Dr. J: The Autobiography

by Julius Erving

At long last, a high-flying American legend comes cown to earth to tell his life story

With flights of improvisation around the basket, and his towering afro, Julius Erving became one of the most charismatic (and revolutionary) players basketball has ever known. A cool, acrobatic showman, his flamboyant dunks sent him to the Hall of Fame and turned the act of jamming a basketball through a hoop into an art form, winning the admirations of fans, sportscasters, and opponents, including Bill Walton, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

But while the public has long revered this cultural and sports icon, few have ever known of the double life of Julius Erving. There is Julius, the bright, inquisitive son of a Long Island domestic worker who wanted to be respected for more than just his athletic ability. And there is Dr. J, the balletic baller who transformed the game and inspired a generation of superstars, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.

Despite the pristine image put forward in his endorsement deals, he was far from perfect. In Dr. J., Erving goes on the record about the personal problems he faced and sometimes created. He speaks frankly about his career and the game; the adulterous affair that produced a daughter, professional tennis player Alexandra Stephenson; his 20-year-old son's tragic death; and the heartbreaking dissolution of his longtime marriage and its aftermath. Poignant and surprising Erving's story traces the inner-lives of the nearly perfect player and the imperfect man-and how he has come to terms with both.

Genres: Sports, Basketball, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, History

431 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 2013

About the author

Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22, 1950), commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim. Erving helped legitimize the American Basketball Association (ABA), and was the best-known player in that league when it merged with the National Basketball Association (NBA) after the 1975–76 season.

Erving won three championships, four Most Valuable Player Awards, and three scoring titles with the ABA's Virginia Squires and New York Nets (now the NBA's Brooklyn Nets) and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. He is the sixth-highest scorer in ABA/NBA history with 30,026 points (NBA and ABA combined). He was well known for slam dunking from the free throw line in Slam Dunk Contests and was the only player voted Most Valuable Player in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association.

Erving was inducted in 1993 into the Basketball Hall of Fame and was also named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time team. In 1994, Erving was named by Sports Illustrated as one of the 40 most important athletes of all time. In 2004, he was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame. Most observers[who?] consider him one of history's most talented players; he is also widely acknowledged[by whom?] one of the game's best dunkers. While Connie Hawkins, "Jumping" Johnny Green, Elgin Baylor, and Gus Johnson performed spectacular dunks before Erving's time, "Dr. J" brought the practice into the mainstream. His signature dunk was the "slam" dunk, since incorporated into the vernacular and basic skill set of the game in the same manner as the "cross-over" dribble and the "no look" pass. Before Julius Erving, dunking was a practice usually among big men to show their brutal strength. This was seen by basketball enthusiasts as style over substance and unsportsmanlike. Erving, however, changed that misconception and turned the dunk into the most qualitative shot in the game. The "slam dunk", as it is called, became an art form and came to help popularize the sport.

Reviews

[Jon Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge fan of the game of basketball, and the NBA in particular, I was incredibly excited to read Dr. J’s autobiography. At the end of this lengthly book (423 pages) the best word to describe how I feel about it is conflicted.

Dr. J is a very detailed account of Erving’s life and very accomplished career. For fans of ABA and NBA history, this book is especially fascinating. The book goes back and forth between Erving’s personal life and his relationship with basketball. Reading about Erving’s take on what was going on culturally, politically, and racially in America as he was growing up was very interesting. His stories about teammates and opposing players in both the ABA and NBA were also illuminating. It’s always interesting to me to get another perspective on basketball from behind the curtain and to hear the more human stories about some of the games greatest players. Without question my knowledge of the history of professional basketball was expanded through reading this book.

My feeling conflicted is not so much with the book as much as is it with Erving himself and his admission of rampant promiscuity and infidelity for virtually his whole life. Yes he admits his mistakes and weaknesses literally from the very start of the book, but for any of us, that’s the least we can do when our actions hurt and damage others. What makes me feel so conflicted is that none of us are perfect, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone…”, while at the same time you just feel so bad for those who were hurt by those decisions. So in no way, am I or can I judge him, but as you read the book you definitely feel the hurt and tension.

