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Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I really did not want to be here and that made me make adjustments" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said playing in Milwaukee forced him to mature
"I really did not want to be here and that made me make adjustments" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said playing in Milwaukee forced him to mature originally appeared on Basketball Network. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gave the Milwaukee Bucks their first championship. But when he looked back, he admitted he never really wanted to be there. Advertisement It was culture shock. It was isolation. It was personal transformation. And yet, the city that once felt foreign helped shape one of basketball's greatest minds. "I think playing here made me mature," the All-Star center stated at a news conference via UPI. "I had a gilded kind of existence before. I really did not want to be here and that made me make adjustments." Why Kareem had to adjust his ways The adjustment that the 7'2" center referred to came about after his conversion to Islam. He changed his name from Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which, when translated, meant "noble one, servant of the Almighty." Advertisement The timing of his conversion came as a shock since it happened just after he led the Bucks to the 1971 title. He also bagged Finals MVP honors that season. In 2020, Kareem admitted that he would have handled his conversion differently if he could. He stressed that it was a personal choice, but the attention that it brought in was something he did not expect. "When I look back, I wish I could have done it in a more private way, without all the publicity and fuss that followed. But at the time, I was adding my voice to the civil rights movement by denouncing the legacy of slavery and the religious institutions that had supported it. That made it more political than I had intended and distracted from what was, for me, a much more personal journey," the UCLA product quipped. Turbulent as his life had been after that conversion, Abdul-Jabbar asked fans for a simple request as he wrapped up his career — appreciation. Beyond his personal choice, KAJ pointed out that he did his part and delivered the first NBA championship of the franchise. "I hope they can appreciate what I did so well for so long. I hope people can appreciate that," Kareem said. "I have a lot of memories of the city and the fans. You remember all of the high points like the championship in '72." Advertisement Despite all that had happened in the past, it seemed the fans had forgotten all about it. A sellout crowd of more than 18,000 cheered wildly for Cap in the pre-game ceremony, clearly an acknowledgment of his contributions and greatness. Related: "The focus was taken away from Alonzo" - Michael Jordan felt that Alonzo Mourning was more skilled than Shaquille O'Neal Kareem struggled to find the right home After admitting that he was uncomfortable being in Milwaukee, the next thing that Abdul-Jabbar had to do was look for the right place that blended in with his lifestyle and interests. It boiled down to three teams (in actual order): the New York Knicks, the Washington Bullets/ Wizards, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Advertisement In the end, the Bucks chose to trade Abdul-Jabbar along with Walt Westley to the Lakers for Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers, Junior Bridgeman, and cash. It was timely for the Purple and Gold, considering they had been on the lookout for a new big man following Wilt Chamberlain's retirement in 1973. Kareem's coming did not immediately translate into winning a championship. His talent was evident, which is why he won the 1976 and 1977 MVP awards. However, the Lakers needed to provide him with talent to win. The wait officially ended in the 1979-80 season. This was the year the Lakers got Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the perfect complement to Kareem. With the dynamic duo, L.A. won its 15th NBA championship in franchise history. This win also signaled the start of the Showtime era, which delivered nine titles with KAJ and Magic in the lead. Related: "Larry and Kareem are going nose to nose" - Kevin McHale says Bird and Abdul-Jabbar couldn't stand each other This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Which 10 players have the most career points in NCAA Tournament history?
