Sixers: Top 5 defenders in franchise history
By Uriah Young
Top 5 defenders in Sixers history — 5. Julius Erving
Julius Erving was not just known for his afro and high flying dunks from the foul line. In his prime, he was a difficult matchup for any opposing forward who tried to beat him off the dribble or score in the lane. Quite frankly, Doctor J simply had mad hops. For the 11 years he played in Philadelphia, he averaged 1.7 blocks. To get a shot up over him on the wing or in the paint was a challenge for anyone who dared to try their luck.
As far as steals are concerned, Doctor J was quicker than most would assume. His anticipation in the lane and quick hands gave him an unfair advantage against slower players in the 70s and early 80s. As a Sixer, Erving averaged 2.0 steals per game. That is a high number to play as many years he did for the franchise.
The biggest mistake you can make when it comes to the idea of the great Julius Erving is to put him in a box as an offensive threat only. The year he made the All-Defensive team, he proved that he belonged in the same company as two-way giants like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain.