Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game but many were of the opinion that he doesn’t get the respect he deserves, for someone so great. Kareem won 6 titles, 2 Finals MVPs, a record 6 MVPs, and was the all-time leading scorer for nearly 4 decades in what was an amazing career.
In a way, LeBron James chasing his scoring record this season has made a lot of people realize just how great of a player Kareem was. He was a dominant force in the league for such a long time and deserves to have his name mentioned when the GOAT debate comes up.
There is always a lot of talk about how good today’s stars would be if they played in the 1980s or 1990s, as the game was so different. Kareem, in one of his media sessions, was asked how his game would translate to the modern NBA, with the 3-point shot being so important nowadays.
“I know I’d be able to contribute positively to a team. I’d have to work on and see how effective I was from the 3-point line because now everybody has to be able to shoot 3-pointers. That’s an additional test that the game provides, you see teams that have a guy that can shoot 3-pointers that is a 7-footer, the potential of his versatility really adds to what a team can do.”
When asked if he’d go skyhook or jump shot from 3, Kareem had the perfect response. “No, I’d get the ball as close to the basket and shoot a high-percentage shot. That’s the way you win the game.”
That is indeed the mindset that helped him become the all-time leading scorer and it helped his teams have so much success. As for how Kareem would fare in the NBA today, he would be able to adapt and then dominate, as the truly great players transcend eras.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Cleared His Beef With Shaquille O’Neal
If there is one negative aspect to Kareem, it is that he can be quite distant. LeBron had stated previously that he had no relationship with him and Kareem took responsibility for it. He said he perhaps didn’t make much of an effort to reach out to James in the past 15 years and added that the age difference was why they never had a bond.
Kareem also took the time to clear his beef with Shaquille O’Neal, as the latter had mentioned in the past that Abdul-Jabbar never spoke to him. The two shared a beautiful moment earlier this week where they cleared any differences they may have had and it is wonderful to see them on good terms now.
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