"But I can never shoot like him" - Julius Erving names who remind him of his game in today's NBA

“But I can never shoot like him” – Julius Erving names who remind him of his game in today’s NBA originally appeared on Basketball Network.

The great Julius Erving was one of the first players to truly revolutionize the game of basketball. He was credited for making the game more exciting with his electrifying dunks and tricks in mid-air.

Many believe that there will never be another Dr. J, but according to the man in question, there are a few players who resemble his game. After closely watching how the current NBA stars play, Erving noticed that tall and athletic small forwards such as Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant remind him of himself on the court.

“I see it when I watch Kawhi Leonard play. I see it [with] Kevin Durant to a degree when he’s attacking the basket, but I can never shoot like him,” the Hall of Famer said on Startalk’s “Playing with Science” podcast in 2018. “[And with] A handful of guys who just have that creativity.”

The one thing he never did

Erving acknowledged that the game has drastically changed over the years. He appreciates its evolution, especially how players tend to shoot more 3-pointers during games.

However, Doc pointed out that throwing it from beyond the arc wasn’t one of his strongest suits as a player. In fact, he even purposely shied away from it during his playing years.

Erving recognized his influence on the current era’s players by their ability to find ways to take it strong to the hole. Other than that, Dr. J doesn’t see himself in them.

“Well, I do [see my influence in today’s NBA], particularly in the transition game… Guys having the confidence to come in transition and attack the basket… I never ran down the court and then ran to the 3-point line or whatever,” Erving explained. “I was always trying to be first to the hoop and be there before the defense sets up.”

There’s really no Dr. J in today’s NBA

Erving made a good point in stressing how he used to rely on his agility and athleticism. He was able to utilize his size and strength throughout his legendary career, and he believes it sometimes made him more of a power forward.

With that in mind, Dr. J thinks it would be difficult to find a modern-day player with a similar style and approach to the game.

“The guys my size, 6’7″, play outside more, and they have the ball a lot more. I was a small forward, but I really played like a power forward,” Erving said to the New York Times in 2011. “My offense — a lot of the 30,000 points that I scored — was really like a power forward, going over big guys. I don’t see players doing that much.”

Some experts and analysts may have their own opinions about how Erving compares to some of today’s NBA players. However, the legend’s opinion always seems more authentic and compelling.

As for Leonard and Durant, it’s hard not to believe Erving when he says he sees his younger self in them. But at the same time, he was also on point when he implied that some great forwards in today’s NBA only display shades of him. Because in the end, there is only one Dr. J.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.

“But I can never shoot like him” – Julius Erving names who remind him of his game in today’s NBA

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