Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22, 1950), commonly known by the nickname
Dr. J, is an American retired
basketball player who helped popularize a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and playing above the rim. Erving helped legitimize the
American Basketball Association (ABA) and was the best-known player in that league when it
merged with the
National Basketball Association (NBA) after the 1975–76 season.