NBA Great Julius Erving Disappointed With How Today's Stars Like Kevin Durant "Hop Around" The League

Hall of Famer Julius Erving says young superstars should remain longer with their original teams

Players rarely demanded to switch teams when Hall of Famer Julius Erving played in the NBA. 

Erving recently said players such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant and James Harden, who have played for multiple teams, have not "helped the game." Erving made his comments while speaking with media personality Joy De’Angela. 

"These guys, since prisoners are running the show and not the warden," Erving said. "It's just where a star player on the team is like, `Oh, screw this city and all the support that they've given me and I'm going south. I'm going to Florida. I'm going to LA. I'm going to Texas or I'm going somewhere else. These decisions, and they're business decisions and I understand, but they have not helped the game. They have not help keep parity within the game when you build these super teams." 

Dame, KD, Super Teams…. Dr. J has thoughts! 😳👀 pic.twitter.com/ZC2FTe8EFs

— Joy De’Angela (@joydeangela) July 28, 2023

Durant is now on his fourth team with the Phoenix Suns while Harden is pushing for a fifth after requesting a trade this summer. James has also played for three teams, including two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Erving spent all of his 11 NBA seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, winning a championship in 1983. He did, however, offer support for Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who has requested a trade to the Miami Heat. 

He said the difference is Lillard at least spent 11 seasons trying to win in Portland while the others left earlier in their careers.

"Wherever he goes, he probably will finish his career because of his age and the fact that he's played 12, 13 years and he wants to have a chance at winning a championship and he doesn't think he can get it [in Portland]," Erving said. "So that's a good reason [to leave] but a guy 26 or 27 just wanting to hop around? How many times has Durant hopped around?"

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