Basketball legend Magic Johnson recently spoke about his former teammate Kareem Abdul Jabbar and called him the real Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) of the NBA.
Despite his iconic resume, Jabbar is often overlooked for his contributions to the league. Johnson referred to him as the most underrated player ever, and Kareem’s list of achievements proves Johnson’s point. Jabbar has won almost every state championship at high school, every national championship in college, and was college player of the year every single year.
Is Kareem really “the most decorated player ever”?
Although Bill Russell is often considered the greatest winner ever, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who won six Championships over the course of 20 years, is often overlooked. Johnson pointed out that Jabbar would have won four straight championships if freshmen were allowed to play at that time.
Hence, there is no greater winner than Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and he is one of the two players, along with Bill Russell, with the most decorated career in terms of winning.
Why Kareem is the real GOAT?
Kareem Abdul Jabbar is not only an offensive beast but also an underrated defense; he led the league in blocks four times. He won two scoring titles, six regular season MVPs—the most in NBA history—and is a two-time NBA Finals MVP.
With 19 All-Star appearances, Kareem Abdul Jabbar is tied with LeBron James, and all of these accolades speak to his being the most underrated player in NBA history. He is a legitimate contender for the GOAT title, and yet, very few give him that credit.
Magic Johnson’s words may change that. He spoke about Kareem’s achievements and called him the real GOAT of the NBA, overshadowing the likes of Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Kareem Abdul Jabbar is a player whose contributions to the league cannot be overlooked.
Kareem’s long list of achievements speaks for itself, and perhaps Magic’s words will help fans and critics appreciate Jabbar’s greatness even more. The basketball world needs to remember and recognize the true GOAT of the NBA, Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
