington Jr. and family, Chuck Daly, Clem Ballas, Clemon Johnson, Clente and Ojetta Flemming and family, Clint Richardson, Clyde Drexler, Cousin Gladys Simmons and family, Craig Drake, Dan Lindsay, Dan Napier, Dana Napier, Danielle Triplett, Danny Meachum and family, Dave Chapman, David Keith, David Porter, Debbie Mazer, Debra Carroll, Dick Gregory, Don Massman, Don Ryan, Donna Skinner, Dorna and William Taylor III and family, Dorys Erving, Dot Farmer, Doug Duncan, the DuVal family, Dr. Ed and Raydelin Guindi, Earl Cureton, Earl Mosley and family, Eileen and Robert Irving and family, Elaine Wynn, Elgin Baylor and family, Enrique McPhail and family, Eric Dickerson, Ernie Cambridge, Estell and Brunson Abney and family, Ethan and Marisol Penner and family, Franco and Dana Harris, Frank Hairston, Frank Lenny Carter, Fred Leidman, Fritz Massman, Gabriella Vallerdares, Garry Saunders, Gary Brokaw, Gary Leavitt and family, George Gervin, George Rigopoulis, George Tinzley, Marie Henderson, Gerhard and Sigrung Von Heeson and family, Grace Fenton and family, Greg and MaryAnn Coleman, Gus Williams, Hannah Storm Hicks, Harith Wickrema, Harold Katz and family, Hempstead Salvation Army teammates, Henry Bibby, Herb and Stormy Washington, Herman Curtis, Hershal Smith, Hwa Wu, Irwin Weiner, Isadore and Adele Becker and family, J. Bruce Llewellyn, Jack Adias, Jack Leaman, Jack Smith, James Brown Jr. and family, Janie Smith and family, Jari and Silvia Vallerdares, Jason Williams, Jazmin Erving, Jeffrey Haller, Jeffrey Osbourne, Jennifer Bragg, Jennifer Thompson, Jerome Riggs, Jerry and Sandra Simmons, Jesse Jackson, Jim and Fran Gray, Jim and Monique Brown, Jim Chestnut, Jim Eakins and family, Jim Hill, Jim Kelley, Jim Lagagne, Jim Wade, Jimmy and Marguerite Maggette and family, Jodi Williams, Joe and Meadowlark Washington, Joe Farmer, Joe Smith, John Butch Purcell, John Cardone, John Clark, John Gabriel, John Hannah, John Kilbourne, John Lucas, John Smoltz, John Tedesco, John Williamson and family, Johnny Green, Johnny Red Kerr, Joseph Zohar, Jr. Bridgeman, Juanita Hayden, Jules Erving, Julieta Erving, Julius Erving III, Justin Erving, Karen and Bob Natkin and family, Karen Ramos Coleman and family, Karen Russell, Keith Bookhard, Keith Williams, Ken Jr. and Melissa Griffey, Kenneth Ira Starr, Kenny Leon, Kenny Smith, Kevin Loughery, Kim Hughes, Kim Willis, Kira Clifford, KT Schaefer, Kwaku Leon and Afie Saunders and family, Lafeea Watson, Larry and Mickey Magid, Leah Lally, Lee Elder, Leroy Brinkley, Lionel Hollins, Lisa Borders, Lloyd Pinkie Gardner, Luz Gonzales, Lynn Swann, the Mackey family, Magic Johnson, Marc Reisman, Marcus Allen, Marcus Iavaroni, Margaret Washington, Martha Korman Zumival and family, Martha Ramirez, Marty Sloan and family, Marvin Gaye, Pastor Marvin Moss, Maryann and Gregory Coleman and family, Maurice Lucas and family, Mel and Joan Davis, Mel Speler, Dr. Mel Stanley, Melissa Springate, Melvin Abney Jr. and family, Michael Jordan, Michelle Williams and family, Miguel and Rosalia Sabino, Mike Rogers, Mike Storen, Monjur Ali, Moses Malone, Murray Bullock, Miles Davis, Nancy Lieberman, Neill Wright, New York Nets teammates, Oprah Winfrey, Pat O’Brian, Pat Williams, Patti LaBelle and family, Peter and Wendy Corry and family, Peter Broaca, Peter Lev, Phil Jasner and family, Philadelphia 76ers teammates, Prospect School teammates, Quinn Buckner, Rachel Tran, Ramon Bardales, Ramond Floyd and family, Mr. and Mrs. Randolf Bromery, Ray and Gloria Wilson, Ray Leonard, Ray Scott, Re Kelly and family, Reggie Jackson, Reggie Whitehead, Ric Wilson, Rich De Voss, Rich Jones, Richard Dent, Rick Barry, Rick Vogeley, Robert Mayrant and family, Robert Pollack and family, Rodney and Takata Harrell, Roger Morningstar, Roland Fatty Taylor, Ron Becta
l, Ron Wilson, Ronald Abney and family, Ronnie Rabina and family, Ronnie White, Roosevelt High School teammates, Rosalin and Curtis Springate, Sean Lynch, Shahara Llewellyn, Sharon Dunn and family, Shelly Hatton, Sherman Brown, Shivani Desai, the Sloan family, Sonny Hill, Spike Lee, Stedman Graham, Dr. Stanley and Dorothea Lorber, Dr. Steve and Dari Alchermes, Steve and Maryalice Mix and family, Steve Wynn, Teddy Pendergrass and family, Terry Tyler, Tim Bassett, Tom and Bruni Reed and family, Tony and Lorriane Ferdinand and family, Ukee Washington, UMass teammates, Val and Garfield Small and family, Victor and Ester Green, Virginia Squires teammates, Warren Moon, Wendell Haskins, William F. Russell, Williard Sojourner, and Yvette Beauchamp and family.

  PEACE AND BLESSINGS,

  Julius Erving

  FROM Karl Taro Greenfield

  Much appreciation to my Harper starting five: Barry Harbaugh, David Hirshey, Gail Winston, Maya Ziv, and Jonathan Burnham. Also, gratitude to David Kuhn, Becky Sweren, Stanislaw Radzicki, David Bar Katz, and Ptolemy Tompkins. My family, Esmee, Lola, Silka, Foumi, Josh (and Noah) were, as always, along for the ride. And finally, Julius Erving is the most gracious subject and collaborator I have ever worked with. Thank you.

  About the Authors

  JULIUS ERVING is one of the greatest professional basketball players of all time and an American icon. He lives in Atlanta with his family. This is his first book.

  KARL TARO GREENFELD is the author of six previous books, including the acclaimed memoir Boy Alone and the novel Triburbia. His fiction has appeared in Harper’s, The Paris Review, Best American Short Stories, and the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories. He is a longtime writer for Time and Sports Illustrated, among many other publications, and his nonfiction has been collected in Best American Sports Writing and Best American Nonrequired Reading.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

  Credits

  Cover design by Richard Ljoenes

  Cover and title page photograph by Neil Leifer/NBAE/Getty Images

  All photographs courtesy of the author unless otherwise noted.

  Copyright

  DR. J. Copyright © 2013 by Dr. J Enterprises LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  FIRST EDITION

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Erving, Julius.

  Dr. J : the autobiography / Julius W. Erving with Karl Taro Greenfeld.

  p. cm.

  ISBN 978-0-06-218792-5

  1. Erving, Julius. 2. Basketball players—United States—Biography. I. Greenfeld, Karl Taro. II. Title.

  GV884.E78A3 2013

  796.323092—dc23 [B]

  2013027874

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  EPub Edition © NOVEMBER 2013 ISBN 9780062188038

  13 14 15 16 17 OV/RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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