At the end of the day Dr. J will be an interesting read primarily for fans of Julius Erving and professional basketball. Hands down Dr. J is one of the greatest and most dominant players to ever step onto the court and a history of professional basketball without mentioning Dr. J would be incomplete. So for the story on the life of one of basketballs greats and a detailed account of a very important era of basketball history, this is a great book.

Blog: www.jonathanstephens.wordpress.com

Twitter: @jonstephensNY

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another run of the mill biography. This autobiography requires that you a be a fan of The Doctor for maximum enjoyment. It is much like Earl the Pearl's autobiography, only slightly better written. Loaded with wins and stats, but not much inside stuff. As a fan, I remember how many points you had in a particular game, I recall the unbelievable move against Kareem, I watched these moments. So for Julius to just relate these moments mean very little to those who witnessed it. And for the uninitiated, they have to search google to see what he is describing.

I can see the potential of e-books in the future, what if the Dr. is describing some incredible move and you can click on the move right inside the book and his commentary is background for the video. WOW! The potential for sports and music related books is unlimited. I digress.

What the reader wants is to be taken inside the locker room. Talk about the things that made headlines and left fans wondering about the veracity of such stories. One such story, I was definitely interested in hearing was the car accident with Teddy Pendergrass. He mentions Teddy as being a friend, but he never addresses the rumor that Turquoise, the Dr.'s wife was in the car. I was in Philadelphia at that time and that allegation had long legs. He briefly addresses his son's death, but out of respect for his children, he said he didn't want to go much deeper.

We learn little about the zaniness of the ABA, other then certain characters, but less about how he and others felt about playing in some arenas. These are the areas I think would enhance this book. It's not a bad book, it just could have been so much more.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty standard sports autobiography. Strange kind of stream-of-consciousness writing leads me to believe Mr. Irving wrote the thing mostly himself. Typical set up, childhood, practice, practice, practice, HOLY SHIT I'M GOOD AT THIS, best hair ever, striving to be the best, light behind the scenes dirt, words of wisdom, my life has been blessed, the end. Nothing earth shattering but a breezy read by one of the greatest ever. Not essential but worthwhile.

[Brian Cowlishaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call it 4.5/5 stars.
Two things really struck me in this book. 1) Dr. J doesn't use the word "compulsion," or the abbreviation OCD, but it sure sounds to me like he has it. That was pretty interesting. 2) The game in Dr. J's day really was different from today's game. Reading this book was an enjoyable extended stroll down Memory Lane; I realized how much I miss the old game and dislike the new one (which is more like rugby or padless football).

[Sealove · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story told through the experience of one of the true heroes of our age! It took a lot of courage and faith to live this life and to share it with the rest of us!

Thank You Julius!

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

About as good as a biography can get. Closer to 4 1/2 stars.
Very captivating. Very candid. Holds your interest throughout. No down moments or lulls. Nothing long-winded.

[Kurt Vosper · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I am sitting here having a break and a tea and thinking about this wonderful book that I finished last night. Dr. J was my intro into the world of basketball. It was a sport that my father, who I followed in all things, did not like (this was my first diversion from everything Dad said was always right). I learned about the Dr. first in Sports Illustrated and then when I started watching games on my little black and white TV in my room. It got my Dad to put up a hoop in my back yard for me and started me on the road to a love of basketball that I still have today, 40 years later. I loved to read about his epic battles with the Celtics and Larry Bird or the Lakers and Magic. I eagerly awaited and played the heck out of his video game, One of One Bird vs Dr. J I think it was called --- and I played the heck out of it with one of the guys I played HS ball with. He always seemed like a super cool dude that you would want to meet. So when I picked up this book and started to read I was loving it. It's written as though Dr. J is talking to you as the reader and telling you about his life. From his childhood on Long Island all the way through to his retirement. He doesn't flinch from the hard stuff, whether it's the early death of his little brother, the death of his sister as he retires or losing his son in a horrible accident. He also doesn't try to hide the failures he has had as a man, a partner and a father. He recognizes them and he is willing to say he made mistakes and also willing to say he would make them again. It's part of who he is, he definitely knows his limitations off the court and acknowledged very few on the court (part of what made him great). This is a wonderful book and if you are a fan of the history of the game its worth a read for the stuff about college ball and the ABA alone. If you are a Dr. J fan, this is a can't miss hit.

