Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was selected as an All-Star in 1989 for ‘sentimental reasons’ but one NBA coach had a problem with it back then.
Before Michael Jordan and LeBron James came along, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was widely considered the greatest player in NBA history by many. Six championships, six MVPs, and 19 All-Star selections made it hard to argue against his case, although one of those was not like the others.
Advertisement
In 1989, during his 20th and final season in the NBA, the legendary center was selected as an All-Star despite averaging just 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game at the time. He initially declined as he wasn’t playing at an All-Star level, but eventually accepted when he was asked again as an injury replacement for Magic Johnson. Not everyone back then thought this was a great idea, though.
Abdul-Jabbar is remembered now as one of the game’s greatest and rightfully so. But public opinion about him wasn’t always positive. He had a strained relationship with fans and the media during his playing days, being perceived as aloof and arrogant.
Kareem’s outspoken views on civil rights and his unapologetic demeanour also led to some general dislike around the league. So when he was named an All-Star for ‘sentimental reasons’ in his final season, then-Nuggets coach Doug Moe took issue with it.
“Somebody asked me if I thought Kareem should be on the All-Star team for sentimental reasons,” Moe wrote, as reported by the LA Times. “You have to like somebody to have sentiment for him. That’s why Dr. J made it (two years ago).
Advertisement
“Kareem would be the last guy you’d pick for sentimental reasons. Here’s a guy who has been pretty much a j*** almost his entire life. He’s been one of the least-liked guys in the NBA by fans, media, the players. If at one time or another you’ve ticked off everybody in basketball, how the h*** are you supposed to be voted in for sentimental reasons?”
Despite the criticism, Abdul-Jabbar did play in his final All-Star Game that year. He had four points and signed off with his signature, unstoppable skyhook. A lot of stories like this have been forgotten with time, but this is a good reminder that negative media attention and issues of this sort were just as common back in the day as they are in the modern NBA.
Read more:
