As Julius “Dr. J” Erving turns 75, fans are rewriting the narrative. The original high-flyer, the man who made dunking an art form, is getting the recognition many argue he has always deserved. While the GOAT debate often revolves around Jordan, LeBron, or Kobe, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of Erving—the pioneer who revolutionized the game before any of them even stepped on an NBA court.
Still not convinced? Here’s a fact: If you combine his points from both the NBA and ABA, Dr. J joins the 30,000-point club—an elite milestone reached by only a handful of legends. His influence extends beyond numbers, shaping the very style and flair of modern basketball.
And on his milestone birthday, fans didn’t just celebrate, they sparked a movement, reminding the world that before MJ, there was Dr. J.
Today is the day, the NBA legend is turning 75 years old! Recently, a post surfaced on social media that shared the news with the fans. The birthday post, wrote, “Join us in wishing a Happy 75th Birthday to 16x All-Star, 1980-81 NBA MVP, 2x ABA champion, 1982-83 NBA champion and 75th Anniversary Team member… “Dr. J”, Julius Erving!”. The post honored Dr. J’s legendary career, sharing an iconic image from his Philadelphia 76ers days.
It wasn’t long before fans flooded the comments, turning the birthday tribute into a GOAT debate. However, in a weird turn of events, the fans somehow dragged Michael Jordan into the conversation!
Michael Jordan or Dr. J? Fans made their choice
As the post hit the internet, the fans flooded in, each wishing the legend a happy birthday! However, things took a different turn as the fans celebrated the impact of Julius Erving. All of a sudden, Michael Jordan was brought into the conversation!
Predecessors pave the way for the later generations, so sometimes even if the successors go further along the path, it’s hard to understand who had more impact. A netizen pointed out, “MJ before MJ, living legend! Happy birthday, Dr. J”.
No matter who one argues to be the greatest, it is an undeniable fact that Dr. J was ahead of his time. This fan agrees as he claims, “The real GOAT Dr. J the OG GOAT, game recognise game The first goat!!”.
People also took the time to acknowledge the impact Dr. J had on the sport. Someone wrote, “Dr. J was the OG who made a first big step into the popularity of basketball and player Aura.”
Well, even the question of “Aura” was brought into the conversation. Some fans hailed Erving as someone to be looked at when the question of Aura arises. This fan wrote, “You wanna talk about Aura? You wanna talk about AURA?!?!? Look no further.” No arguments on that front, Erving certainly possessed a unique charm to him.
Another fan pointed out how even the NBA legend Michael Jordan called Erving his “idol”. The fan shared his wish, “I wish I could’ve watched him play. My dad said he was the goat during his time.” Watching Erving almost fly, live on the court would certainly be a sight to see.
Imagine his talent with modern training. The thought excited many. Dr. J’s birthday became a celebration of his lasting influence. Fans remembered the man who helped define basketball. As the GOAT debate rages on, even Jordan wouldn’t deny the fact that Dr. J to only inspired him but a whole slew of incoming stars. Whether he’s the GOAT or one of the GOATs, his legacy remains untouchable
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