[La'Tonya Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me much more than I was expecting, so thank you, Doc! I find Erving thoughtful and reflective, a bit of a skirt chaser but also charming. In other words, complex and very very human. And low-key, this is a first-gen story, as well. This theme is evident in part one which focuses on his youth and aspiration to go to college so that he can rise (this theme appears frequently) out of his circumstances. In fact, it doesn't even occur to him that basketball can be a profession and Julius has much anxiety about this decision as he had promised his mother that he would earn a college degree. His first-genness resurfaces in part 3 when he is a family man and he reflects upon the decisions that he makes as a parent of children who have many more opportunities than he did. Was he too lenient? Did he give them too much?

The highlight for me is his descriptions of the ABA. You can tell that he was thriving during this period as the tone is light and playful. His teammates included a crazy cast of characters, particularly Wendell Radner (whom I had never heard of before). And there's one scene involving Super John Williamson that nearly had me in tears. I could easily see this book being produced into a movie.

And a word about the format: there are times when the language is quite poetic. I also like that the chapters vary in length--one of them is only a sentence long. Very well done overall.

[Lauren Ukkerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. I grew up watching Dr. J when he played with the Sixers along with Mo Cheeks, Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, Andrew Toney, etc., so it was interesting to read his story from childhood to adulthood, through his basketball career and after his retirement. The book was so interesting and entertaining because I felt as though Dr. J. was being very honest and thorough with his life. He did not try to hide his mistakes or transgressions and he admitted when he did things wrong. It was also interesting because it gives the reader a true insight into how a pro athlete has to live their lives with all the fame and fortune that comes along with being a famous and rich athlete. The book also gives you an inside view of the difference between the pros of Dr. J.'s era who worked hard, didn't complain and busted their butts in the games as opposed to the young players of today. This book reminded me of why I loved the NBA back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's and less so today. I would highly recommend this book to any basketball fan and especially anyone who grew up in the Dr. J. era.

[TIAHEKIE SIMMONS · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book

I'm a big fan of Dr J that's why I brought the book. it turn out to be a very good book.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of the Philadelphia 76ers at the time when Dr. J played for the team, I was excited to receive this book in a First Reads giveaway. I have long admired Erving for his athletic abilities, as well as for his leadership off the basketball court.

With a previous understanding that he is not without personal flaws, I was very curious as to how complete this autobiography would be. In fact, Erving leaves out nothing. Not just a story of his professional accomplishments, the book also details his personal life as a young boy growing up on Long Island, his devotion to his family, his lack of connection to his father, and the personal indiscretions that strained his private life.

As the middle child of a single mother, Erving grew up trying to keep up with his older sister, as well as being a role model for his younger brother. He recognized at a very young age that basketball was one area in which he could excel, developing his considerable skills in playground games and, as a middle-school student, as one of the first two African Americans on a Salvation Army team that travelled throughout the New York City area. Even then, people were amazed at what he could do on the court. Later, as a high school standout, he was recruited heavily, and eventually chose to attend UMass. Seeing this as an opportunity to earn his degree in business and go on to a job, it took him a while to realize that he would have a career as a professional basketball player.

He describes the life of a player in the defunct ABA in detail, with glimpses of the challenges of playing for a team and league struggling to stay in business, as well as the temptations faced by professional athletes. The book pulls no punches; Erving acknowledges the times he succumbed to those temptations, and admits that his attitude toward women (essentially, they are either worthy of keeping in your life or worthy of using for a night) was unhealthy. It is near the end of the ABA and the beginning of his time in Philadelphia that he meets Turquoise, a single mother of an infant son who will become Dr. J's wife.

