"I went home crying to my mom" - Sports exec David Meltzer details how different Kareem and Julius Erving were when he worked as a ball boy in the 80s
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving were the two brightest basketball stars in the 70s and 80s. However, their personalities were polar opposites; Kareem was a grump who rubbed people the wrong way, while Dr. J was a smooth operator who treated everyone nicely. David Meltzer, the co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing, can attest to that.
"I was a ball boy with the Clippers, at 12 (years old), San Diego," Meltzer said. "I go in the first day, Lakers vs. Clippers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I screw up because it's my first day, but he s**t on me like, 'Boy!' blah blah blah. I went home crying to my mom, 'I'm not going back,' and my mom's that type of person, 'Oh yes, you are. You're gonna finish the season.'"
"Next game, Sixers vs. Clippers. Now, I've gone completely gun-shy, especially of the superstars. And there's Dr. J, and this man, he said, 'Son, why'd you give me so many socks?' and I said, 'I don't know. They told me to put six on everybody's locker.' And he goes, 'I don't need six pairs of socks. How many feet do you think I have?' I go, 'Two.' And he goes, 'That's right. How many siblings do you have?' I said, 'Five.' He said, 'Perfect. Grab them," added the famous entrepreneur.
The season Meltzer was probably talking about was 1982-83. He was born in 1968, so he was 14 then, not 12. The Clippers' home games against the Lakers and the Sixers were a week apart; the former was on November 26, while the latter was on December 3. Both games resulted in losses for San Diego, but one of the main characters that night probably didn't know he would win big years later.
"He probably netted over a million dollars from me"
Meltzer recalled the 16-time All-Star signing the socks and a ball for his siblings. David became a sports agent later and was rumored to be the inspiration behind Tom Cruise's Jerry Maguire. Still, he held the Dr. J interaction close to his heart, forever thankful for the Sixers superstar's kind treatment.
"Later on in life, I had so many opportunities to hire Kareem for a lot of money, and I would call Dr. J. He probably netter over a million dollars from me referring business to him that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar lost. I have a saying, 'Be kind to your future self,'" concluded The Playbook podcast host.
Kindness goes a long way
Labeling the former Lew Alcindor as a bad person is unfair, but he had a mean streak and demeanor about him that pushed people away. Charles Barkley once introduced himself to Abdul-Jabbar in the All-Star locker room and responded, "I'm reading," without acknowledging the Chuckster. Kareem corroborated this story and said he just didn't like being bothered when doing certain things.
Besides this Barkley encounter, Kareem also refused to acknowledge Shaquille O'Neal for years. They squashed their beef in 2023, and it was all love from thereon out, but these basketball titans never had a relationship since Shaq entered the Association.
On the other hand, Dr. J was a great role model. While he had his share of scuffles, like the one with Larry Bird, Dr. J never had the intimidating reputation that followed Kareem. In fact, Barkley once shared how Erving took him shopping for clothes and suits, wanting his rookie teammate to present himself professionally after becoming a pro. Sir Charles appreciated that and told everyone that story any chase he got.
Meltzer's story reminded us that sometimes, the smallest gestures can leave the biggest impressions. Dr. J's kindness not only influenced a young fan but also shaped a lasting relationship that benefited him professionally years later. It shows how treating people with respect and warmth can pay dividends in ways you might never expect.
