As he started his NBA career, Michael Jordan received constant comparisons to “Dr. J” Julius Erving. While some people might find it annoying to get those comparisons, Jordan had no issues. Jordan was happy with that kind of honor.
The NBA had its fair share of superstars in the 1970s and 1980s. Among them was Julius Erving, known as “Dr. J.” He was one of the world’s best basketball players at the time, and he did it with a smooth style. Erving was popular for his good nature, on-court skills, and elite athleticism.
Dr. J made it a successful style, as evidenced by his 1983 NBA championship with the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately, the mid-1980s meant Erving was well into his 30s. The NBA needed more star players, alongside Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, to succeed Dr. J. In 1984, the NBA got its wish, as Michael Jordan entered the league as the third overall pick.
Jordan would become the superstar player that the Chicago Bulls and the league needed. His flashy athleticism was eye-catching, and the league and its fans instantly loved Jordan. They even compared him to Erving almost immediately, which might have been out of place for some people.Jordan felt honored by the comparisons to Erving
As a younger player, Jordan looked up to many basketball stars with proven greatness. One of them was David Thompson, whom he considers one of his greatest influences. MJ loved Thompson so much that he picked the “Skywalker” to induct him into the Hall of Fame.
Erving was also among his influences alongside Thompson. Considering Erving was already a star in the ABA and NBA, Jordan saw him as an icon for greatness. That was why the six-time Finals MVP had no complaints when he received comparisons to the great Dr. J.
“It really does not offend me; it was a compliment to be compared to Dr. J, who had an outstanding career and is still playing,” Jordan said to Bryan Gumbel in 1984.
“Hopefully, once I play 12 or 13 years, I can look back and say I had an enjoyable career like Dr. J.”
The challenges of living up to the hype
Since Jordan received that comparison, it meant he had to live up to the hype. Most basketball fans had immense respect for Erving, especially for his greatness across two leagues. Jordan not only lived up to the hype, but he smashed all expectations.
Jordan became the league’s top player and the first name people remember about basketball. He was a phenomenal player and a huge personality in the mainstream consciousness. MJ went above and beyond, cementing his place atop the basketball mountain for years to come.
When people make comparisons, Jordan is often the benchmark. Even respected coaches like George Karl have done this, as he compared MJ to Nikola Jokic. He has been out of the league for over two decades, but MJ remains the gold standard for basketball.
Despite all the pressure he had to play under, including the comparisons to Erving, Jordan persevered. He is the shining example of a top basketball player who has earned the right to be an all-time great. Some people even call him the GOAT or the Greatest of All Time. That remains a debate to this day between him and LeBron James.
Over the years, Jordan has proven himself as an all-time great. However, back in the day, he had to prove he was worthy of Erving comparisons. Jordan delivered on expectations, cementing his greatness within the history books.