Erving details many of his seasons in the NBA, and speaks of his competitors with respect for their talents, while also recognizing that he himself was among the elite of the league. He relates the disappointment of reaching the conference and league finals, yet failing to win a championship. And he describes the joy of finally reaching the pinnacle in 1983, giving significant credit to his teammates, particularly Moses Malone, for that win.

Erving also discusses his business ventures following his basketball career, some of which made him far wealthier than basketball did, while others were much less successful. This is definitely NOT a gloss-over-the bad-parts retrospective.

In a life that generated such public acclaim and adoration, one that saw a young boy from a poor family rise to elite status and enormous wealth, it might have been tempting to omit certain parts of the story. To his credit, Erving chose to discuss those parts that have been painful and/or embarrassing to him. He describes the tensions in his marriage with Turquoise. He relates learning of the daughter he fathered with a sports journalist, the strain that put on his marriage, and the terms demanded by his wife for handling his obligation to his daughter. He also acknowledges having fathered another child with his current wife while still in his first marriage. He also speaks candidly of the pain inflicted by the deaths of his brother at age 16, his sister at 37, and others in his family that were taken too soon, particularly the devastation of losing one of his sons.

Most impressive to me were his thoughts on the difficulty of raising his children. As a father whose career demanded substantial time away from his family, he regrets those lost moments as milestones were reached without him. He also voices concerns about the pitfalls of raising children in privileged circumstances, as opposed to the meager resources he knew as a child. He is most eloquent when speaking of his love and devotion for his children.

All in all, I found Dr. J: The Autobiography to be an honest appraisal of a life lived in extremes. At times humorous, at others deeply introspective, Erving lives up to his promise to tell the whole story. And at the end, you feel as though you know the man almost as well as you know the legend. I would consider this a must-read for anyone who is a fan of basketball, or any professional sport for that matter. It should also be required reading for anyone who aspires to be a leader in sports, because whatever his personal failings, Julius Erving will always stand as a leader on the court.

[Budd Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julius Erving might be the last of the great unseen legends in sports history.

Yes, Erving's career with the Philadelphia 76ers is quite well known. There are videos of his performances with the Sixers, and he compiled enough credentials to be a Hall of Famer just on those years - NBA champion, league most valuable player, etc.

But that's not when Erving was really at his best. When he was playing in the American Basketball Association, it was easy to believe that a man - Dr. J, as he became known as - really could fly.

Those who only remember Erving from his Philadelphia days probably will get the most enjoyment out of his autobiography, "Dr. J." For if you examine his life story, it seems that his timing was just a bit off.

For example, Erving was a fine high school basketball player in the New York City area. Admittedly, he hadn't finished growing yet, but he was good enough to attract attention. Had Erving reached 6-foot-6 as a senior and still been capable of flight in a manner of speaking today, he'd have documentaries done about him before he reached college. As it turned out, Erving went to college at Massachusetts - a respectable program but not the place to become a household name at the time.

Then Erving opted to turn pro before his senior year. While it's difficult to argue with that move as a financial decision, he just missed on playing for the 1972 United States Olympic basketball team. It's fair to say he would have helped that team, which lost to the Soviet Union in the final in one of the most famous finishes in sports history. Erving landed with the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball League, teaming up with such players as Charlie Scott and George Gervin. Again, Norfolk will never be confused with one of the media capitals of the nation, and he played in obscurity. Yet anyone who saw those games knew just how good Erving was.

It was more of the same in his next stop, the New York Nets. Erving led the team to a couple of ABA championships, and hardly anyone saw it. ABA games weren't televised very often, so basketball fans merely had to hear second-hand stories about this dynamic forward who was reinventing the game before people's eyes. When has someone who played in New York been overlooked? But when Erving finally made it to the NBA after 1976 merger, he and the 76ers packed arenas from coast to coast.

