Julius Erving

Julius Winfield Erving III (born February 22, 1950 in Roosevelt, New York), commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American basketball player who helped launch the modern style of play that emphasizes leaping ability and play above the rim.

Memorable feats

Erving introduced the dunk jumping off the foul line, which he demonstrated in the 1976 All-Star Dunking Contest. He is revered for his legacy of amazing acrobatic and powerful offensive moves.

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The Baseline Move

One of his most memorable plays occurred during the 1980 NBA Finals, when he executed a seemingly impossible finger-roll behind the backboard http://www.nba.com/history/erving_moment.html. He drove past a defender on the right baseline and went up for a layup. Then 7'2" center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar crossed his way, blocking the route to the basket and forcing him outwards. In mid-air, it was apparent that Erving would land behind the backboard. But somehow he managed to reach over and score on a right-handed layup despite the fact that his whole body, including his left shoulder, was already behind the hoop. This move, along with his free-throw line dunk, has become one of Julius Erving's signature events of his career.

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