LeBron James or Kobe Bryant? Julius Erving Makes His Ultimate Pick

Julius "Dr. J" Erving believes that LeBron James is the most unique player in NBA history.

LeBron James or Kobe Bryant? Julius Erving Makes His Ultimate Pick

Julius Erving on LeBron James and Kobe Bryant (Image credits - Firstsportz)

LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are two players often associated with greatness. Both players have achieved loads of success and have entertained fans for two decades.

Following the retirement of Michael Jordan after winning his sixth championship in 1998, many saw Bryant as the next player to carry the league forward. With a style of play very similar to Jordan, Bryant dazzled fans and gained popularity all over the world.

After Bryant won his last championship in 2010, James took over as the face of the NBA. The King has been carrying the league on his shoulders for nearly two decades and continues to have the biggest appeal.

Former NBA champion and Hall of Famer Julius Erving was asked to pick between James and Bryant.

I think LeBron is one-of-one; Kobe’s another sort of imitation of Michael Jordan. There have been plenty of imitations of Michael and Kobe and me, and other people. LeBron’s like one of one, so I’m going to give him his pick.

Julius Erving in an interview with The Schmo

There is no doubt that any NBA player would love to have a career like Kobe Bryant or James. The two icons of the sport have often been included in the GOAT debate alongside Michael Jordan.

Erving knows a thing or two about greatness. He is a big fan of James, and it is not surprising to see him pick the King. While Bryant may have five championships to James’ four, his game mirrored Jordan’s in many ways. He used to study and copy his idol’s iconic moves and use them on the court, whereas James has a very different approach to the game.

Both All-Time greats have won everything there is to win in the NBA. Bryant will always be known for his beautiful style of play, elite scoring and hyper-competitiveness, while James will be regarded for his longevity, sustained greatness and for being a complete player.

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Julius Erving on who he would like to join forces with to create a ‘Big 3’

Julius Erving was the biggest name in the league when it merged into the National Basketball Association (NBA) after the 1975–1976 season. He was one of the most exciting players to watch back in the day and is the only player to be voted as the MVP in both the ABA and the NBA.

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain (Image credits – Sincero Jordan/X)

Erving played for 16 seasons in the ABA and NBA. When asked who he would like to play with to form his own ‘Big 3’, he picked arguably the two greatest centers of all time.

Give me Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. I’ll be a guard. Certainly, we’d be able to protect the rim.right? And Wilt can score a 100 points. So what the heck?

Julius Erving in an interview with The Schmo

Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell are not just two of the greatest centers of all time, but their rivalry was the first big rivalry in the NBA. Chamberlain created records that stand till today, while Russell is the greatest winner the game has ever seen. A ‘Big 3’ of Chamberlain, Russell, and Erving would be an unstoppable force.

Julius Erving will see a lot more of LeBron James in Philly

LeBron James was back in free agency after eight years. Following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA world was all over the place for over three weeks as everyone waited for James to make an announcement about his future club. In the end, he announced that he would be joining the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year deal.

Erving joined the 76ers after the merger. He has a special connection to the city of Philly as he played for the 76ers for 11 seasons. During his 11 seasons in Philly, he was named the MVP in 1981 and delivered them their third-ever championship in 1983. It was also the last time that the 76ers won a championship.

James has delivered a championship wherever he has gone. He won his first two titles in Miami in 2012 and 2013, then he went on to win the Cleveland Cavaliers their first and only title in 2016. He won his fourth and last championship for the Lakers in 2020.

Hence, the expectations in Philly will be sky high after the offseason they just had. James will be joining a star-studded roster with the likes of Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey. Now that James is playing in Philly, Dr. J will have a closer look at him. A huge season awaits the 76ers.

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