The story finally gets told in the autobiography. Considering there was a time span of more than 25 years between retirement and publication, it's easy to wonder what took so long. But Erving certainly has plenty to say in an autobiography that stretches out for more than 420 pages.

The basketball stories are generally well told and fairly straight forward. Erving doesn't go out of his way to rip people, although there are hints that Gene Shue, coach of the 1976-77 Sixers, didn't know how to coach the boatload of talent he had on the roster. Erving's time in the ABA was spent with some characters, including one guy who used to keep his drug stash in his socks during practice.

There are some surprises here. Erving had some odd contract moves in his career. He tried to jump from the ABA to the NBA's Atlanta Hawks at one point, even though he hadn't been drafted yet. When Milwaukee picked him, it set off a good-sized legal fight. Then when the merger arrived, it's hard to say if a way could have been found to keep Erving in New York. The Nets could have used him in that era.

Erving does write a bit about some cases of infidelity, as he gave in to some of the temptations of superstardom. He received some publicity when the fact that he was the father of a pro tennis player was revealed. Welcome to the fish bowl. And Erving has had all sorts of personal tragedies in his life - more than his share, to be sure. Fame does not offer immunity to that sort of pain and loss.

All of this is told in the present tense, by the way. That's an unusual technique, and a little jarring at first. But after a while, it's easy to adjust to it.

"Dr. J" has received great notices from reviewers. I'm not sure it quite lives us to those reviews. Still, Erving comes off as humble and modest throughout his book. If you want to find out what all the fuss was about, or what the gaps in a lively life story, this should work nicely.

[Steve McFarland · Rating 4 out of 5]

a Philly legend plain and simple

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about Dr.J, Julius Erving, was an honest and insightful look back not only on his basketball career, but also as a parent, husband and brother. The story starts with him his mother, sister and younger brother. Living in an apartment in New Jersey and how the basketball court became the place where everyone played at. That over the course of time to continue to play you had to improve your game. He talks about countless hours of shooting, running, jumping and other things to improve himself. He speaks of have to get good grades and how important that was to his mother and to his coaches once he Jr. High School started and beyond. How he just knew drugs, drinking and other street life actives was not what he wanted. He wanted to get out of the neighborhood and basketball would be the only way. He got an offer to play ball at the University of Massachusetts, and he did for three years and each of those years they were conference champs. He little brother passed away during his time in college from a disease that was not diagnosis until his mother had an autopsy done to find out the cause of death. After his junior year in college a team from the ABA, which back then was trying to gain notoriety against the NBA offered him a contract. After speaking with his mother who made him promise to finish his college education he agreed to enter into the ABA draft and was selected by the Virginia Squires. This is where I first remembering reading stories about him and sometimes catching an old black & white game somewhere. The ABA game was fast pace and fun when you could get one of their games and they had high scoring games 116 to 120. If a team could play defense they could win. Their uniforms were bright and the basketball was red, white & blue. He goes into all of the players he played against and with some big names in the game. He also speaks of the how the dunk from the free throw line came about. These are all great stories. The two championships he won in the ABA, and then the merger into the NBA. The frustration of losing twice in the finals two the Lakers and losing his mother and his sister passing away of cancer. He finally got an NBA championship against the Lakers and he retired the following year. After retirement his personal life was tough he goes into it and even looks to maybe him being away and his boys not having to grow up in the environment as he did that they had no desire to secede in anything. After one son passed away his marriage broke up after 22 years and his other son is in and out of jail. His daughter though is finishing college as he did as well, to make the promise he made to his mother complete. This is a very open and honest story about a truly gifted athlete who I enjoyed watching playing basketball. People talk about all of the stars after him but all I see is the same type of dunks that he did just not as many TV outlets like espn etc.. a good read if you are looking for a sports story.

