Back In The Day NBA

Hip-Hop Icon Puts Julius "Dr.J" Erving Among The NBA Greats

Shandel Richardson

May 1983; Milwaukee, WI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Philadelphia 76ers forward Julius Erving (6) against the Milwaukee Bucks at Mecca Arena. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network.
May 1983; Milwaukee, WI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Philadelphia 76ers forward Julius Erving (6) against the Milwaukee Bucks at Mecca Arena. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network. / Malcolm Emmons - Imagn Images
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In this case, rapper Chuck D "believes the hype."

The rapper was part of the Public Enemy group that dominated the 1980s. It also means he was around to watch Julius "Dr. J" Erving play at his peak. On Thursday, Chuck D decided to pay tribute to one of his favorite NBA players.

Here's what he wrote on X: "Dr J ⁦⁩ could’ve easily as well jumped over players too. Especially guards. Lonnie Shelton was 6-8 . The ABA didn’t record 90% of Doc. The Nba got off slow on keeping highlights until the 80s. Pre ESPN Warner Wolf & George Michael had something to do with that."

It is unknown if Chuck D was responding to the latest claims by NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards and former player Gilbert Arenas. Both have taken shots at the athleticism from players in the 1970s, `80s and `90s.

Edwards said the league didn't have much more than Michael Jordan. Arenas has often said players from yesterday couldn't compete in today's game because they are slower.

What they forget is Dr. J was one of the most athletic players to compete in the ABA and NBA. He played during a time when many games weren't televised. By the time he arrived in the NBA, he was past his prime.

We will never get to know how he would have stacked up against the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant, but it's best just to appreciate his game than criticize it.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Back In The Day Hoops On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star.  TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com