preface:
Karim Abdul-Jabbar has scored 38,387 more points in the NBA than the authors, but that number isn't the most enviable. He has also written 17 books and is a columnist for The Hollywood Reporter. Earlier, he had also written for television shows such as Time magazine and documentaries. He has a surging spirit of craftsmanship.
Q: James is only about 3,000 points away from your NBA scoring record. If he can stay healthy in the following seasons, he may have a chance to surpass you. What do you want to say about that?
Abdul-Jabbar: I'm going to be very excited about that day. I don't see records as personal achievements, but more as a manifestation of human ability. If one can do what no one else has done before, it means that everyone has the opportunity to do it. This is to bring hope and inspiration to everyone. Bannister "broke 4" (3:59.4) on a mile-high run for the first time in 1954.
Since then, more than 1,400 people have broken the record, and the record is now a full 17 seconds faster than The Bannister's record. When records are broken, it is a victory for humanity. If James broke my record, I would be on the scene to celebrate with open arms to him.
Q: People often discuss who goesat, and a lot of people like to compare Jordan and James. I know this annoys a lot of your peers. So how much did being involved in the GOAT discussion really affect you?
Abdul-Jabbar: Discussions about the greatest players are fun, like arguing about Superman and The Flash who is faster. This is a metaphysical question, full of mystery. The debates of the greatest players are difficult to get a definitive answer, because the player training system and penalty standards of the past are completely different from the present.
So one might ask if it should be judged from other angles, such as scoring, defense and assists? Or does it all count? But the data doesn't always reveal some of the specific circumstances players face, the different challenges they face each season, and they can't be generalized. Why don't we talk about who is one of the greatest players of all time?
Q: Young fans don't quite understand your influence with Chamberlain's player days. For the "Age of The Ancient Behemoths", you may be the most suitable interpreter. How do you think the supergiants are dominating the field compared to the 70s and 80s of the last century?
Abdul-Jabbar: Each generation of players often feels that they are too early to enjoy some of the conveniences of younger generations of players compared to their younger generations. Indeed, contemporary players may be the generation that can best control their careers. They earn big contracts and can say whatever they want.
But things should get better over time, and years later, journalists may ask retired James and Curry a similar question, that is, how to compare themselves to the younger players. I'm sure they'll give a pertinent answer as well.
Q: Your "SkyHook" looks like an outside technology and is difficult to learn. This may also explain why after you, you don't see any players who can continue to use the technology. When did you develop this offensive tactic, and why did it allow you to play so freely?
Abdul-Jabbar: In fifth and sixth grade, I spent a lot more time on the bench than on the court. But Coach Hopkins observed something in me. Then he got a college player from his neighbor named George McCann. He taught me a lot of inside line techniques. When he was at DePaul University, he used hookers to blow up many teams.
So I practiced until I could hook my hands with my left and right hands at any time, and I could also adjust the arc and the distance. I'm actually very good at dunking. But I prefer the elegance of "Sky Hook", which exhibits a different individual athletic talent than other violent aesthetics.
Q: When you were playing, the environment of public opinion seemed to be particularly noisy, and it seemed that it was difficult to keep a secret for a long time under the conditions at that time. So how did you and the Bucks keep the deal you were looking for a deal a secret that lasted almost the entire 74-75 season?
Abdul-Jabbar: There were not so many journalists at that time, after all, the number of news at that time was also small. Now Twitter and the crowd of people who are actively digging up news on it don't exist either. At that time, everyone on the team was very reputable and had honor in their hearts. That's why we've kept this secret for most of the season.
Q: The Substack platform has attracted many well-known writers. But there are very few MVP players in the 6th class, what made you decide to build your own plate in Substack?
Abdul-Jabbar: Salman Rushdie is a great writer, Scott Snydervi, my favorite comic book writer. And you (the author of this article) are the sports writers I like, and when I see a lot of people I like, feel the creativity of the writer community and their sense of energy, I am very eager to join them.
I want to be able to start my own reader community and attract fans, friends, and others to share my interests and opinions. These interests and perspectives include sports, politics, and popular culture. I like to give people a more personalized, intimate experience, let us observe the world, praise the world, and make the earth a better place.
I also wanted to do something I hadn't done before. For every book I publish, publishers want me to try to write different styles of articles. But in my own community I can do whatever I want. I can also interact with readers through audio and video.
You've been writing columns and books and various other forms of content in recent years, and you should be fully aware that the process can be brainy. So what makes you love writing so much?
Abdul-Jabbar: Since high school, my emphasis on academics has been on par with my pursuit of sports. I am interested in literature, history, science and art. It also has a great passion for promoting social justice, mainly to speak out for the needs and concerns of minorities. Writing can put together all of my interests and use my knowledge to promote the country for the better.
The documentary I collaborated with the History Channel is about the contributions of black Americans during the Revolutionary And Civil Wars. These have rarely been mentioned in the past. I've written books that also have stories about black inventors fighting for the glory of the black community.
I also like the entertainment side of the content. Writing gave me the opportunity to show my funny talents. I wrote about Holmes's wise mother. I also worked as a tv writer and also wrote novels for young people about children playing basketball exploring and discovering secrets. It's all purest pleasure for me, and I hope it's the same for my readers.
Q: I noticed a recent photo of you in downtown Los Angeles that listed a series of accomplishments since you retired from the field compared to your achievements on the field. So does off-court gain mean more to you than basketball glory?
Abdul-Jabbar: Both of these are important to me. I don't see personal honors or records as recognition of myself. I feel like I've been working hard to provide better entertainment to fans, readers, and trying to be a better teammate.
These honors and records are a measure of my efforts. I am very grateful that my success in basketball has given me a bigger platform to speak out on other matters. I created the Skyhook Fund to help children get a better education.
Q: You came to the Bucks home as a spectator last season. As someone who fought alongside Oscar Robertson and others in the 1970s, how was it like to see the Bucks win their first title after nearly 50 years?
Abdul-Jabbar: Even though I converted to Islam and changed my name, bucks fans have always been very supportive of me. This transition was not easy for them, especially 50 years ago. So going back to bucks arena is like going back to the place where I became famous, where Karim Abdul-Jabbar was born.
It's an honor to play with a player like Big O, who is like a big brother to me. I often benefit from his basketball wit and experience, which benefited me a lot early in my career.
By Marc Stein
Compilation: Shaohua Baishou
<b>Interviews with people</b>