[Isaiah Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr.J the autobiography is about Dr.J and his life and how his road to the NBA success life began. This autobiography was written by Karl Taro Greenfeld. Julius Erving was born in New York City born in 1950. He was raised by his mother and father until his father had a massive heart attack and passed away. Now Julius also known as june was the man of the house. After High School he attended UNiversity of Massachusetts. After College he entered the NBA and was one of the first NBA elite players with his leaping ability and natural athletic ability. Many say he set the path to Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Magic Johnson. In his last NBA game he surpassed the 30,000 point mark. Now Dr.J is a hall of famer and his known all around the world for his style of play.


I liked many things about the book. First i liked that the book told every single detail about Julius life. It seemed like you was actually there in the part of his life. I Liked the roller coaster ride that they had the reader go on with his life. This book shows how the main character really grew up and how he matured in his years. How he never gave up on his dream and kept working. How he saw his own talent before anybody else discovered it. He was very humble also and they showed that in the book as if it was a movie. What I disliked is how The chapters was so short, so it was so many chapters. I couldn’t finish reading the book but i got the main moral of the autobiography. Last I liked how they added the many problems he had in his life. For example, his father died, his brother was very sick, his sister was pregnant early. Adding these types problems in the story and showing how he handled all the problems really showed what type of person Dr.J was. That is what i liked and disliked about this book autobiography.

I would recommend this book to anyone really. Specifically mainly to people who have a lot of family problems or problems period. It is going to inspire them that at the end of the day it is going to be okay. This autobiography can teach you many different life lessons. This is why i really enjoyed reading this book.

[B.T. Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the most engrossing autobiography I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

I fell in love with the NBA in the early 90's, by which time Dr. J was retired. Anything I saw/heard/read about the man was in context, I didn't live through his career. I never got to see his greatness as it happened. Basically, outside of the afro and smooth offensive prowess, I knew virtually nothing about Julius Winfield Erving II.

Erving's candor is astounding. He was no angel, and he clearly had no issue sharing the less proud moments that made up his life. He almost made infidelity sound noble. Almost. I love the way in which he recalls his take on events both on and off the court with a refreshing honesty and a humble nature. He clearly understands his impact on the game, but is quick to acknowledge the greatness of his peers, an exceedingly rare quality in the modern athlete.

And Erving has experienced more than his share of personal tragedy, the likes of which I am sure would drive the average person completely crazy. Erving persevered and rose, time and time again.

An utterly fantastic book, and very inspirational.

[Bo Belanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, easy read. An honest look at his life—like many people who looks back over his life, he regrets his selfish decisions.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The king of air details his rise ! This is a raw look into the life of Julius Erving.
I highly recommend the audiobook version.

This is a fascinating and compelling memoir compared to most Sports books. At some points the play by play of the game drags out too much, but for the most part this book is well done.
This book goes into detail on his childhood, college and career as an NBA star.

Here are a few random thoughts about this book in the spoiler

Erving addresses is experiences with many players but keeps most of the locker room talk out of this book.
He briefly describes his friend Teddy Pendergrass, but avoids the details after the car crash.

His son's death was tragic and you can genuinely feel his remorse for not doing more with his son.

The ABA was all offense all the time. I wish the ABA & NBA remained separate, it sounds like this was good for the players and interesting for the public.

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook. Wow! What a fantastic book! Dr. J left no skeleton unexposed in his book. What I most enjoyed about this book was how the author (the great Dr. J) came down to mortal level and shared the fact that, despite his fame, good fortune, and wealth (and access), dealt with the same problems that we all struggle with: love of family, death, failings, disappointment... I was especially touched by his struggling relationship with his sons - finding the balance between empowering and giving too much. A good book for me is one that I leave with lessons to possibly help navigate my own life roads. I will ponder the tales of Dr. J's story and lessons learned for some time to come.

[Korinthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. J is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He has always been one of my favorites. This book gave me a deeper insight on the man that is partly responsible for changing how the game is now played. At first I cringed when I heard him admit his faults. However; that cringe soon turned to respect for being transparent enough to admit his weaknesses and the lessons learned from those moments. I enjoyed the book, while not a masterpiece, it was certainly appreciated. I learned a considerable amount about the ABA. I was sad when the book ended. Before there was a Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or LeBron James...there was Dr. J.

