Players in the modern NBA have come into the league after completing a year in college. It is common for players to declare for the draft when they’re very good right after their freshman year. However, this wasn’t the case back in the day. Magic Johnson thought hard about leaving after 2 years, and it was only Dr. J that influenced his decision.
“I say, ‘Doc, I’m thinking about turning pro, you did it already. What’s the pros and cons of leaving school early?’ So he said, ‘You know what young fella, I’ma do you one better. I’ma fly you out to Philly, you gon’ stay with me. We’re in the Playoffs. You gon’ stay at my house, watch us play the game and then we’ll have a conversation,'” Johnson said.
“He had the Rolls Royce come pick me up, I was like: ‘Oh I know what I’m doing now!’ try to pattern myself after him. He was first class, the nicest dude, he taught me a lot. Even before I got into the league. So I owe Dr. J a lot.”
Julius Erving has been named by many NBA legends as the man that inspired them to play basketball. Some have said he doesn’t get enough credit for being the icon that he was as well. But the fact that he was willing to go out of his way to help out a young Magic Johnson shows why everyone has nothing but amazing things to say about him.
Julius Erving Helped Magic Johnson, But He Ended Up Fighting With Larry Bird
Eventually, when Magic Johnson and his rival Larry Bird got to the league, they became rivals of Erving. They competed against him for championships, although he was toward the end of his career by this time. And while he helped Magic, in 1984, he got into a fight with Larry on the court, which he once described.
“Larry was complaining to the refs and I was complaining to the refs. The next time down the court, he got in my face. I felt like he was going to hit me. So my hands went up and his hands went up, and the next thing I know, we had each other’s necks.”
The history of basketball cannot exist without a mention of Dr. J, he was a true superstar before the arrival of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. And living the way he was, it’s no wonder that he was able to convince Magic Johnson that getting drafted into the league was the way to go.
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