Julius Erving Gives Thumbs Up to Sixers' Superteam, Stops Short of Favorites Tag
The Hall of Famer likes what Philadelphia has put together around LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, but he's not crowning anyone just yet.
Julius Erving has weighed in on the 76ers' revamped roster, and the verdict from one of the franchise's most decorated alumni is cautiously positive.
"What I've been doing is just pretty much giving the deal a thumbs up," Erving said, addressing the addition of Jaylen Brown alongside LeBron James in Philadelphia. "They're gonna be one of the most..."
Erving didn't finish by naming them title favorites, according to TalkBasket, which first reported his comments. Instead, his reaction reads as measured respect for the talent now assembled around James and Brown rather than an outright endorsement of a championship run.
For a franchise that has spent years chasing this kind of top-end talent, hearing an approving nod from Dr. J carries weight. But Erving's refusal to go further than a thumbs up leaves plenty of room for skepticism about whether star power alone will be enough to get Philadelphia over the hump.