Well, this fella was always worth watching.
Another week and another classic photo from Sports Illustrated photographer Neil Leifer. This one is of Doctor J doing what the Doctor does best … soaring to the rim.
Julius Erving began his career with the American Basketball Association’s Virginia Squires where he averaged 27.3 points and 15.9 rebounds per game which was only good for a runner-up in the ABA’s Rookie of the Year voting (Kentucky Colonel Artis Gilmore took the home the honor).
In total, Erving played professionally 16 seasons with the Squires, New York Nets, and the Philadelphia 76ers and was an All Star all 16 seasons! Along the way, he won four MVP awards – three in the ABA and one in the NBA (1980-81) – on his way to being enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.