On May 27 1981 Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving accepted his only NBA MVP Award during a special ceremony held in Danvers Massachusetts in front of NBA personnel. The 1980-81 campaign was a season to remember for Dr. J as he averaged 24.6 points eight rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He totaled 2014 points for the season and led Philadelphia to a 62-20 regular-season record which was good enough for second place in the Atlantic Division. Led by Erving’s heroics the Sixers battled all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals before bowing in seven games to the eventual NBA Champion Boston Celtics. This lot features the NBA Hall of Famer’s three pages’ worth of handwritten notes he used during his acceptance speech for the 1981 NBA Most Valuable Player Award. This prized lot comes from the personal collection of longtime sports columnist and NBA-TV analyst Peter Vecsey who has held a close friendship with Erving through the many years when their lives overlapped because of basketball. In fact did you know that Dr. J served as best man at Vecsey’s wedding?

Although he earned three ABA MVP Awards during his years playing for the New York Nets this NBA MVP honor would be the only one earned by Erving during his incredible Hall of Famer career. Throughout the 6”-by-9” pages of handwritten notes torn from a top spiral notepad in blue ink Erving has underlined various areas he wanted to cover during the speech including Larry (O'Brien) (Billy) Cunningham Teamates(sic) Others Wife NBA and ended his speech with a very emotional religious-themed closing paragraph: “Being named NBA MVP has placed an added responsibility to an already long list of responsibilities and I gladly accept the challenge for its grants me a forum to grow from in my desire to be the best Son of God that my Lord will allow me to be. As surely as I stand before all of you a hero and a model I also stand before you as a sinner and a man who has asked humbly to be forgiven and guided to love peace + eternal life.”

But it was the mention of Billy Cunningham who was then serving in his fourth year as Sixers’ coach where Vecsey the reporter took exception. During the beginning of his speech Dr. J said this about his coach: “It is time to put on the table the facts behind rumors around the NBA that Billy C. and I don’t get along. We do get along. The fact that during the intense strain and testing of playoff basketball we exchanged emotions in the form of a little yelling back and forth should not be misinterpreted because in less than four seasons there’s no doubt in my mind that I have made Billy a better coach and he has made me a better player and he more so than anyone is responsible for Julius Erving being here today.” In his New York Post column the following day (May 28 1981) entitled "Doc Learns to live with Billy Ball" Vecsey repeated Erving’s words verbatim to which he replied: “To which I say ‘Garbage.’ Nice speech Doc but I don’t buy it for a second. I think what you’re trying to say is that Erving will put up with anyone or anything in order to win a championship.”

Erving ends his speech with the following words: "In His Name - THANK YOU JWE". Despite their good-natured ribbing and occasional disagreements both Vecsey and Erving’s paths crossed again that very evening following the speech at which time Erving gave Vecsey the hand-written notes. They have been in Vecsey’s possession for the past 35 years. It’s a very emotional speech that displays the true depth of this outstanding Hall of Famer's character!

Includes LOA from Peter Vecsey.

Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.