Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made news Wednesday by complaining via Twitter that he's not being given a fair shake by NBA decision-makers. He wants to become a head coach, and he not only doesn't get interviewed for openings, but rarely even gets mentioned as a candidate by the quick-to-speculate media. Kareem has never been suggested a head coach candidate for any job in our vast considerations here on FanHouse, and a long ESPN.com story by J.A. Adande on Phil Jackson's potential successors eliminated Kareem from the outset.The tone of Kareem's comments make it sound as if he's owed an opportunity based on his status (top scorer of all-time, legendary player, smart-as-a-whip man). Is he? Does the NBA owe anyone a job?
I would argue that KAJ needs to be on a bench (he's a special assistant, not a bench assistant now) for a few years before he can start a real complaint campaign. But then you just point at Vinny Del Negro, and that argument's lost. Henry Abbott, in the above-linked TrueHoop analysis, argues that by whining Kareem shows he may not be the right guy for an NBA head coach gig, which is at least partially about inspiration and motivation. That sounds right, too.
The bare reality might be, however, that NBA general managers are intimidated by Abdul-Jabbar. He's an imposing figure, just as much mentally as physically. He is not a company man, or at least he has shown a resistance to following a party line ... even when it comes to discussing the development of Andrew Bynum, his student he has at time ripped publicly. Teams don't want their coach causing storms in the media in terms of internal drama -- fighting with players, fighting with management, fighting with the world. Proven coaches -- Jackson, Pat Riley -- get away with it, but it's human nature for people to want to surround themselves with agreeable people. (Hence, the Del Negro hire.) Kareem's has also always found himself on the short end of the stick in terms of fame. Kareem and Magic Johnson each had three MVP trophies with the Lakers, and KAJ played two more full seasons in L.A. than Magic. But Magic is Mr. Laker, and always will be. Kareem was known as a bit of dour, quiet man during Showtime's heyday, and that reflects on the attention he commands in retirement. Larry Bird has the same sort of stigma ... but Bird jumped into coaching almost immediately, not taking a decade-and-a-half off to experience the world in other ways. Bird's playing fame directly carried into his coaching career. Kareem's playing fame has faded with time, and there's no major groundswell of popular love behind him.
If KAJ did make an earnest effort to get a job, he'd get one within a few years. Heck, I know he'd get one before Patrick Ewing. But this isn't the right way to go about it going forward. We're all aware Kareem wants a job. It's up to him to turn that awareness into support.
Comments (Page 1 of 6)
change subject talking about memphis bball ncaa and the law should go after those coaches
You state that he is "complaining via Twitter that he's not being given a fair shake by NBA decision-makers." However, you don't give the actual Twitter remarks. When I looked them up, the ones I saw said nothing about not being given a fair shake. In fact, in one, he admitted that it was his lack of coaching experience that was likely part of the problem.
The man is certainly not helping himself with hats like that.
Shut up.....!
He can wear anything he wants!!!!
He "Da Man".....the best center ever!!!!!
All ballers respect KAJ. If KAJ surrounded himself with a good X and O coach and a good people person coach, that staff would get the most out of their talent. The Cap will always be The Cap. If you cant go to war with him, you dont have any character and you dont respect the game. Good luck, Cap. You are an amazing individual.
NO ONE is "owed" anything by the NBA that isn't part of a contract. Just because someone doesn't get calls for coaching jobs, it doesn't mean that entitlement based on performance as a player is warranted. Whether it's Kareem or anyone else. Until and unless one is perceived as potentially a coach, has some coaching experience that warrants looking at then you are not 'coach material'. Period. People who really want to coach will find a way to get noticed doing a job, even if it starts at HS level. Some, may think that they should just slide in at NBA level...I don't think so..
THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. SAME RESULTS.
THIS WASN'T A CASE OF BOYCOTT JABBARS FROM COACHING. REASON MOST TEAMS DON'T WANT HIM IS AS FOLLOWED. NEVER TALKED TO MEDIA. HAD BAD RELATION WITH COACHES AND OWNERS. WHEN JABBAR WAS BROKE AND 40, TOLD NBA THEY OWED HIM TO SIGN HIM.
