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10 basketball nuggets I learned from "Dr. J: The Autobiography"

Here are 10 "windows" on the life of basketball Hall of Famer Julius Erving from gleaned from "Dr. J: The Autobiography," written with Karl Taro.

5. Jumps to pros

AP
Julius Erving answers questions during a news conference Oct. 22, 1976, in Philadelphia following the announcement that he signed a six-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.

  • By Ross Atkin Staff writer

Despite a strong desire to finish his final year at college, and much angst in making the decision, Erving signed his first professional contract with the American Basketball Association’s Virginia Squires in 1967. He acknowledges he didn’t at the time know what a squire was and was told it was Virginia’s version of UMass’s Minutemen.

Part of his reason for taking the plunge after his junior year was because the ABA was aggressively snapping up young players and generally paying them more than the established NBA. But given serious rumors that the leagues would soon merge, it appeared the bidding wars might soon end and the attractive contract offers made to Dr. J and other players would evaporate. So he signed with the Squires for $500,000 to be paid over seven years. Amazingly the Squires made the offer even though coach Al Bianchi and general manager Red Kerr had never seen Erving play accept in a grainy film of what Dr. J considers his worst college game.

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Mark Sappenfield
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