College Basketball Which 10 players have the most career points in NCAA Tournament history? Published Mar. 13, 2025 9:58 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link FOX Sports Research March Madness is beloved for its underdog triumphs and Cinderella stories, but it's the stars that tend to prevail and carry their team to glory that leave the biggest mark in history. With the men's NCAA Tournament just around the corner, we wanted to provide a reminder of those that consistently delivered when the stakes were highest and the lights were brightest. Let's take a look! 10 players with most career points in NCAA Tournament history ADVERTISEMENT Timme was a quintessential collegiate superstar, as his game was absolutely dominant. Timme led Gonzaga to a 31-1 season and a national championship game appearance as a sophomore in 2021. The Bulldogs' big man finished behind Luka Garza, Oscar Tshiebwe and Zach Edey for John R. Wooden Award honors. T-8. Corliss Williamson, Arkansas (303 points) Williamson led Arkansas to its only NCAA championship in 1994. He scored a game-high 23 points to down the Grant Hill-led Duke Blue Devils in the final, 76-72. He also helped Arkansas reach the national championship game the following season, but the Razorbacks fell to UCLA by double digits, 89-78. T-8. Bill Bradley, Princeton (303 points) Sixty years later, Bradley's record for the most points scored of any Ivy League player still stands tall. He's responsible for leading the Tigers to their lone Final Four appearance in 1964. 7. Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, UCLA (304 points) Abdul-Jabbar, known then as Lew Alcindor, left nothing on the table during his time at UCLA. He led the Bruins to three national championship appearances in three seasons and led the conference in points and rebounds every year, too. He poured in a deluge of teardrops and sky-hooks en route to etching his name in Bruin lore. 6. Glen Rice, Michigan (308 points) Rice's performances throughout Michigan's 1989 national championship run buoyed him onto this list, as he had four 30-plus games — including a 31-point, 11-rebound performance in the Wolverines' 80-79 overtime win against Seton Hall in the title game. Rice dominated opponents with his athleticism and his ability to come off curl screens and knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers with ease. 5. Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati (324 points) "The Big O" posted video-game stats in college, averaging 30-plus points per game — without the 3-point line — in his three seasons with Cincinnati. He led the nation in points scored all three years, and his best season statistically came as a freshman when he averaged 35.1 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. He took the Bearcats on deep postseason runs but fell one game short of the championship every season. 4. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina (325 points) Hansbrough had arguably the greatest college career of any Tar Heel, as he's second to only Lennie Rosenbluth in points scored. He was a first-team All-American in all but his freshman season, won the Wooden and Naismith player of the year awards his junior year and then led North Carolina to an NCAA championship as a senior in 2009. 3. Danny Manning, Kansas (328 points) Manning's senior season was one of the best in Jayhawks' history, as he averaged 25 points and nine rebounds en route to leading Kansas to its second national title in 1988. He scored 31 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in the Jayhawks' title-game victory over Oklahoma. Manning dominated the paint both as a rebounder and a post player, often scoring second-chance points and using his footwork to oust bigger defenders. 2. Elvin Hayes, Houston (358 points) "The Big E" paved the way for Houston as one of the best schools for big men. He led the Cougars to a pair of Final Four appearances in 1967 and 1968, though both ended in losses. Hayes was one of the first centers to combine finesse and physicality, as he'd face up defenders and spin off the block, while averaging 17.2 rebounds per game in his three seasons at Houston. 1. Christian Laettner, Duke (407 points) Laettner's 1981 and 1982 NCAA championship title banners hang high in Cameron Indoor Stadium, and his lore will live forever in Duke basketball history. His most memorable moment came when he hit a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to push the Blue Devils past Kentucky and into the Final Four in 1982. Laettner hit numerous mid-range shots like that one to become the NCAA Tournament's all-time leading scorer, but it was his constant effort and hustle that set his legacy apart. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Basketball share
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Today in Chicago History: Fear, anger at O'Hare over Trump's immigration order
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 28, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 60 degrees (1914) Low temperature: Minus 13 degrees (1977) Precipitation: 0.71 inches (1909) Snowfall: 5 inches (2019) 1851: The charter for Northwestern University was passed by the Illinois General Assembly. The school opened four years later in Evanston. 1901: The American League formed in Chicago at the Grand Pacific Hotel with the White Sox as a charter member. 1922: Staleys no more — Chicago's professional football team changed its name to the Chicago Bears. 1961: Temperatures were near zero the morning when a warehouse building shared by Hilker & Bletsch Co., a bakery supply firm, and P. & P. Blueberry Packing Co. went up in flames. Disaster struck when a team of firefighters trying to rescue two comrades trapped in the building were themselves imperiled by a collapsing wall. Nine firemen perished, including two battalion chiefs. The emotional toll was heavy because one of them, George Rees, could be heard crying for help as firefighters struggled feverishly but in vain to reach him. It required more than 300 men, 67 pieces of equipment and two fireboats pumping water from the Chicago River to knock out the blaze. Even then, the rubble smoldered for days. The Tribune reported the sewers clogged with ice so that the area looked like an ice rink with water up to 18 inches thick surrounding the building. 1967: Though there was a massive snowstorm in which 23 inches of snow fell on the city, basketball fans still made it to Chicago Stadium to watch sensational UCLA sophomore Lew Alcindor, who would later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. On Saturday, Alcindor warmed up by scoring 35 points as UCLA beat Loyola 82-67. On Sunday, he scored 45 as the Bruins romped 120-82 over Illinois. UCLA ended the season 30-0, winning the first of a record seven straight NCAA titles. 2017: President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration set off a tumultuous day at O'Hare International Airport as frantic relatives, hundreds of protesters and volunteer lawyers gathered there. U.S. authorities took more than a dozen travelers into custody at O'Hare in response to Trump's order — but lawyers who came to their aid said all were set free after a federal judge temporarily barred deportations. Local immigration reform advocates denounced the order. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@
