born Feb. 22, 1950, Roosevelt, N.Y., U.S.
U.S. basketball star.
He played two years at the University of Massachusetts before joining the professional American Basketball Association (ABA). At 6 ft 7 in. (2 m), "Doctor J" played forward for the Virginia Squires (1971–73) and the New York Nets (1973–76), whom he led to two ABA titles (1974, 1976). After the merger of the ABA and NBA, Erving was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers (1977–87) and won a league title in 1983. He was known for swarming defense, imaginative drives to the basket, and climactic slam dunks.