Growing up s**ks, doesn’t it? While opportunities and alike are wonderful, seeing our heroes step into old age is heartbreaking. That was the scenario every stout NBA fan found themselves in. Before the discussion became LeBron James or Michael Jordan, one man would dominate the GOAT debate. That was the Captain himself, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Revolutionary as they came, both on and off the court, Jabbar was exceptional in every facet. Moreover, he was a true trailblazer in the ‘anti-hero” light. However, old age has brought its own set of problems.

Days ago, news of the Los Angeles Lakers legend’s accident made the news waves shocking the NBA world. Whether it was former teammate Magic Johnson or the NBA world as a whole, Kareem was in everyone’s prayers. Especially, Earl Monroe, who even had a special text he sent to the 6x NBA Champion.

Wishing him a speedy recovery and some good health after learning of his broken hip, Monroe was heartfelt in the exchange. However, the bigger story coming out of his discussion was his ardent support for the former Lu Alcindor. To begin the discussion, The Pearl made his stance on the debate perfectly clear.

“I think that he has always been, you know, on top of things. He’s always been, you know, that guy, that go-to guy. I don’t really understand it. I mean, he’s obviously one of the best players to ever play the game.” However, the New York Knicks legend would provide a possible reason for his exclusion.

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Due to his infamous anti-hero persona, the winningest MVP in NBA history wasn’t as popular with those carrying the discussions forward.

The reputation that ruined the legacy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Perhaps, ruin is too strong a word. But, for a 6x MVP, 6x NBA Champion, and the league-leading scorer for nearly 40 years, anything short of the GOAT discussion feels impossible. However, a dent in his reputation led to that exact scenario playing out for him.

Mr. Black Jesus would dive further into that same infamous reputation. “Sportswriters, they write certain things. When you think about Kareem, you think about his legacy…Early on, people didn’t like Kareem. Sportswriters, you know, he was, you know, they thought he arrogant. And so on and so forth. And then the longer you play, and the longer you play, you know, the more people start to embrace you.” 

Today, Lebron James gets all the credit, and rightfully so, for shattering the record books and defeating Father Time. But, the original was always Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. May you come back healthier than ever, Captain.

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