Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the NBA in scoring during his rookie season, a feat that has not been accomplished by any other player. In an interview with GQ, he said he’d leave $1 million on the table if it meant keeping his word.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time, reflects on the $1.8 million he left on the table as a rookie just to keep his word. Read more in detail here: kareem jabbar.
The Milwaukee Bucks were where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spent the first six years of his 20-year NBA career. In his last 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, the league’s all-time leading scorer won five of his six NBA titles. If Abdul-Jabbar had been a greedy young guy, none of this would have occurred.
For the time being, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Kevin McHale of the Boston Celtics posts up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second NBA playoff game at the Boston Garden on May 30, 1985. | Wendy Maeda/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
After the 1988-89 season, Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement from the NBA. With 38,387 points, he concluded his career as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Karl Malone, a former Utah Jazz player, is second on the list with 36,928, followed by current LA Lakers star LeBron James, who has 36,289.
Abdul-Jabbar averaged 24.6 points per game throughout his career and led the league in scoring in two of his first three seasons. He was a six-time NBA champion and a 19-time All-Star.
He’s remained at the top of the scoring list for more than 30 years, but that may be coming to an end shortly. James, who is still going strong at the age of 37, is on his way to the top. This season, James is averaging 28.8 points per game and is 639 points behind Malone.
It’s just a matter of time until Jabbar is demoted to No. 2, but he’s OK with it. Abdul-Jabbar stated in a September interview with Substack journalist Marc Stein that he was cheering for James to take over the top place.
“I’m looking forward to seeing that happen,” he remarked. “I don’t think of records as personal successes, but rather as human accomplishments.” If one individual can do something that has never been done before, then we all have a chance. It’s a source of inspiration and optimism.”
As a rookie, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar put $1.8 million on the line merely to uphold his promise.
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Abdul-Jabbar was on the verge of being cut from the Milwaukee Bucks. To gain the right to pick the big man out of UCLA, the Bucks had to first win a coin flip with the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks then had to contend with the ABA’s New York Nets, who had also selected Abdul-Jabbar with the first overall choice in the draft.
Between the Bucks and the Nets, Abdul-Jabbar was undecided. He instructed them to make a one-time offer to each other. He didn’t want the two to go into a bidding war.
Last week, Abdul-Jabbar stated in a Substack post, “The Nets and the Bucks both wanted me, so I advised them to make a one-time offer.” “There would be no back-and-forth since I thought bidding wars degraded individuals at the time.”
The Bucks offered $1.4 million, while the Nets offered less. Abdul-Jabbar chose Milwaukee, but New York countered with a considerably greater offer, which he soon turned down.
He added, “The Bucks offered a greater offer of $1.4 million, which I accepted.” “The Nets immediately countered with a $3.2 million offer, which I turned down since I’d already committed to the Bucks.”
Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade away from Milwaukee.
OTD 1969: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was picked first overall in the NBA Draft (by a coin toss) by the Bucks.
Rookie Of The Year Rookie Of The Year All-Star All-NBA 2nd team ROOKIE SEASON 28.8 PTS, 14.5 REB Rookie Of The Year All-Star All-NBA 2nd team Second-team All-Defense
2ND SEASON Scoring Champion All-NBA 1st Team MVP Finals MVP Champion pic.twitter.com/znxdLq5HdU
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 7, 2020
Despite his success with the Bucks, which included an NBA championship in 1971, Abdul-Jabbar didn’t feel at ease in Milwaukee. He requested a trade with one year left on his contract.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Abdul-Jabbar remarked, “I had just one year remaining on my contract, and I told them I really wasn’t interested in signing up again.” “I really wanted to get out of Milwaukee.” It would be the greatest thing for everyone if they would exchange me.”
He had no issues with either the team or the city. At the time, he said he wanted a change of scenery.
He told reporters at the time, “Culturally, what I’m about and what Milwaukee is about are two different things.” “I haven’t said anything about it before because I don’t want to offend Milwaukee or the people here and make them believe they’re unworthy of me.” That isn’t what this is all about.”
Rather of waiting and getting nothing in return for their star center, the Bucks struck a deal with the Lakers. In exchange for Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers, and Junior Bridgeman, Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley were moved to Los Angeles.
Abdul-Jabbar demonstrated that he was one of the finest NBA players of all time. He also demonstrated that he was a man of his word, which was more important to him.
RELATED: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Admits He’d Be on the Bench Keeping Stats If He Played in Today’s NBA
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