The NBA is filled with celebrities rather than mere basketball players. The reputations these ballers hold certainly precede them. And truth be told, they are perceived as heroes rather than just professional athletes by the kids.
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LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry are the principal players who are regarded within this spectrum in today’s game. Just as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were perceived as the chief role models of their time.
However, there had to be someone who paved the way for these trailblazers. That credit goes to Julius Erving. Erving was a tremendous player during his 16-year NBA tenure. He was prominent for his prolific scoring and athleticism which assisted him in capturing the 1983 NBA championship.
And in spite of being a cardinal figure of the NBA in the 1970s and 1980s, Erving never portrayed himself in such a manner. In fact, his humble and tender-hearted nature was on display on several occasions.
Over a decade ago, an individual named Carl Benge shared a story of how Erving had treated his mate, Craig as a child, when the pair had met on an airplane.
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When Julius Erving made a 4th grader’s day
Julius Erving was considered the foremost basketball player of his time. His famous dunk, named ‘Rock the Baby’ left spectators speechless, as the 76ers man pulled out a ludicrous cradle dunk on the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was a celebrated figure in the NBA. As such, when the former NBA MVP boarded a flight for Florida from St Louis, seated next to a fourth-grade kid, it was certain that the child would be left flabbergasted. The kid was holding a cover of Sports Illustrated with Erving on the cover.
Benge’s story is a culmination of his friend’s trip to Florida, which he would never forget. It stated:
“To this day Craig shares how Julius Erving befriended him on the flight, made sure he made his transfer at Atlanta ok. He made sure that Craig ate all his in-flight food. You see for Craig, that was a defining moment in his childhood. It was the highlight moment of his entire trip down to see his grandmother.”
The intriguing aspect of the story was how Benge drew parallels between his friend Craig, befriending Julius Erving, to when Herod met Jesus. It gives you an insight as to just how fanatic certain professional athletes are regarded by children.
Nevertheless, Erving’s gestures helped in creating a lifetime memory for a young child. A heartwarming act from the former NBA MVP.
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Dr. J’s distinction
There will always be arguments against the eminence of a certain star. For Julius Erving, his lack of championships will be the leading argument for eternity to dispute his greatness.
Yet, his impact and influence will never be matched for time. Erving averaged 22 points per game in his prolonged career. An incredible record, considering the circumstances that the game revolved around the paint at the time.
The fact remains, that for generations to come, Erving will be remembered as a pioneer of the game of basketball for his contributions to helping transcend the sport.
