Rare SI Photos of Julius Erving

Dr. J began his professional career with the Virginia Squires of the ABA.

Dr. J helped legitimize the ABA, which merged with the NBA in 1976. He was the ABA's MVP three consecutive years, beginning in 1974, and won two league titles.

Dr. J got his nickname from a high school friend that he used to call the professor.

Dr. J shows off his '70s style as he enters the Nassau Coliseum before the Nets' Game 4 of the ABA Championship against the Denver Nuggets.

Dr. J poses with Boston Celtic Dave Cowens during an SI cover shoot.

Dr. J sports a funky shirt at a press conference prior to his 76ers debut.

Dr. J walks onto the court before making his Philadelphia debut.

Dr. J posts up the Denver Nuggets Gus Gerard during a 1976 game.

Dr. J pulls down a rebound as San Antonio's Allan Bristow (30), Bill Paultz (5) and Larry Kenon (35) look on.

Dr. J blocks a shot by Denver's Bobby Jones during an ABA Championship series in 1976.

Dr. J soars for a dunk during Game 2 of the 1977 NBA Finals against Portland. Erving and the Sixers lost the Series to Bill Walton and the Blazers 4-2.

Dr. J with first wife Turquoise in their kitchen. They were married 31 years.

Usually the player doing the dunking, Dr. J gets posterized by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Dr J. confers with teammate Darryl Dawkins during the 1980 playoffs.

Philadelphia won the Eastern Conference Championship in 1979-80, but lost to the Lakers in the Finals, four games to two.

Dr. J played for the Virginia Squires from 1971 to 1973, with the New York Nets from 1973 to '76, and for the 76ers from 1976 to '87.

Dr. J poses with three of his children—Jazmin, Julius III and Cheo.

Dr. J was an 11-time NBA All-Star and five-time ABA All-Star.

The doctor looks very suave in this 1981 photo.

Dr. J is the only player voted the Most Valuable Player in both the ABA and NBA.

After he retired, Dr J. became a businessman. He joined the front office of the Orlando Magic in 1997.

Dr. J will forever be considered one of the best dunkers in the history of pro basketball.

The Sixers were an entertaining team to watch with Dr. J and Moses Malone on the roster.

The duo of Dr. J and Moses Malone won the Sixers a championship in the 1982-83 season.

Dr. J finished his career with 1,293 blocks and an average of 1.55 per game.

Dr. J was the ABA's MVP three consecutive years, beginning in 1974, and won two league titles.

Dr. J helped the Sixers sweep the Lakers to win the 1983 NBA title.

Dr. J and Moses Malone watch the action from the bench.

Moses Malone and Dr. J pose with 76ers coach Billy Cunningham, alongside NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien (left) and Sixers owner Harold Katz (right) in the locker room after sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1983 NBA Finals.

Dr. J and MJ hang out before a game in 1984 at Chicago Stadium.

Bill Walton and Dr. J go at it during a preseason game in 1985.

Dr. J and Charles Barkley helped the Sixers reach the playoffs in Erving's final season, but Philly lost in the first round to Milwaukee.

Dr. J finished his final season averaging 16.7 points per game. When he retired, he ranked third all time in scoring.

Dr. J never shied away from the spotlight, tantalizing crowds with his electric play throughout his career.

Dr. J shows off his three championship rings.

Patti LaBelle was one of the performers at Dr. J's farewell ceremony at The Spectrum in 1987.

Dr J. poses in front of his statue during the unveiling ceremony at The Spectrum in 1988.

Dr. J was among the many celebrities at the Mike Tyson-Razor Ruddock bout in 1991.

Dr. J joined Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkens, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant as judges during the slam dunk contest during the 2007 All-Star Weekend.

Dr. J smiles while taping an episode of SI Now in 2013.