LUCKY LAKERS DID. THIS IS CASE WHERE IM SURE IF HE GOT FEET WET IN ONE OF SCHOOLS FOR COUPLE YEAR, MAYBE THEY WILL CONSIDER HIM. ALWAYS A DOOR OPEN IF YOU TAKE IT, AND DON'T BLAME SOMEONE ELES IF YOU DON'T.
when establishment doesnt give any person a fair oppurtunity to become something more than what people perseve you tobe ,because you a product of the turbulant 60's,thats whats called as black balled to certain extent,which is a crime and an injustice for all of us have a god given right to be who we want to be ,whether is right or wrong,as far as i'm concerned Kareem deserves to become a head coach,i honestly think he is the equivalent of a young John Wooden,if he gets the oppurtunity to become like a John Wooden and thats what these young players need another John Wooden,i plea to the N.B.A to give him that chance
GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!! Not even close.
what cheese would go well with that whine of yours ? Watermellon whine ?
Jabar , like Ralph Sampson , had great stature and physical skills . Bird had less physical skills but a better understanding of the game and of his opponents . Oh yeah , and Issac Thomas is a racist . Everybody deserves everything they aspire to ? B S !
no...he does not deserve anything. he was and may be the greatest center of all time...but he is an asshole...just like Jim Brown.....thats why he gets no head coaching jobs....keep the rascism out of this and call it as it is
I say let the man coach!
This photo would better suit the other article, comparing Abdul-Jabbar to Abdul. The necklace would look much better on her. So would the hat, though I like it on Kareem, two. Maybe he can become a Western Swing Flute and Sax picker as well as a head coach. Kareem is owed consideration, which he has not had, not selection, but most teams he`d be willing to coach for would owe it to their fans to hire him. He was not just a great physical talent, he was also an intelligent, well coached athleted under Wooden and Mourning kissing Riley, who "qualified' to be Laker coach by being a broadcaster, not even a special assistant coach (and maybe by kissing someone before he met Mourning), but did an excellent job once hired. Kareem`s migrane headaches are a difficulty for him, especially in a pressure job like coaching, but he won despite them as an athlete, and he can win despite them as a coach. Not as strong as Wilt or Shaq, not as athletic as Wilt or little Bill Russell, Lewis Ferdinand Alcindor was a better style blend than either Chamberlain or Russell, maybe on and off court. Jim Cleamons may be the most obvious choice to coach the Lakers in Jackson moves on to coach the Knicks, or Nets, or whomever, but Earvin Johnson and Kareem should probably be pn the initial short list as well (though I`d rather have Jeannie Buss in MY locker room, if there were no other guys but me, a necklace suits her, too!). Maybe Louisville, where former Uclan Denny Crum coached will open up. PityNo claims he rented a man, paid blackmail to a man, but had adultery with the man`s gorgeous wife, whom he didn`t pay. Maybe someone who buys that will, buy the Brooklyn bridge, and the Brooklyn Dodgers NBL basketball team for Kareem to head coach.
Stop crying there are a lot of ex players that would like to coach. Why should he be any different
Love Kareem, love him...Bruin great, Laker great...His problem is he's an introvert and because of that he doesn't come across as very likeable.
I don't think he would last very long in the head coaches seat before he went off and assaulted someone.
T.J. Simers and Bill Plaschke of the L.A. Times might get seriously hurt by "The Captain."
Wait a second, in that case give him the job.
Whining is the top requirement to becoming a top NBA coach, he'll be great!!!!!!!!!!!
who cares?
He is a freak, his looks would scare even the very brave, and then his accent and poor vocabulary. He is where he should be, out of the publics sight.
Bottom line is: Just because he played the game well doesn’t mean he can coach.
Poor vocabulary!!!??? If you say that then you have never heard him speak. He is one of the most intelligent people around.
Kareem is a better spoken man than YOU probably are! What is wrong with you pathetic white guys? Do you have penis envy? HA HA HA!