Dr. J's sneakers will stay grounded on this trip to Philadelphia.
The 76ers are bringing some of Julius Erving's memorabilia back home -- and are hopeful the Sixers legend will come along for the ride.
Sixers CEO Adam Aron says the team bought 10 lots containing 18 items from the Erving auction that ended over the weekend. Aron also says he has reached out to Erving, one of the franchise's greatest players, about joining the organization in some sort of capacity.
Erving is aware the 76ers bought merchandise from his personal collection that sold for a record $3.5 million.
The 76ers purchased items representative of his collegiate, ABA and NBA days, as well as awards that recognized Erving's humanitarian work.
The memorabilia will go on display at the Wells Fargo Center and the team's practice facility.
"We want him to know that the Sixers care about him in every dimension," Aron said.
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Aron had pledged a fan-friendly ownership and plans a grand unveiling of all the winning items at a later date. Among the memorabilia the 76ers own: late 1970s practice-worn warm-up suits; autographed Converse sneakers; his 1983 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award; letters to Erving from former presidents; and the 1978 Wanamaker Athletic Award presented to Erving for reflecting the "Greatest Credit Upon Philadelphia."
"We spent some real money," Aron said. "We'll have some fun Dr. J things to show our fans and our players."
Erving is perhaps the greatest Sixer and the franchise hasn't won a championship since `83. His sightings in the city and at Sixers functions have been sparse and there was a disconnect between him and the team.
That bond is about to tighten.With NBA games through Dec. 15 canceled because of the lockout, Aron had time on his hands to bid. Joshua Harris and the rest of his new ownership group took control of the Sixers in October and have been unable to make a single personnel decision because of the lockout.
But they've been busy.
Aron promised cost-saving changes for fans at the introductory press conference and immediately slashed ticket prices. The Sixers received about 6,500 responses and suggestions to improve the product at NewSixersOwner.com -- and Aron promised he's reading and changes are in store.
He said he's slept on his office sofa twice in the last month after late-night brainstorming sessions. Sixers ownership has a two-page, single-spaced list of all the game-day experiences it is improving -- whenever the season starts.
"We want to give Sixers fans the kind of experience that they deserve," he said, "and what they want."
The Sixers have promised to strengthen the link to their past.
"We've been reaching out to a lot of our former Sixers players because we'd like to build a bit of a family here where, once you're a 76er, you're always a 76er," Aron said.
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