- LeBron James says Julius Erving was an inspiration to him and praises his class and eloquence
- Only two months ago, Julius Erving left LeBron James off of his all-time Top 10 NBA players list
- LeBron James has called Julius Erving a Top 3 player of all time in the past
After Shaquille O’Neal posted an Instagram video as a tribute to Julius Erving, LeBron James commented on it and showed how much he respects and appreciates the legendary small forward.
“One of my inspirations for sure!! Played the game with such class and eloquence!!!” LeBron James wrote under Shaquille O’Neal’s post.
Julius Erving also got love from Shaquille O’Neal in the caption. Shaq wrote, “There is much debate on who the greatest player in the NBA is.
“But let us not forget this man @juliuserving paved the way for all of us. Salute to GODFATHER OF GREATNESS. #yallmustofforgot‼️ I didn’t.”
Julius Erving acknowledged the love from LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal in the comments with a simple emoji showing his appreciation for the praise.
Dr. J enjoyed an incredible career in the ABA and the NBA as one of the first true superstars in basketball. Julius Erving joined the Sixers as a 26-year-old and went on to become an NBA champion, 11-time All-Star, and a 7-time All-NBA Team selection.
In his NBA career, Julius Erving averaged 22.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. He was one of the most well-rounded players ever to grace the basketball court.
Many modern fans don’t remember just how incredible Julius Erving was, but LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal’s praise is a reminder of his legendary career.
In 2013, LeBron James Included Julius Erving In His Top 3 NBA Players Of All Time
This is not the first time LeBron James has outlined his immense respect for Julius Erving. In 2013, LeBron included Dr. J in his list of the Top 3 NBA players of all time.
“Best 3 players of all time? Michael Jordan… Wow, this is tough. Michael Jordan, Dr. J, Larry Bird. You gave me three, oh my god.”
LeBron James is often compared to Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate, but he has always given the Chicago Bulls legends his flowers. LeBron James has worn the No. 23 for long stretches in his career too, which was Michael Jordan’s number.
Larry Bird and Dr. Julius Erving both played small forward, the position LeBron James has played the most during his career. Including them on this list shows that LeBron’s game was inspired by the greats that came before him.
Julius Erving Snubbed LeBron James On His Wild List Of Top 10 Players Of All Time
What makes LeBron James’ praise for Julius Erving noteworthy is that just 54 days ago, Dr. J left James off of his list of the Top 10 NBA players of all time.
“I’ve got five guys that are untouchable… Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor,” Erving said.
“That’s my all-time best team… There’s no order really, the next group of guys would be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Earvin Magic Johnson, and probably Karl Malone… I like Tiny Archibald.”
(starts at 9:38 minutes)
The fact that Julius Erving didn’t have LeBron James, a consensus Top 3 player ever and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on the list, is hard to believe. But LeBron James hasn’t let that affect his admiration for the legend, showing once again what a gentleman he is.
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