Kareem Abdul-Jabbar saw his reign as the NBA’s scoring king surpassed by LeBron James on Tuesday. Despite holding the record since April 1984, Abdul-Jabbar isn’t talked about enough in comparison to his ilk’s basketball players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Abdul-Jabbar is considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball players in history. Despite this, he is often seen as an underrated legend. While Abdul-Jabbar’s impact on the game cannot be overstated, he deserves more recognition and praise than he usually receives.
Summary of Abdul-Jabbar’s career
Abdul-Jabbar grew up in New York City and began his basketball career at a young age. After a successful high school career, he attended UCLA, where he played for legendary coach John Wooden.
There, Abdul-Jabbar led the Bruins to three straight NCAA championships and was named National Player of the Year for all three seasons. (Freshmen were not allowed to play on the varsity team.)
Abdul-Jabbar was selected first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1969 draft. He went on to play 20 seasons, spending the first six years of his career in Milwaukee and the last six with the LA Lakers. Throughout his career, Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant force, winning six championships, six MVP awards, 19 All-Star selections and 10 All-NBA First Team selections.
One of Abdul-Jabbar’s most notable achievements is his incredible scoring record. He was the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points through Tuesday. He also holds many other records, including most points in a single season and play by a center and most minutes played in his career.
Abdul-Jabbar was also a notable defensive player, earning 11 All-Defensive team selections and leading the league in blocks four times.
Why Abdul-Jabbar is underrated
Despite his many achievements and records, Abdul-Jabbar is often considered an underrated legend. This is due in part to the fact that his career spanned from 1969 to 1989, a time when the NBA wasn’t as popular as it is today. Abdul-Jabbar was also known to be reserved and stoic, which may be a contributing factor.
Another factor that has led to Abdul-Jabbar being overlooked is the perception that he was a one-dimensional player. While it is true that he was known for his scoring, he was much more than just a goalscorer. He was an excellent passer, defender, and rebounder. He was also a leader on and off the field and was known for his work ethic and dedication to the game.
Despite being an underrated legend, Abdul-Jabbar’s impact on the game will always be remembered and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of players. He will go down in the history books as someone who gave it his all on the basketball court.
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