Julius 'Dr. J' Erving appears in new COVID-19 vaccine PSA for NBA
Another NBA legend has received his COVID-19 vaccine, and is joining the push to get others to do the same.
Julius “Dr. J” Erving revealed in a new public service announcement for the league that he had received his coronavirus vaccine. The commercial came out on Monday, his 71st birthday.
“One thing I have in common with some of the other Hall of Famers is we were never afraid to take the big shot,” Erving said in the commercial. “Today is no different. I’m getting vaccinated for my family, friends and community. Let’s do this together.”
Erving is the latest NBA star to appear in a similar PSA, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, current San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and more. Other popular sports figures have made similar pleas to the public, too, including MLB legend Hank Aaron and Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker.
The NBA plans to keep promoting the PSAs, though some of the league’s top players are reportedly wary about participating and promoting the vaccine themselves — due in part to both concerns about the vaccine and a lack of desire to do favors for the league after it decided to move forward with the All-Star Game.
Erving played in the league from 1971-87, first for the ABA’s Virginia Squares and New York Nets before the league merger. He then finished out his career with an 11-year stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. Erving, who won the league MVP award four times and won a title in 1983, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.
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