[David Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up as a Sixers fan, and the son of a man who calls Dr. J his favorite player of all time, I was very excited to read this, and the Dr. did not disappoint. He lived an interesting life. At times, some of the wording feels a bit forced, but where the book really shines is in it's incredible honesty. When reading an autobiography I tend to wonder what failures and embarrassments may have been left out. Here, the author seems to have no qualms spilling secrets and failures of his life. The result is an interesting book that leaves you feeling like you personally know Julius Erving, as opposed to just being a fan of Dr. J.

[Brenda Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a publisher's gift. I was going to give up in the early chapters because Dr. J as a youngster is just not that interesting. However, curiosity got the best of me and I stuck it through and I'm glad I did. He did a fine job describing his life on and off the court. He was brutally honest at times, and since the "flawed man" disclaimer was repeated throughout, it was interesting to read his explanations for his handling of the challenges in his personal life. A very entertaining read overall.

[Trey Grayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up, I loved watching Dr. J. — in the NBA playoffs, in the Fish That Saved Pittsburgh and in the video game Dr. J and and Larry Bird go one on one.

I really enjoyed learning about Dr. J’s youth and his time in the ABA, which predated my memories. I appreciated his candor about his marital and financial troubles and observations about the changing nature of professional basketball.

I especially recommend the audiobook because Dr. J is the narrator. He does a great job, and I will miss having him as my car passenger for the past week or so.

[Doug Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a review before starting this book that warned of it's wasting too much time on his life before his ABA and NBA fame. Thankfully, I found this to be refreshing, as Erving was shaped so significantly as a playground legend. The reader must know him in this context to understand the motivations that drove his career.

This is one of the most well- written sports bios I've read. His life is full of regrets, but he makes no apologies, articulately and with grace.

[Jeramey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty standard autobiography fare. Fairly comprehensive look at his life that avoids getting bogged down in regular season play-by-play.

There are probably plenty of untold stories in here about each of his pro teams. I would have preferred that over the extensive look into his childhood. But it's not my autobiography, it's Julius Erving's. As he says, he wants to be known beyond Dr. J the basketball player.

[Dave Keil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good autobiography on Dr J. I was a big fan of his from suburban Philly in the early 80's. Dr J was a hoops pioneer - free-flowing, improvising and the first to play above the rim.

He did a nice job describing his childhood, and early days on the NY playgrounds, but really skimmed over his post NBA days - covering the time after his sons death, and business failings in a dozen or so pages.

It's an honest book, and fun to learn more about one of my favorite sports heros.

[David Barney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. If you are reading this book to use Julius Erving as an example of moral behavior. This may not be the book you want to read. He is open about his relations outside his marriage. He was a great player, was fun to watch play. But after reading the book I felt sorry for him. Didn't leave me feel to uplifted. He made some fatal decisions, that has caused a complicated life.

[Stephan D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for all young athletes looking to earn a living in short pants. While I do not condone his behavior with respect to the women he encounters, he does however never forget what he is doing and knows he is wrong. And it bothers him. He is human and is flawed. Those who would think him less than the gentleman we always perceived him to be, remember this: "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

[North Landesman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shockingly good story. He tells his life story seemingly without any desire to make himself look good or bad. He tells how he grew up as a quiet boy who liked order into a man. Though this is about a basketball player, his book would be enjoyed by anyone. The book ends with a fascinating journey into the dangers of newfound wealth. I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially basketball fans.

[Tim Lemke]

This is one of the better sports autobiographies I have read. Dr. J does more than just run off a list of events in his life. We get insight into his psyche and personality, and how that shaped his approach to life. He is also frank and open about his own imperfections, which is refreshing.

I enjoyed reading the sections about his time in the ABA, and it made me want to read more on that subject.