'The Erving family will go forward from here. We have no other choice' - Julius Erving after his son died

At the end of May 2000, a missing person report was filed in Florida. A 19-year-old had vanished—Corey, the son of NBA legend Julius Erving.

Corey had gone to the supermarket on May 28 but didn't return. Consequently, his family was left in a state of uncertainty, which, according to "Dr. J," was already incredibly difficult for everyone involved. Sadly, the situation took an even worse turn. After six weeks, it was confirmed that Corey had died in a drowning accident.

"We now have a resolution. Getting closure was very important to the family in coping with our loss," Erving stated after receiving the heartbreaking news, adding, "The Erving family will go forward from here. We have no other choice."

A painful plea

Erving's youngest child had faced learning disabilities, drug issues, and legal problems—challenges his dad, an 11-time All-Star, heartbreakingly took some blame for. "Dr. J" once remarked how difficult it must have been for Corey growing up "in the shadow of a public figure like myself."

However, after several attempts at rehabilitation, the family believed the teenager had "turned his life around" before his disappearance as he was working at a café-bakery while taking classes to earn his high school equivalency diploma.

Unfortunately, the reality was different, and on June 13, "Dr. J" made a nationwide appeal for help in finding his son. The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers legend offered a $50,000 reward for any information. Julius's statements from that time reflect the deep pain the Erving family was enduring.

"Those who have had a child or a loved one unaccounted for for even a matter of hours know that that is an individual's nightmare," the 1981 MVP said. "And this bad dream has gone on with us for 16 days now. 16 very hard days."

Corey died a tragic death

By early August, it was clear that Corey would never return. Reports from that time stated he died after driving into a retention pond near the family home.

The incident must have unfolded as follows: Erving Jr., as he often did, took a shortcut along a dirt road between subdivisions. This time, however, piles of cut trees and underbrush may have blocked the view of the pond, causing him to drive into the water and eventually drown.

When found, the car's windows were up, and Corey, wearing the same clothes from the day he disappeared, wasn't wearing his seatbelt. Furthermore, trace amounts of cocaine were found in his decomposed body, suggesting he had taken it within two or three days of the accident.

Tragically, this wasn't the first time "Dr. J" had lost a close family member. Growing up, the future ABA and NBA star had to say farewell to his father, who died in a car accident, and his brother, who passed away from illness.

The retired 6'7" forward also fathered three other children: Justin Kangas, former tennis player Alexandra Stevenson, and Jules Erving, who played for the California Golden Bears.