LeBron James and Jaylen Brown will bring substantial talent to the court for the 76ers this season.
Philadelphia legend Julius Erving says not to overlook another key component of both offseason additions: championship pedigree.
James is a four-time NBA champion while Brown won a title and Finals MVP with the Celtics in 2024, and Dr. J believes that experience can rub off on players like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
“You’ve got guys who have had championship success, so I think the guys who haven’t had it are going to be paying attention,” Erving said in an exclusive interview from the Jerry Colangelo Golf Classic in Scottsdale, Arizona on Thursday. “Embiid’s an MVP but not a champion. So they bring a lot to the team other than just their skillset.”
James is 41 years old, and Erving acknowledges his impact won’t be the same as during his peak, but expects the four-time MVP to be an all-around contributor this season for the 76ers.
“I think the role for him is not to be the leading scorer, not to be the leading rebounder, and not necessarily the leading assist guy, but to be a factor in all those areas statistically,” Erving said. “And then what he brings to the game that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, that’s going to be as valuable as anything else.”
Erving Downplays LeBron’s Longevity
James will again be the oldest player in the NBA this season, ahead of 38-year-old Mike Conley and 37-year-old Kevin Durant.
When asked about the impressiveness of that longevity, Erving pointed out that other stars have also played into their late 30s or 40s.
“He’s not the only one,” Erving said. “Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) went. Moses (Malone) went. Vince Carter went. There are guys who played into their 40s, and there are a lot more hockey players than basketball players (who have done it).”
Erving did acknowledge the uniqueness of James making the jump from high school, as he is preparing for his NBA-record 24th season.
“He’s 1-of-1,” Erving said. “There has never been another guy like him, coming out of high school and then having the type of career he has. You have to give him his credit. He’s found a way to preserve his body, squeeze out 50-to-60 games a year and get full pay. So God bless him.”
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Erving Willing To Share Advice if Asked
Erving said he has yet to see James or Brown since they were acquired by Philadelphia.
If the new duo, or any other players, are interested in his guidance, Erving said he would be happy to share it.
“Most of the time when I go to games, there’s not a whole lot of interaction with the players,” Erving said. “They’re coming to do their job. They don’t need to be distracted by a fair-weather fan like myself. If they seek me out and ask me for my opinion or ask for a little advice, I’m certainly willing to pass that along.”
Erving said he plans to head up to Philadelphia and New York from his home in Georgia multiple times in the coming weeks to watch the 76ers.
“I haven’t seen either one of those guys since they became 76ers, but I will,” Erving said. “In October I’ll probably see them multiple times, because it’s exhibition season and I’ve gotten invited to come up and be there for that. And then opening night they play the Knicks and I’ve got an invitation to that. That should be interesting.”
Erving talks Jerry Colangelo’s hoops impact
Erving spoke from a welcome reception at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel on Thursday night and then participated in a round of golf on Friday morning.
The event was held by former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, who was also chairman of basketball operations for the 76ers from 2015 to 2018.
Since 2009, Colangelo has served as the chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Erving raved about Colangelo’s imprint on the game of basketball.
“Major impact,” Erving said. “He’s an innovator. He’s a historian. I think one of his great loves is trying to preserve the legacy of basketball. His role in it is multi-tasking, doing different things at different times. And the total summation of it has been the betterment of the game, globally. That’s pretty good.”
