Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on LeBron’s Mount Rushmore: ‘He has to prove a few things’
By Stu White
Y’all ready for some more Mount Rushmore talk? OF COURSE YOU ARE!
Okay, a recap for those of you with actual lives: LeBron James thinks he’ll wind up on the “Mount Rushmore” of NBA greats when all is said and done. Some people agree. Some people don’t. Thrilling stuff. The Mount Rushmore debate is definitely on the Mount Rushmore of best sports debates of this decade.
Anyway, six-time NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar weighed in on the “controversy” this week, telling the Los Angeles Daily News that LeBron lacks perspective from not having seen legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell play:
"“LeBron James was talking about how he’s the best ever. He never saw Wilt Chamberlain play. If he had, he wouldn’t say that. Whenever he averages 55 points a game, then I might want to listen to what he has to say. I’m not trying to put LeBron down. He’s awesome. He’s the best player in this era at this point. But he didn’t see Bill Russell play. When his team wins eight consecutive NBA championships, maybe I’ll compare him to Bill Russell. Until then, he has to prove a few things. I don’t want to put LeBron down. He’s awesome and great for the game and a class guy. But there’s a lot more to that.”"
Abdul-Jabbar also dropped the following truth-bomb:
"“It’s impossible to judge over the generations. Every ten years you should have rank a 10-year team. I guess that’s why they have sports bars so people can argue about this kind of stuff. You’re not going to resolve it.”"
Yuuuuuup.
[Source: Los Angeles Daily News]