Julius Erving

Vocation

Lifestyle

Notable

American basketball player, known popularly as "Dr. J." He played in the ABA with the Virginia Squires (1971–1973) and New York Nets (1973–1976), and in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers (1976–1987). He went from a ghetto youth to a spectacular top basketball career. With a high scholastic average in high school he was offered scholarships and chose the University of Massachusetts. After his junior year he dropped out to sign a four-year, $500,000 contract to play pro and was named Rookie of the Year, 1972. The following year he signed a $2.8 million contract with the New York Nets. An exciting player, he was named Most Valuable Player by the ABA three times. In July, 1999 scandal struck when a Florida newspaper published a birth certificate naming Dr. J. as the father of 18-year-old tennis star Alexandra Stevenson. Alexandra has dark-skin and initially dismissed the reports, saying that her Caucasian mom had always served well in both parental roles. Erving, at first, denied the reports. However, on 7/02/99, he admitted that he was, indeed, the father of Stevenson. He conceded that her birth was the result of an affair in 1980 with Samantha Stevenson. The scandal is especially shocking, as Erving has been known as a dedicated family man married since 1972. Erving has acted in TV shows and in several movies including "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh." On 6/13/2000, Dr. J. announced at a press conference that his son, Cory, 19, had been missing from home since May 28, and made a moving plea for help in finding him. Cory has been troubled with drugs and alcohol problems since he was 14 and has had at least five stays in rehab. Julius and his wife have two other kids, Julius III, 26 and Jazmin, 23. Cory had seemed to be on the mend in spite of ADD and a mild dyslexia, but now the family was sick with worry. Link to Wikipedia biography