During his 20-year NBA career, Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made a name for himself as one of the most dominant and consistent stars in the league. But as much as the league’s all-time No. 2 scorer in his career highlights, perhaps his best attributes are his longevity and availability.
Had Abdul-Jabbar played in today’s game, he believes his league career could have lasted much longer.
He talks to fellow Hall of Famer and Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal on The NBA on TNTAbdul-Jabbar speculated that his career could have lasted longer than the 20 seasons it lasted.
“I could have played 25 to 30 with loads managing,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “I sit at home and think about it. I made a commitment to keep fit. [After] Season over, I took off two weeks… I worked on my stamina, I worked on my feet. It was just a challenge every year to try to be the best man in my position.”
Abdul-Jabbar’s final year in the league was 1989, when he turned 42. He’s only missed 80 regular season games during his career, which is an impressive feat for someone who routinely played deep into the playoffs and stood at 7’2″.
It might be dubious to think that Abdul-Jabbar could have played into his fifties, but it seems certain that no matter what era he played in, the six-time MVP would have become a force to be reckoned with.