‘Dr. J’ Julius Erving Joins Thurl Talk To Discuss Dealing With Racism Growing Up

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – NBA legend and former Philadelphia 76ers great “Dr. J” Julius Erving joined Thurl Bailey on the Thurl Talk podcast to discuss dealing with racism growing up in the 1950s and 60s.

Bailey and the former No. 1 overall pick in the 1972 NBA Draft walked through multiple portions of Erving’s autobiography, Dr. J: The Autobiography.

⁦@JuliusErving⁩ joins me on my “Thurl Talk” podcast & discusses his career while dealing with racism growing up. Here’s a snippet. To listen to the entire episode subscribe today. pic.twitter.com/wdw4LTe8ya

— Thurl Bailey (@bigTbailey) June 9, 2020

While discussing Erving’s childhood and dealing with racial inequality, Bailey highlighted one of his favorite lines from Erving’s book.

“My basket is worth no more or less than yours,” Bailey read from Erving’s documentary.

“Profound,” replied Erving. The former Jazzman agreed by saying that not only was it profound but that it was true.

Guess who’s making a house call tomorrow on my Thurl Talk podcast? You don’t wanna miss this one! #DrJ #ThurlTalk #KSLSports pic.twitter.com/FJnejJfQ6Q

— Thurl Bailey (@bigTbailey) June 9, 2020

“People are people. It’s not for us to be judgemental and as I said before, you’re not better than anybody else,” Erving told Bailey. “You have, if you play your cards right, the opportunity to do better and to do better for yourself but never stick your nose up in the air and say you’re better than anybody. We’re all God’s children.”

About Julius Erving

The former 76ers forward had a storied professional basketball career in the ABA and NBA. After a four-year college career at UMass, Erving played pro ball from 1971-1987. He was a member of the 76ers from 1976-1987.

During his basketball career, Erving achieved the following:

• NBA champion (1983)
• Two-time ABA champion (1974, 1976)
• Two-time ABA Playoffs MVP (1974, 1976)
• NBA Most Valuable Player (1981)
• Three-time ABA Most Valuable Player (1974-1976)
• 11-time NBA All-Star (1977-1987)
• Five-time ABA All-Star (1972-1976)
• Two-time NBA All-Star Game MVP (1977, 1983)
• Five-time All-NBA First Team (1978, 1980-1983)
• Two-time All-NBA Second Team (1977, 1984)
• Four-time All-ABA First Team (1973-1976)
• All-ABA Second Team (1972)
• ABA All-Defensive First Team (1976)
• ABA All-Rookie First Team (1972)
• ABA Slam Dunk Champion (1976)
• J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1983)
• ABA All-Time Team
• NBA 35th Anniversary Team
• NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
• No. 32 retired by Brooklyn Nets
• No. 6 retired by Philadelphia 76ers

Former Utah Jazz and NBA player Thurl Bailey is the host of the Thurl Talk Podcast. After more than a decade playing in the NBA as Big T for the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves, Thurl has seen a thing or two. And he still has things he wants to learn. He’s a musician, father, husband, and friend and he’s interested in talking with people. That’s what he’ll do each week on Thurl Talk: share his own life experiences and learn from the stories of others. Whether it’s about his life on the court, behind a mic or sitting at the kitchen counter, count on getting to know the real Thurl Bailey and maybe learn a little something from his friends.