New York museum honors city’s rich basketball history
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar smiled as he rattled off the names of his former high school teammates and opponents.
The Hall of Fame center was intently watching video of one of his New York high school championships when he starred for Power Memorial Academy 55 years ago. He was known as Lew Alcindor back then, when he dominated the city before heading to UCLA.
The video was part of a new exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York that chronicles some of New York’s greatest basketball players and moments — City/ Game.
“I will always enjoy those memories,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “I remember I was still in grade school when I started to go to NBA games at Madison Square Garden and that had an effect on me.”
Abdul-Jabbar spent about 15 minutes walking through the exhibit, which opens to the public Friday. Besides the video, there was also a photo of him playing in high school. He quickly pointed out former Knicks’ great Dean Meminger in the picture, as well.
The exhibit is divided into different eras of New York basketball starting in the 1900s and going through current time. There’s Kenny Anderson’s high school jersey, as well as that of Sue Bird and Tina Charles. A signed Jeremy Lin Knicks jersey from the height of “Linsanity”.
“Basketball’s history and development is inextricably tied to New York,” says Whitney Donhauser, the director and president of the museum. “City/Game captures the excitement and evolution of this quintessentially urban game and the energy of the diverse New Yorkers who play it and love it.”