Basketball
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar To Get Statue
By Eric Lemus
Aug 28, 2012 - 11:31:38 AM

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Lakers announced their intentions to erect a statue of former Laker and UCLA Bruin legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Tuesday morning.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The decision by the Lakers to add to Staples Center's galleria of statues come nearly a year and a half after the NBA's all-time leading scorer voiced his discontent with the organization for erecting a statue of Jerry West before his own.

Abdul-Jabbar was also let go by the team as a special adviser to young center Andrew Bynum in 2011 after Bynum refused to work with Abdul-Jabbar because he felt he had already took all he could from the special training.

Lew Alcindor with John Wooden.

Abdul-Jabbar was told in 2011 that he would be the next player with a statue in front of the arena after he publicly stated that he felt the Lakers organization minimally valued the 19-time all-star.

Abdul-Jabbar retired from the NBA following the 1989 season. His 38,387 points stands as the record for most points scored in a career. He has 6 championships (5 with the Lakers) and 6 NBA MVP awards. Abdul-Jabbar's #33 has been retired by the Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and UCLA Bruins.

Abdul-Jabbar, then Lew Alcindor, was the #1 overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1969 NBA draft after winning three National Championships under coach John R. Wooden at UCLA.


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