The Lakers have had a lot of great players step on the basketball court in their history. Only two have been captured in bronze outside of the Staples Center. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points, was not one of them until Friday night (11/16). Staples Center unveiled a nearly 16-foot-tall statue immortalizing Jabbar’s famed hook shot, alongside statues of fellow Lakers greats Magic Johnson and Jerry West, for future generations of basketball fans.
The 65-year-old Abdul-Jabbar pronounced himself humbled and grateful during a ceremony attended by numerous NBA greats ranging from Johnson and West to Pat Riley and Elgin Baylor – and even Lakers superfan Jack Nicholson.
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”Having lived my life and had the experiences I’ve had, I can understand now what a man like Lou Gehrig means when he considers himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” Abdul-Jabbar said.
Abdul-Jabbar is depicted in his signature goggles, wristbands and the standard 1980s short-shorts below his No. 33 jersey. The 7-foot-2 center pulled a braided cord to drop a curtain revealing the statue to hundreds of cheering fans, who gathered under threatening clouds for the ceremony. ”I’m glad we got here before the pigeons got to it,” Abdul-Jabbar said with a smile.
By any measure, Abdul-Jabbar is among the most significant figures in basketball history. He spent two decades in the league with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Lakers, winning a record six MVP awards while setting records at the time for games played, total minutes, field goals, blocked shots, defensive rebounds and fouls. It’s about time.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar Honored With Statue was originally published on theurbandaily.com
