Table of Contents
- Julius Erving is a former basketball player from the United States widely considered to be among the best in history
- Erving played a huge role in the rise of the ABA and continued to remain a key figure even after it merged into the NBA
- Apart from the NBA Championship which he won in 1983 he also won several individual awards, including NBA Most Valuable Player and ABA Most Valuable Player
Julius Erving biography. Born Julius Winfield Erving II, he is a former basketball player from the United States widely considered to be among the best in history.
Erving played a huge role in the rise of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and continued to remain a key figure even after it merged into the National Basketball Association (NBA). He had a 16-year long career which included spells at the Virginia Squires, New York Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
Apart from the NBA Championship which he won in 1983 he also won several individual awards, including NBA Most Valuable Player and ABA Most Valuable Player. Read on Julius Erving biography to get to learn more about the legendary basketball player who brought slum dunking into mainstream media.
Julius Erving. Photo/ Yardbarker.
Julius Erving Biography
| Full name | Julius Winfield Erving II |
| Age | 75 |
| Height | 2.01 m |
| Place of birth | East Meadow, New York, United States. |
| Date of birth | February 22, 1950 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Basketball player |
| Source of wealth | Basketball |
| Marital status | Married |
Earnings History
A household name in the basketball world, Julius Erving was one of the highest-paid players in the world at the peak of his career. According to sources on the web, Erving’s salary varied over the course of his career as he sometimes made $600,000, $1 million and $1.48 million.
Considering Erving played back in the 1970s and 80s, all details about his earnings as a player are not available on the web. However, we found details of his endorsements. As you might have guessed, Erving was one of the most endorsed NBA players and made millions from his deals with various companies.
The website Celebrity Net Worth indicates that Erving was the first player to sign a basketball shoe contract following the merge of the ABA and NBA in 1976. The deal reportedly made him around $20,000 every year, which is about $90,000 in today’s world.
During the mid-80’s, the former Philadelphia 76ers man was making $100,000 per year from a deal he signed with Converse.
Julius Erving biography. Photo/ Sports Illustrated.
Personal Life
Let’s take a look at the player’s personal life on this part of Julius Erving biography. Erving was born in East Meadow and grew up in New York where he attended Roosevelt High School. His high school friend, Leon Sanders, gave him the nickname ‘Doctor’ or ‘Dr. J’.
Erving married his first wife Turquoise Erving in 1972 and the couple had four children before parting ways in 2003. During his marriage to Turquoise, he had an affair with journalist Samantha Stevenson and had a child, Alexandra Stevenson, who would later become a professional tennis player.
After having another baby outside his marriage with a woman named Dorys Madden, his wife divorced him. Erving continued his relationship with Dorys and the couple had three more children.
Career
Julius Erving’s potential was spotted when he was still young. He played high school basketball during his days at Roosevelt High School and continued with the sport after enrolling at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1968. With his performance catching the attention of many, he was offered a golden opportunity to play for team USA in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Erving started his professional career with the Virginia Squires and quickly made a name for himself because of his dunking. In 1973, Erving was sold to the New York Nets in a complex deal by the Virginia Squires who were struggling financially like other ABA teams. The talented player led the Nets to the ABA Championship in his debut season, catching the attention of basketball fans.
Erving continued to impress with the Nets and won several awards. In 1976, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, where his performance often made headlines. He retired in in 1987.
Luxury Collection
With a net worth of over $50 million, you expect Julius Erving to be living a luxurious life. The 75-year-old built his fortune from his earnings as a player and endorsements. After retiring, he invested in a Philadelphia bottling plant and was the majority owner in the company for 20 years.
Erving smartly invested in real estate and owns various properties across the United States. As of now, we don’t have info on his car collection.
ALSO READ: The story of Dennis Rodman, an NBA “bad boy”
ALSO READ: A basketball legend: The legacy of NBA great Bill Russell
FAQs
How old is Julius Erving now?
Erving recently turned 75.
What is the net worth of Julius Erving?
$50 million.
Where did Dr. J grow up?
Roosevelt, New York.
Who is Julius Erving’s wife?
Dorys Madden.
