Julius Erving named NBA legends he enjoyed playing against the most

The great Julius Erving played during the most competitive eras of the NBA. While he was one of the most dominant offensive players of his time, "Dr. J" also faced a wide array of formidable matchups.

According to Erving, there were a handful of fierce rivals whom he enjoyed playing against the most. Looking back at those years, "The Doctor" reckoned that those guys also happened to be his fellow legends with whom he had the most epic rivalries on the court.

"Michael Cooper was always regarded as a great defensive player, so it was a challenge whenever we played Los Angeles. In our conference, we had Milwaukee with Marcus Johnson and Boston with John Havlicek and later that team evolved into Larry Bird's team. Then, with the Washington Bullets, you had Wes Unseld, Bob Dandridge, and Elvin Hayes," Erving told Forbes in 2018.

"Dr. J" hated matching up with two Hall of Famers

As a true pioneer and legend of the sport, "Dr. J" earned the respect of other NBA players, including his rivals. However, Erving once said there were two Hall of Famers whom he never saw eye-to-eye on and off the court.

In a rare and candid admission, Erving named Adrian Dantley and Bernard King as the two players he hated the most . For "Dr. J," his rivalry with Dantley and King didn't necessarily go beyond basketball, but he just never liked their presence.

"There were only like two guys I hated in my whole career. I'll go on record. I never liked Adrian Dantley, and I never liked Bernard King. Those were my two guys. I never particularly cared for playing against them, either," the four-time MVP said . "Players are always going to say nice things about other players unless you have this rivalry where you just hate the guy."

Erving's competitiveness was underrated

Renowned for his exceptional athleticism and electrifying dunks, Erving's competitive spirit and drive to win often went unnoticed. Many may have overlooked it, but "Dr. J's" competitiveness was just as crucial to his success as his physical attributes.

In retrospect, Erving's legacy extends far beyond his breathtaking and highlight-reel plays as he spent most of his NBA career laser-focused on winning the chip. Julius fully understood he could be the most prolific scorer in the league, but that would have made him feel better if he had won an NBA title.

In 1983, Julius finally lifted the trophy with the Philadelphia 76ers, cementing his legacy as not only one of the greatest entertainers in the history of the game but also as a fierce competitor.

Related: "He was the best, so I named myself after him" - Dr. Dre on why Julius Erving was his favorite player