Doc Across America

Jack McCallum

May 04, 1987

Though the Philadelphia 76er season traversed a long and bumpy road, Julius Winfield Erving II never took a false step. He handled the NBA's longest goodbye, a 23-city, six-month farewell tour, with both elegance and dignity, words that describe his play on the court and his comportment off it. And, so, as his final days as a player draw near—by Sunday night the Sixers had split the first two games of their best-of-five Eastern Conference playoff series with Milwaukee—we remember Dr. J for what he was and what he has become...and we should be quite happy with both.