NBA great Julius “Dr. J” Erving has officially been announced as keynote speaker for Lamar basketball’s Tip-Off Banquet on Oct. 26.

Erving recorded a cellphone video inviting the public to purchase tickets for the event, which is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start at the Montagne Center. A VIP reception will take place at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are $125 each and may be purchased by calling Lamar’s ticket office at 880-1715. Tables are available at four different levels: Platinum for $15,000, Gold for $10,000, Silver for $5,000 and eight-seat regular tables for $1,000 each. The Platinum, Gold and Silver each come with 10 chairs and passes to the VIP reception.

Erving began his professional career in 1971 with the ABA’s Virginia Squires and went on to the New York Nets, where he won the original professional slam-dunk contest in 1976. Upon the ABA’s merger with the NBA following that season, he went to the Philadelphia 76ers, whom he led to four NBA Finals series (1977, 1980, 1982, 1983), winning on his fourth try.

Erving, who retired from the Sixers in 1987, won two championships, three scoring titles and three MVP awards in the ABA. He was named the NBA’s MVP in 1981, made All-NBA first team five times and averaged 22 points per game in Philadelphia. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Lamar on Tuesday released its men’s and women’s basketball schedules. The men’s team will begin the season Nov. 5 at home against Champion Christian, and the women will host an exhibition that day against East Texas Baptist, with its first regular-season game at Oklahoma State on Nov. 8.