The Philadelphia 76ers don’t just have former stars around the organization - they have the kind of legend who knows when to speak and when to stay out of the way.
Julius Erving fits that role perfectly. He’s not the loudest voice in the room, and he’s not out here forcing his opinions on the current roster.
But when a player wants his take, he’s there. That balance is part of what makes him such a valuable presence for the Sixers.
Erving has seen plenty of games over the years, though he described himself to the Action Network as a fair-weather fan at this point. Even so, he said he isn’t disconnected from the team. The interaction just isn’t constant.
"They're coming to do their job," Erving said. He added that if any player wants to ask for his opinion or his advice, he is "certainly willing to pass that along."
That approach makes sense for a franchise with plenty of star power and even more championship experience in the locker room. The Sixers have added two championship-winning stars to the roster in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, giving the group more than enough firsthand knowledge of what it takes to finish the job.
LeBron has won four NBA championships since entering the league in 2003, and he was named NBA Finals MVP each time. Brown, meanwhile, just picked up his first title during the Boston Celtics' 2023-2024 season and was also named the series MVP.
Now those two will try to help bring Philadelphia its first title since Erving did it in 1983. And with Dr. J around in the background, available but never overbearing, the Sixers have the kind of legend every team would like to keep close.
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