Dr. J takes issue with KD, NBA stars hopping around the league

Hall of Famer Julius Erving believes NBA stars frequently switching teams has become an issue for the league.

During an interview with NBA media personality Joy De'Angela, Dr. J likened the trend of players demanding trades to prisoners "running the show" instead of the warden.

"Where a star player on a team is like, 'Screw this city and all their support that they've given me and I’m going south. I'm going to Florida or I'm going to L.A. or I'm going to Texas or I'm going somewhere else,'" Erving explained. "So these decisions, they're business decisions, I understand, but they have not helped the game. They have not helped keep the parity within the game when you build these superteams."

Erving noted that he has no issue with Damian Lillard demanding a trade but doesn't respect players like Kevin Durant bouncing around the league.

"Look at how many times Durant has hopped around. No, for real," Erving said. "OKC to Golden State to where'd he go after that? Now he's in Phoenix."

Durant spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder before joining the Golden State Warriors, with whom he won back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. That was followed by a three-year stint with the Brooklyn Nets, who traded him to the Phoenix Suns in February 2023.

Lillard, meanwhile, has spent his entire 11-year career with the Portland Trail Blazers after being drafted sixth overall by the team in 2012. He requested a trade earlier this month and has reportedly stated that he only wants to play for the Miami Heat.