Kareem wanted to honor Lebron in `the right way'

LOS ANGELES >> It had been two days since Kareem Abdul-jabbar took a short step down to second place in the record book. But he seems to have long ago made his peace with the idea that he would be eclipsed.

As a reporter mentioned in passing that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had passed his franchise scoring record last year, the 75-year-old quipped: “Geez, I’m fading fast.”

But while Abdul-jabbar is now seeing younger men strive further than he once did in basketball, he remains very much alive, writing new articles three times per week, keeping up with his grandchildren, and well, maybe even looking back at the past with a little chagrin.

He stood tall in his days at Power Memorial High, at UCLA, in Milwaukee and for 14 memorable seasons in a Laker uniform, but he’s not so proud as to worry about Lebron James taking his spot as the NBA’S all-time leading scorer.

Asked about what nearly 39 years as the league’s leading scorer meant to him on Thursday night shortly before the Lakers fell to the Bucks, 115-106, Abdul-jabbar was almost dismissive.

“I think it’s something people will know that I did along the way,” he said. “But those days are over. It’s no big deal.”

With his presence on Tuesday and Thursday, including presenting a ceremonial ball to James at midcourt of Crypto.com Arena during the third quarter on the night James passed his 38,387-point mark, Abduljabbar meant to mend fences with the younger man. They only met for the first time “five or six years ago” when Abdul-jabbar attended a Cleveland Cavaliers playoff game, and James introduced him to his mother. They also chatted last Halloween at a Lakers party when Abduljabbar brought his grandkids.

In between, Abdul-jabbar has played commentator to James’ legacy. He wrote an essay when James was named Sports Illustrated’s 2020 Sportsman of the Year, lauding his social activism. He also had praise for James on Thursday night: “He’s sending an entire school district to college to pay their tuition. This is awesome.”

But Abdul-jabbar has also chided James for apparent vaccine hesitancy, which he recently wrote “in my mind was the kind of nudging one teammate does with another.”

But noting that Wilt Chamberlain did not come to Las Vegas when he broke the big man’s record in 1984, Abdul-jabbar said he wanted to set a new precedent and show James the depth of his respect.

“Wilt wasn’t able to be in Las Vegas when I broke his record, and to me, I feel like I did it the right way and made sure Lebron knew I supported what he was doing,” Abdul-jabbar said. “And that this is something very special, and I’m happy to help him celebrate it.”

The Lakers continued celebrating Thursday, bringing James out for a pregame ceremony with his immediate family — mother Gloria, wife Savannah, children Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri — who he called “my starting five.” He talked about how his love of basketball started from a $20 plastic hoop set that Gloria James bought when he was 3: “Someone said on social media that that was the biggest investment in the history of mankind. (Who knew) a $20 Little Tikes hoop could turn into what it’s turned into today?”

James also described his desire to improve his game, wanting to no-look pass like Magic Johnson, shoot fadeaways like Michael Jordan, cross over defenders like Allen Iverson and “have an afro and jump in the dunk contest like Kobe Bryant.” He cited a number of people who helped him throughout his childhood and career, all the way up through his Lakers tenure.

“You guys, over the last five years, have become family to me as well,” he said addressing the fans. “So thank you to the Laker faithful. You guys are unbelievable. And every night I step on the floor, I understand and I truly have a huge responsibility and understand what it means to represent the Los Angeles Lakers when I step on this floor. So thank you.”