Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most notable and influential players in basketball history. The Lakers have had many legendary players and coaches throughout their team history but few have stood out the way Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did. Abdul-Jabbar spent 14 of his 20 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers and won 5 of his 6 rings, playing a key role in each Finals victory. Pairing with Magic Johnson, they created one of the most dynamic duos in NBA history. On top of all this history, he also played a significant role in one of the most classic rivalries in sports, the Lakers and Celtics. In 1990, the Lakers retired the 19-time all-star’s number 33. The ceremony came just 1 year after the legend’s retirement. After announcer Chick Hearn introduced Abdul-Jabbar, he was given a 2 minute standing ovation. Afterwards, he delivered a nice, brief speech thanking his teammates, coaches, the organization and the fans for the 14 seasons he spent with them. Whether it was during his professional career or his collegiate career at UCLA, Abdu-Jabbar was always a dominant force on the court. A major part of his Hall of Fame career was his perfection of the “Sky Hook”. His sky hook is known as one of if not the most unstoppable shot in basketball.
Categories:
March 20, 1990- Lakers retire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s number
Story continues below advertisement
0
More to Discover
About the Contributor
Dylan Miller, Editor-in-Chief
Dylan Miller is currently a Senior at Colonia High School. He enjoys participating in sports, earning varsity letters in cross country, winter track and spring track. In addition to participating in sports, Miller also follows the NFL, NBA and MLB. Scouting is a large part of Miller’s extracurricular activities since he on the path to Eagle Scout. At this level he will learn more about leadership and communication, which Miller is eager to add to his skill set as he prepares for college. When he’s not busy in school or running, he enjoys watching TV shows like Ted Lasso. He also likes listening to sports analysts Colin Cowherd, Jim Rome or Dan Patrick. He aspires to work in the sports field and run track in college.