Joe and Jada - Julius "Dr. J" Erving on ABA & NBA glory days, evolution of the dunk & athletes' role in civil rights era

This is the Joe and Jayda show, live from L.A. at All-Star 2026, and tonight we’re celebrating a true original—style, impact, and a dunk that changed how the game feels; make some noise for Julius Dr. J Erving.

Appreciate the love; I didn’t invent the dunk, I turned it into theater, learning from guys like Wilt and Jumpin’ Johnny Green, using my big hands to hang, shift, and finish with flair.

Were you the first to put that exclamation on the dunk, and what did the ABA give you?

Plenty of players dunked before me; the ABA was joy and focus during a heavy time with assassinations, the draft, and Cold War fear, and basketball became a refuge and a path.

Seeing leaders taken and cities erupt, how did that shape your voice?

It pushed me to stand for peace, respect, and accountability over empty notoriety, and to reach young people the way Bill Russell reached for me.

Why was it important to tell your story in your film and book?

I wanted my family and the next generations to have the truth in my own words, even if revisiting painful chapters was hard, because that honesty is part of me.

We document hip hop for the same reason—to stop the story from getting twisted—and we try to lead with inspiration, not envy.

I think in terms of generations after learning from Native friends; build for seven down the line, especially knowing how long injustice was engineered to last.

What was life like when you were the flyest name in New York?

I kept nights short and stayed grounded at home so I didn’t add weight to my mom, and my real hangouts were at Bill Cosby’s place with Reggie Jackson, Arthur Ashe, and Miles Davis, soaking up music and mentorship.

You still light up rooms; with endless clips and feeds, what helps and what hurts?

Film study is a blessing, but a lot of what scrolls by is noise and conflict, so I lean toward love and away from constant fights.

How do you view the state of the game and the media lens around athletes?

Early on, clumsy interviews were used to paint Black athletes as a stereotype, so I chose words carefully; the ABA opened doors, learning the audience’s language still expands your reach, and the ‘dumb jock’ label always offended me.

When did hip hop first hit your ear, and did you see the wave coming?

I came from R and B and jazz and didn’t predict how far it would run, but the best took the stage and never gave it back, with people like Snoop growing wide while staying true.

Some argue hip hop doesn’t belong in the Rock Hall; also, how did sports bridge divides for you?

You can’t ignore hip hop’s impact and sales; as a kid on Long Island, when teams refused to play us because of race, our coach took all of us out together, and that solidarity taught me plenty.

What did the courage of Ali, Russell, and Brown mean to you, and where did you land between Malcolm and Martin?

I watched closely and chose Dr. King’s path of love and service, because real activism is a calling, not a contract.

Legend and icon, thank you for blessing the show.

Grateful to be here with you; much love.