[Isiah Thomas]: On Giannis, “This was a Wilt Chamberlain performance, this was a Lew Alcindor/Kareem, you know, Shaq performance. This wasn’t like just, you know, a Dirk Nowitzki performance or a Karl Malone. This was like the giants of our industry. That kind of performance.”
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Rumors
Justin Kubatko: Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of only two players in NBA history to win multiple MVP Awards and a Finals MVP Award before his 27th birthday. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who also achieved the feat as a member of the @Milwaukee Bucks. * The Finals MVP Award was first given in 1969. pic.twitter.com/zzVjUrb5gJ
Justin Kubatko: Giannis Antetokounmpo is just the third player in NBA history to record at least 150 points, 50 rebounds, and 25 assists through the first five games of a Finals: ✅ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1974) ✅ LeBron James (2015, 2017, 2020) ✅ Antetokounmpo (2021) pic.twitter.com/TG6MBneSU0
Abdul-Jabbar spent 14 seasons with the Lakers and has his No. 33 jersey with the franchise retired. The all-time leader in points scored discussed being on the cover and how he sees the NBA today. Among the talking points was his current favorite big man in the NBA, and Abdul-Jabbar went with a familiar face from the Lakers. “I have a favorite big man and he happens to play in LA and wear number 3, Anthony Davis,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “I think he’s the most talented. Defensively in the paint, he’s awesome. Offensively in the paint, he’s awesome, and then he can go out on the perimeter and be a problem. He can hit the 3 consistently or the mid- and long-range jumper. So, I would have to go with him.”
Abdul-Jabbar also mentioned Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, but Abdul-Jabbar needs to watch them more often before placing them above Davis. “But, as you said, Embiid … he’s tough, Jokic … he’s tough,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “I haven’t seen them play a lot. I might change my mind if I get a chance to see them play more, but I’m going to have to go with AD because I’m a Laker through and through and he’s proved it so far.”
