Reply With Quote
Five rings and three MVP awards as a Laker. Kinda ed up he even has to say anything.
Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won five world championships as a Los Angeles Laker and remains the NBA's all-time leading scorer, believes the franchise owes him a statue outside Staples Center and feels "slighted" that it hasn't already happened.
[+] Enlarge
Michael Stewart/Getty Images
With a statue of his likeness yet to grace the outside of Staples, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says "it's either an oversight" or the Lakers are "taking me for granted."
There are five statues outside the arena recognizing Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Chick Hearn, Wayne Gretzky and Oscar De La Hoya. Abdul-Jabbar believes it's high time the Lakers do the right thing and make him the sixth athlete so honored.
"I don't understand (it). It's either an oversight or they're taking me for granted," Abdul-Jabbar told The Sporting News in a recent interview. "I'm not going to try to read people's minds, but it doesn't make me happy. It's definitely a slight. I feel slighted."
The six-time NBA MVP sounded even more offended in a statement released subsequently by his business manager.
"I am highly offended by the total lack of acknowledgement of my contribution to Laker success," Abdul-Jabbar was quoted as saying. "I guess being the lynchpin for five world championships is not considered significant enough in terms of being part of Laker history."
Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA les in all and was part of three NCAA championship teams during his reign of greatness at UCLA. His accomplishments also include selection to a record 19 NBA All-Star teams (he played in 18).
Lakers spokesman John Black indicated to The Sporting News that Abdul-Jabbar is next in line to get a statue outside Staples Center.
"We've been at Staples Center 11 years and have two ex-players (Johnson and West) who have statues now," Black said, according to TSN. "It's not like we do it every year; we have no timetable. Whenever we do the next statue of the third Los Angeles Lakers player, it (will be) Kareem -- and he has been told that.
"Again, we didn't say when that was going to be. It could be next year, the year after or several years from now."
Several weeks ago, the Boston Celtics announced that Hall of Fame center Bill Russell will be honored with a statue in the city of Boston -- more than 40 years after his playing days for the Celtics ended.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angele...ory?id=6563112
Five rings and three MVP awards as a Laker. Kinda ed up he even has to say anything.
After the skunker lakers laid on 5/4/11. Staples center is trying hard and away to distance itself from the lakers right now
lol Russell envy
I wouldn't be surprised if they give one to Kobe and Bynum before him..
Even De La Hoya has a statue before Kareem...Don't know how that has happened.
Kareem is a bag and has the personality of a wood that's whay he doesn't get the same amount of love West and Magic gets.
Well now that's ed up. I can see Gretzky having one before Kareem but Dela Hoya?
They'd probably get Jack Nicholson a statue before they give one to Kareem lol.
The Skunker!!!
De La Hoya is a . LA is filled with s. Theres your explanation.
Because Magic is not a ?
that hypocrit
By that logic Lew should have had one years ago since LA is filled with bags.
He deserves one, but crying about it makes him the r of the week, imo
I seriously had to double check that this wasn't an onion article or something with Lew talking about how offended he is.
Just Kareem being Kareem tbh.
He's right though. Even if he is an old fart.
And
Outside of the first 200 rows of seats during any lakers game the crowd is loaded with s. They probably love seeing one of their own on the way into the stadium. Surpised there isn't a Fernando Valenzuela statue out there as well.
Excellent point sir. I cede to your greatness.
Most Mexicans shunned De La Hoya--unless you're referring to the gonized coconuts...(brown on the outside; white on the inside...) the Oscar statue doesn't reflect the true opinion of the Mexicans.
Scottie Pippen got his statue before Kareem did...though, Scottie's is more a bust.
Magic is a too but he has great people skills. You know he's a BS'er but you'll end up liking him because he has that Magic smile.
He does have charismaMagic is a too but he has great people skills. You know he's a BS'er but you'll end up liking him because he has that Magic smile.
Jerry West's entire legacy = how great it is to be White, tbh..
Nowitzki is no different. Neither is Nash, Love, etc. The only high level white player in recent history that I can think of who's not only not overrated, but probably underrated, is Stockton. Gasol is arguable. He's been, at times, overrated and underrated.
Abdul-Jabbar is absolutely right to feel slighted. He's arguably the second greatest player ever and yet you don't hear much about him. He should have had a statue built shortly after the Staples Center opened.
Maybe they should build a statue of him outside the Bradley Center or the old Mecca to assuage his ego.
Mark Price is underrated.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
