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After the ABA merged into the NBA, the New York Nets sold Julius to the Philadelphia 76ers for a total of $3 million. Then the 1976-77 NBA season began, where Julius made a great first impression as he made the All-NBA Second Team due to his 21.6 points per game and that contributed to the team's 50-32 record.. He also was selected into the NBA All-Star Game in which he won the MVP trophy. In the playoffs, he led the 76ers all the way to the NBA Finals. However they only won two out of the six games in the series as the Portland Trailblazers took the title.
Over the course of the following two seasons, Julius accomplished many achievements, such as becoming one of the first players ever to have a shoe marketed under his name. Also, Julius was one of the only two active players in the NBA to be part of the NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team. Plus, with the constant elevation of his skills and play, it was almost guaranteed every season that he'd win All-NBA First Team. However in both years, the 76ers were unable to get any further in the playoffs than the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the 1979-80 season, Julius Erving scored his highest points per game average of 26.9. After a 59-23 record, Philadelphia breezed by the Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics. Thus the 76ers would find themselves conference champions and once again representing the east in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Over the course of the following two seasons, Julius accomplished many achievements, such as becoming one of the first players ever to have a shoe marketed under his name. Also, Julius was one of the only two active players in the NBA to be part of the NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team. Plus, with the constant elevation of his skills and play, it was almost guaranteed every season that he'd win All-NBA First Team. However in both years, the 76ers were unable to get any further in the playoffs than the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the 1979-80 season, Julius Erving scored his highest points per game average of 26.9. After a 59-23 record, Philadelphia breezed by the Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics. Thus the 76ers would find themselves conference champions and once again representing the east in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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After the first four games, the series was tied up with both teams having two wins and two losses. In Game 5, Julius Erving performed what is referred to today as the "Baseline Move." This move was at the time and still is today considered one of the greatest moves in all of NBA history.
At first it was an attempt to race to the basket passed the defender parallel to the baseline in order to get the layup. Although he was able to get around him, when he jumped into the air to make the basket, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (the other active player to make the All-Time Team) leaped in Erving's way in order to block the shot. Julius' quick instincts however, gave him the idea to bring the ball back down towards him as he glided past the two defenders. It was almost as if he was floating in midair as he slightly flew to the other side and behind the backboard. And still not touching the ground, he reached toward the hoop and gave off a underhand shot which found its way to the bottom of the net and leaving everyone in attendance in awe. "What should we do?" said Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who at the time was the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. "Should we take the ball out or should we ask him to do it again?"
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the Lakers would win games five and six and so the 76ers would once again lose in six games in The Finals and be a series short from being champions.
In the 1980-81 season, Julius Erving had the bast individual season of his career. His totals of 24.6 points per game, 4.4 assists per game and 173 steals for the season was acknowledged with the MVP Award. Philadelphia's 62-20 season record had gotten them one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the 76ers would make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. There, they would face the Boston Celtics who had an identical season record with Philadelphia. Four games into the series, the 76ers were winning the series 3-1 and it looked like they'd have two straight visits to the NBA Finals. Then Larry Bird (the star of the Celtics) led the team to three more wins that would send them to The Finals and eliminate Julius and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The following season Erving would have around the same level type of play, as he averaged 24.4 points per game and was once again in the All-NBA First Team. This time in the postseason, the 76ers would again face Boston but this time Philadelphia would go to The Finals after defeating the Celtics in seven games. Julius and his team however, would be playing against the team that prevented them from a title the last time, the Los Angeles Lakers. Once again, the Lakers were too much for the 76ers and in six games, Los Angeles won another championship.
At first it was an attempt to race to the basket passed the defender parallel to the baseline in order to get the layup. Although he was able to get around him, when he jumped into the air to make the basket, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (the other active player to make the All-Time Team) leaped in Erving's way in order to block the shot. Julius' quick instincts however, gave him the idea to bring the ball back down towards him as he glided past the two defenders. It was almost as if he was floating in midair as he slightly flew to the other side and behind the backboard. And still not touching the ground, he reached toward the hoop and gave off a underhand shot which found its way to the bottom of the net and leaving everyone in attendance in awe. "What should we do?" said Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who at the time was the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. "Should we take the ball out or should we ask him to do it again?"
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the Lakers would win games five and six and so the 76ers would once again lose in six games in The Finals and be a series short from being champions.
In the 1980-81 season, Julius Erving had the bast individual season of his career. His totals of 24.6 points per game, 4.4 assists per game and 173 steals for the season was acknowledged with the MVP Award. Philadelphia's 62-20 season record had gotten them one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the 76ers would make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. There, they would face the Boston Celtics who had an identical season record with Philadelphia. Four games into the series, the 76ers were winning the series 3-1 and it looked like they'd have two straight visits to the NBA Finals. Then Larry Bird (the star of the Celtics) led the team to three more wins that would send them to The Finals and eliminate Julius and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The following season Erving would have around the same level type of play, as he averaged 24.4 points per game and was once again in the All-NBA First Team. This time in the postseason, the 76ers would again face Boston but this time Philadelphia would go to The Finals after defeating the Celtics in seven games. Julius and his team however, would be playing against the team that prevented them from a title the last time, the Los Angeles Lakers. Once again, the Lakers were too much for the 76ers and in six games, Los Angeles won another championship.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/3/3/38333593/428236534.jpg)
In the 1982-83 season, Erving averaged 21.4 points per game and once again made All-NBA First Team. As the playoffs rolled around, the 76ers finished the season with a 65-17 record. Philadelphia would dominate the postseason and return to the NBA Finals to face the Lakers for the third time in four seasons. And this time, Julius would lead his team into winning the first four games in a row. Thus Julius Erving after years of hard work and dedication, would win his first NBA championship.
After his title, Julius started to get older and become more reliant on his intelligence and not the physical skill he was well recognized for. Eventually, Erving announced that he would retire at the end of the 1986-87 season. During that season, every arena that Philadelphia played in, Julius was honored as the fans would demonstrate their love and appreciation for one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
Julius Erving retired at the age of 37. At the end of his combined ABA and NBA career, Erving got 5,176 assists and 2,272 steals in his career. Most impressively, Julius Erving scored 3,026 points in his 11 seasons of play which is the sixth highest amount of points scored by a single player in their career. Then after six years, in 1993 Julius Erving was selected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame where his leadership and legacy will be remembered forever.
After his title, Julius started to get older and become more reliant on his intelligence and not the physical skill he was well recognized for. Eventually, Erving announced that he would retire at the end of the 1986-87 season. During that season, every arena that Philadelphia played in, Julius was honored as the fans would demonstrate their love and appreciation for one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
Julius Erving retired at the age of 37. At the end of his combined ABA and NBA career, Erving got 5,176 assists and 2,272 steals in his career. Most impressively, Julius Erving scored 3,026 points in his 11 seasons of play which is the sixth highest amount of points scored by a single player in their career. Then after six years, in 1993 Julius Erving was selected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame where his leadership and legacy will be remembered forever.