Philippines, 02 Apr 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:

  • Melvin the Avenger
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • WORLD-RANKED LIGHTWEIGHT ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI TO FACE ALBERTO GUEVARA IN MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 6
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Carlos Flowers Shines on Day One for Team USA in World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Tellez Sisters Reina and Gabriela Sign with Boxlab Promotions
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Arena Grand Master Mohamad Sacar sweeps 1st Vientiane Open FIDE Rated Standard Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Unbeaten junior middleweight prospect Anthony “ATV” Velazquez Ready to bust out of New England
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOOTS VS. STANIONIS – ‘MAKE THE DAYS COUNT’ PREMIERES NOW
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • “THE FILIPINO FLASH” NONITO DONAIRE TO MAKE FIRST VISIT TO CANASTOTA FOR 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Tokyo Olympian Rashida Ellis signs long term management contract with Trifon Petrov
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Fightbook Adds Brendan Gibbons to Lead Athlete & Fan Activation Strategy
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOXLAB PROMOTIONS RETURNS TO ORLANDO FOR ACTION-PACKED FIGHT NIGHT ON APRIL 18
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Takeaways From Last Weekend's Fights in Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Lope Tenorio: El Bulakeño Matón (The Bulacan Brawler)
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Luka Doncic's Shock Factor for LAL Dissipating? Dallas Mavs Getting Playoff Bid Boost From AD
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem Easily Repeats Over Shigeoka, Spoils A Huge Boxing Weekend for Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS LIVINGSTONE BRAMBLE
    , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • IIEE GenX 3-peat, SAEP Millennial Champ in PTC WED Basketball
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem dominates Shigeoka in rematch, retains WBC World title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • AND STILL! WILLIAM "EL CAMARÓN" ZEPEDA RETAINS WBC INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE WITH MAJORITY DECISION VICTORY AGAINST TEVIN "2X" FARMER
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • A Second Coat of Paint: Mikaela Mayer Defeats Sandy Ryan in Action-Packed Rematch
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Cartel, 5 others share lead after Day 1 of 6th AQ Prime Standard Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem, Shigeoka successfully make weight for their WBC World Title rematch
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Rematches Rule the Day with Zepeda/Farmer & Mayer/Ryan on ESPN and DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Three Lions Promotions Official Weights from Hamilton, Canada
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Weights from Las Vegas: Mikaela Mayer - 146 lbs., Sandy Ryan - 145.5 lbs.
    , Sat, 29 Mar 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.