This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/7/2022
Before there was Michael Jordan, and before Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, there was Julius Erving. Known as "Dr. J." for his ability to surgically dismantle the opponent's defense, Erving was a virtually unstoppable force that became the face of the New York Nets in the high-flying American Basketball Association (ABA). Standing 6' 7" with Jordan-like leaping ability and tremendous hand size that allowed him to pick the ball up one-handed off the dribble, Erving was a mismatch for smaller, less athletic opponents who tried in vain to contain the small forward. Like Wilt Chamberlain before him, Julius Erving revolutionized the sport, bringing the action above the rim and making the "slam-dunk" an integral part of the game experience. Yeah, New York City had Walt "Clyde" Frazier and the New York Knicks, but Long Island belonged to Dr. J, leading the Nets to ABA championships in 1974 and 1976 in front of frenzied crowds at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. When the leagues merged, the Nets were forced to sell Erving's rights to the 76ers in order to pay the entry fee into the NBA, and Erving became the pride of Philadelphia, leading the team to the NBA finals four times and snagging NBA title in 1983. The featured game-used jersey was worn by the venerable Dr. J. during the 1979 season, a Wilson size 42 gamer that has the Wilson tag along with a Pearson Sporting Goods Label on the front right tail. “SIXERS” and his number “6” are sewn across the front in blue and tackle twill, with the piping around the sleeves displaying a ribbed red, white, and blue pattern. The jersey features the less common "notched style" sixes that were utilized by the team toward the end of the decade of the 1970s, photo matched by both MEARS (who grades the jersey a perfect A10), and Photo Matching and Grading Inc. (who scores it 10+). Originating from the team's Equipment Manager, the jersey shows light to moderate wear and appears all original with no alterations of any kind. A spectacular gamer of one of the NBA's all-time greatest! LOA from Troy Kinunen/MEARS, and Photo-Match.com.