Erving's Brother Memory Reveals Personal Ritual

Julius Erving, the Philadelphia 76ers great, has long attributed part of his success on the court to his late brother, Marvin. In an interview years ago, Erving described a mental ritual he has maintained since he was a teenager: carrying Marvin's presence with him during competition. The former NBA player said he believes this gives him a slight advantage because his opponents are unknowingly playing against both Erving brothers.

Erving was a teenager when Marvin died of lupus. He has previously described spending three days crying at his brother's grave before deciding to keep Marvin with him forever. Erving stated that this continued identity as brothers is 100 percent real to him and provides both comfort and responsibility.

The athlete grew up in Roosevelt, a small suburb on Long Island, New York. The town has produced several notable figures, including comedians Eddie and Charlie Murphy, Chuck D, and Flava Flav. Other residents include the Lafayette Afro Funk Band and Howard Stern. Roosevelt sits across the Meadowbrook Parkway from North Merrick, where Colm O'Callaghan, the author of the commentary, was raised.

O'Callaghan attended junior high football games against Roosevelt, whose players identified themselves as the Rough Riders. He noted that his own team, the Bulldogs, was separated from Roosevelt by a highway. O'Callaghan's father served with the Nassau County Police Department and drove to a two-lane bridge connecting the communities for a few nights in 1968 following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. to assist with riots that had occurred there.

The commentary describes how suburban developments on Long Island were created for families leaving Brooklyn and the Bronx. These areas offered quarter-acre lots, public schools, and playgrounds. O'Callaghan wrote that this suburban vision did not include Black people as neighbors, citing rules used in the construction of Levittowns in New York and Philadelphia.

O'Callaghan followed Erving's career during the player's time in the ABA and later the NBA. He wrote that Erving played at the Nassau Coliseum before the ABA merged with the NBA. Erving won a championship with the 76ers. Despite owning posters of Erving and other players, O'Callaghan wrote that he viewed Erving as an athlete and did not consider his personal history.

The author also noted that Joel Embiid lost his brother Arthur early in life. Embiid's son is named Arthur. O'Callaghan wrote that Embiid carries the weight of love and loss onto the court, similar to Erving. He stated that athletes who transform grief into performance are common.

O'Callaghan is a retired teacher of French and Spanish. He was born in the Bronx and raised on Long Island. He is a father of three and a grandfather of two.

Erving played in the ABA and the NBA during his career. He is identified as a 76ers icon.