Patrick Ewing Calls for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Be Included in GOAT Conversations
SLUG: patrick-ewing-calls-for-kareem-abdul-jabbar-to-be-included-in-goat-conversations
CONTENT:
Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing believes basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is too often overlooked when fans and analysts debate the greatest player of all time.
During a recent appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” the former New York Knicks center recalled preparing to face the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987, when Abdul-Jabbar was nearing 40. Then-Knicks head coach Rick Pitino planned single coverage on the 7-foot-2 center, but Ewing warned that the six-time NBA champion could still dominate.
“I told Coach Pitino we needed to double-team him,” Ewing said. “Kareem got hot, and no matter how far I pushed him out, that skyhook kept dropping.”
Ewing added that Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook—widely considered the most unguardable shot in league history—helped the center accumulate a then-record 38,387 points, a mark surpassed only last season by LeBron James. Despite that résumé, Ewing noted, Abdul-Jabbar’s name is seldom mentioned alongside Michael Jordan, James and other commonly cited GOAT candidates.
“People rarely include him, and I don’t understand it,” Ewing said. “He created a virtually unstoppable shot and won at every level.”
The former Knicks star also revealed that Pat Riley, who coached Ewing in New York after guiding Abdul-Jabbar to four titles in Los Angeles, encouraged him to learn the skyhook. Ewing opted instead for a shorter jump hook, saying the skyhook “belonged to Kareem.”
Lakers’ Assets May Not Match Top Offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo
In other Lakers-related news, league executives expect the Milwaukee Bucks to explore trades for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. Los Angeles is interested, sources say, but rival clubs are projected to assemble stronger packages than the Lakers can offer.
The Lakers hold multiple first-round picks and several young players, yet front-office observers believe other suitors possess more attractive combinations of draft capital and proven talent.
Any Antetokounmpo deal cannot be finalized until the NBA’s transaction window opens after the Finals.
Source: LakersNation.com
