1974 Topps basketball card of one of the all-time greats of pro basketball, Julius Erving. He didn’t make my list of top basketball nicknames, but he had one of the most well-known – “Doctor J”. Erving was a one-of-a-kind athlete in his era, dazzling fans with his leaping ability and off-the-charts dunks. He began his pro career in the old American Basketball Association, which started the tradition of holding a dunking contest at its’ All Star game, to feature the skils of “The Doctor” and other players in the league. He guided his ABA team, the New York Nets, to two titles. After the ABA merged with the established NBA, Erving wound up with Philadelphia and helped the 76ers win a championship in 1983.