The legendary former Philadelphia 76ers general manager and Orlando Magic co-founder Pat Williams had front-row access to Julius Erving's unique and extraordinary skill set. Under his leadership, the Sixers became a powerhouse in the NBA, largely due to Julius' exceptional performances on the court.
After 11 historic seasons with the Sixers, Julius called it a career. At the time, Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan was already hitting his stride. It was constantly being viewed as Erving's successor. Before long, MJ became the most celebrated player in the league, but for Williams, no other player played better than, or could be likened to, the one and only Dr. J .
"You'd have to use words like electrifying, revolutionary. There's never been anybody quite like him, including Michael," Williams once told ESPN of Erving. "If Julius was in his prime now, in this era of intense electronic media, he would be beyond comprehension. He would blow everybody away."
MJ couldn't dominate Dr. J
Like most NBA players from his era, Jordan grew up idolizing Erving. In fact, "His Airness" has constantly admitted that his game was profoundly influenced by "The Doctor." This made Jordan and Erving's on-court duels even more interesting.
Admittedly, MJ didn't expect that the weight of his deep admiration for Dr. J would hinder him from dominating his idol during their matchups. For Jordan, it didn't feel like he was facing just another fierce rival, but rather, he was confronting a living legend.
While the Bulls legend was inspired by Erving to elevate his game, Jordan once confided, " I couldn't do anything when I was matched up with Julius " simply because he was so star-struck.
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Erving believes Jordan surpassed him
The comparisons between the two were inevitable, as both were recognized for their athleticism, flair, and scoring prowess. Off the court, Dr. J's influence on the sport can still be felt today, and so is MJ's.
However, as his apparent predecessor's career panned out, it became clear to Erving that though he was confident about his game, Jordan had indeed exceeded him.
"I saw what he had, but I also knew what I had and whatever, so you know it was like he was a junior version, uh, but as you know, time would tell the story, that's a six-time championship, five-time MVP or whatever he certainly surpassed my accomplishments," the Hall of Famer once said of Jordan.
Williams evidently made a biased comment, but one fact that will remain factual is that Jordan and Erving's respective impacts on basketball are immeasurable. Though they didn't end up having identical careers and legacies, MJ and Dr. J are still revered by their peers and fans for shaping the game's culture.
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