Philippines, 14 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


This man of stature deserves his statue


PhilBoxing.com




LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers, dethroned and swept out of this year's NBA playoffs, appears to have a lot of fight left in them. Sadly, though, this fight is just against each other.

The ongoing brouhaha between both sides purple-and-gold came to light sometime last week, when ex-team captain and Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went public with his displeasure over how the Lakers organization has "mistreated" him in his basketball afterlife.

In a guest appearance at "Mike and Mike in the Morning," a nationally-syndicated program airing on ESPN radio, Jabbar claimed that the franchise no longer appreciates him. In a prior interview, Jabbar told The Sporting News magazine that he was "slighted" that the Lakers have not erected a statue of him outside Staples Center.

Among the Laker greats who have statues at Staples Center include Jerry West, Magic Johnson and Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Chick Hearn.

Jabbar, however, insists that the statue is merely the "tipping point."

But while all men are created equal, statues are not.

There is no law, state and federal, or a set criteria that mandates or determines whether a sports franchise must build a statue to honor its heroes, past and present. The decision to pay homage to an NBA player in whatever way, shape or form, is the sole discretion of the organization to which that player once played for.

In the NBA, it's not always fair in love and statues.

The Chicago Bulls, for instance, immediately erected a statue of Michael Jordan outside the United Center in 1994, just months after His Airness announced his retirement and subsequently brought his talents to the baseball diamond.

In Utah, however, only Brigham Young seems to have all the statues. None for either John Stockton and Karl Malone.

KAREEM WILL GET ONE. The Lakers brass assured Jabbar late last week that he is next in line to get a statue.

If, for some reason, some of you don't think that the 7-foot-2, 225-pound center doesn't deserve a statue, let the following stats seep through your brain.

The artist formerly known as Lewis Alcindor Jr., Jabbar played in the NBA from 1969 to 1989. He was an NBA Rookie of the Year awardee and was named MVP six times. He also won six NBA titles, one with the Milwaukee Bucks and five with the Lakers.

The father of the skyhook, Jabbar finished his career with 38,387 points, 17,440 rebounds and 3,189 shotblocks. Jabbar appeared in 19 All-Star Games, more than LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant combined.

Jabbar never needed a monicker to let people know how good he was at what he did. A statue wouldn't make him any greater or taller, but it would be make the fans remember Jabbar, always and forever. (NRR)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Nicholai R. Roska.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Sep 2025
  • Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • Vietnam’s Pool Revolution: Hanoi Open Pool Championship
    , Sat, 13 Sep 2025
  • SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
    , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025
  • Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
    By Nick Giongco, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Andrade, Garras rule Milo marathon in Tagum
    , Wed, 10 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.