“I Don’t Want Them to Be Me”: Former MVP Julius Erving Revealed How He Never Forced Basketball On His Kin

The NBA has been around for quite some time and has thrown us some famous father-son duos over time. From Bill Walton to Gary Payton, the list of stars who have had their children feature in the league is considerably long.

With superstars, there naturally comes the overwhelming question surrounding whether their children would come into the league. The need to fulfill the legacy of a famous parent is often instinctively imposed on the next generation.

However, one superstar who didn’t have a continuation to his legacy by blood was Julius Erving. Dr. J was a phenomenon in the league who inspired many a legend to take up the game of basketball. But the same effect didn’t extend to his own children.

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Erving had four children, but none of them ventured seriously into the world of basketball. A professional tennis player came through, but no one followed the hallowed path their father had laid down.

And Dr. J acknowledged this fact and the individuality of his children, while also describing how he’d have guided any of them to succeed if they showed any interest in his art. They did have those genes though.

Julius Erving wanted his children to ask him to be taught the game by him.

Dr. J didn’t intend to offer his great knowledge to his children. The former Sixers superstar wanted his children to seek knowledge from him. Only if such interest was apparent did Erving intend to impart the know-how he acquired through his successful career.

“You can expose your children to exactly the same things, but they’re all going to become different people. That’s great because I don’t want them to be me, I want them to be them. I never forced basketball on any of my kids or my nephews.”

“I wanted them to ask to be taught. When you have a willing participant, who says, ‘Please, teach me how to play,’ that’s when my eyes light up” described Erving of how he feels about passing on his legacy to his kin.

Unfortunately, the Erving name doesn’t seem to be extending to the modern NBA. The legacy of the flying Dr. J, however, has done enough to ensure the name isn’t ever forgotten.

That isn’t to say that the Erving genes are done for in the world of sports. Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Alexandra Stevenson has a claim to the Erving gene.

Alexandra Stevenson is Julius Erving’s daughter from an affair with a sports journalist.

Dr. J had an affair with sports journalist Barbara Stevenson and Alexandra was his progeny from that relationship. However, this wasn’t known to the public until 1999.

In 1999, Stevenson reached the Semi-finals of Wimbledon as a teenager. A remarkable feat, considering her lack of experience. And it was at this stage that Julius Erving’s parenthood was revealed to the public.

Erving had merely provided child support to Stevenson throughout her life. They had shared no relationship beyond that to that point.

So, though not with the Erving surname, the Erving legacy didn’t die out in the world of sport.

Also read: 6ft 6″ Michael Jordan’s Idol, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Earned His Nickname After Turning Pro, Thanks to a Trainer