Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be marked in history as the greatest
NBA center of all-time. Not because of his innate ability to score, but also his team concept and leadership capabilities in terms of guiding teams to NBA World Championships. It's amazing that a single basketball shot-
"The Skyhook," could be perfected in such a manner that it dominated collegiate (NCAA) and professiona (NBA) basketball competition for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's college and pro years. From game winning shots with the skyhook to developing the
"Skyhook" as a "Staple" of sorts for the
Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980's, Kareem's "perfect" approach to establishing the
"Skyhook" made his game perfect!
Kareem had the knack for shooting the skyhook, almost always in rhythm. Yes, rhythym, something that all athletes, not just basketball players seek to achieve.
Kareem's rhythmic approach to the shooting of his "Skyhook" is even mimmicked by society in general, throughout the world, because rhythm is what all people seek to achieve throughout our lives.
Kareem's "Skyhook" could always be counted on, during the Lakers hal-court set-up offense and his days at
UCLA and Milwaukee. Now, let's not fail to mention
Power Memorial High School. It takes all the discipline ion the world, to be so tall, at 7'4" as
Kareem is and establish such an eloquent shot that demands the touch and precision of a feather-like touch! Log onto
Jamaal Al-Din's Hoops 227- the everything basketball website!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's "Skyhook" has been imitated but never matched, just like
Kareem the person...one of a kind! Even Kareem's website at
kareemabduljabbar.com is the stuff of creativity, consistency, elegance and unparralled honesty with blogs and contributions from people who are knowledgeable of the game of basketball (
NCAA & NBA). Magic Johnson paired with the perfect basketball match, in
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and their competitive spirit has fueld the entire Los Angeles Lakers franchise for decades!
Magic Johnson could always count on Kareem's
"Skyhook," even if he
("Magic") had to shoot it himself ie.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics during the final moments of a 1980's match-up! Log onto
227's NBA Bounce- the online basketball magazine!
Kareem as a coach? Well, I,
Jamaal Al-Din could see
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar winning a record number of games as a Head Coach in the
NBA. Why he has not been a Head Coach in the
NBA is astonishing, considering everything from his athletic prowess and ability as an
NBA basketball player to simply his background of both
NCAA (
UCLA) and
NBA dominance! Kareem would be an ideal fit for a Youthful team that needs veteran guidance and doesn't have that particular veteran player on the roster. Think about it... Kareem, the
"Skyhook," Kareem the records,
Kareem the winning... a perfect match of qualities that would make for an intriguing and "winning" Head Basketball coach in the
NBA. To me a perfect match for
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as a Head Basketball Coach in the NBA would have been this season's 2008-09
New York Knicks. Youth and athleticism, and lots of it.
Kareem would add that intangible aspect of discipline that's needed in youthful 20-25 year old's who are making millions ($)!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in my estimation, mastered the art of winning through discipline, basics, and practice. It doesn't get anymore basic than setting up on the low-post block, calling for the ball from
Magic, and shooting that elegant, soft touch skyhook consistently...over and over and over again, until years later, you're crowned as the league's leading scorer! Not many dunks or jump-shots but an array of
"Skyhooks" that saw the bottom of the net. And the interesting fact about
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's "Skyhook," is that it was used by Magic, the greatest point-guard in
NBA history! If imitation is flattery, the
Magic man flattered Kareem to absolute greatness when he
(Magic) would use the infamous
"Skyhook" during clutch situations with the game on the line!
Kareem's consistent, half-court game was awesome and very difficult to defend for college (NCAA) and professional (NBA) basketball opponents. At
Power Memorial High School in New York,
Kareem dominated with unparralled size. Later, at
UCLA with
John Wooden he could still dominate, at 7'4" however, with the dunking rules and regulations at the time...the birth of the
"Skyhook" and
basketball dominance was inevitable!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the
"Skyhook" changed the game of basketball because it propelled an eccentric
basketball player with great athletic skill, to a consistency level taht was unmatched for... not 1, 2, 3, or 4 years but an entire career. That's absolutely amazing, and only the great ones can sustain that kind of consistency (ie.)
Oscar Robertason, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, John Havlicek, Patrick Ewing, and Isiah Thomas. Log onto
Jamaal Al-Din's Hoops 227- the everything basketball website!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar one of the games greatest players, an NBA giant, and winner of championships and life's challenges. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & "The Skyhook,"- A Perfect Match!
By: Jamaal Al-DinAbout the Author:
Played for the great, legendary Coach Ed Palubinskas of Olympic fame and college history. Ed Palubinskas set Olympic scoring records while playing for the Australian Olympic Basketball National Team and is well kwown for shooting accuracy so much that he tutored the great NBA Legend Shaquille O'Neal while with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and currently the NBA's Phoenix Suns World Champion with both the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers! Ed Palubinskas is developer of "The Smartball" advertised on the NFL Network and ESPN.
Top Defensive Player at the University of Michigan Basketball Camp http://www.mgoblue.com
All-State Varsity Basketball Mountain Home High School
Averaged 24 pts/game as State's Leading Scorer
Member of Idaho Sports Exchange Basketball Team which competed in Germany!
Played for Coach Charlie Miller at West Virginia Wesleyan College
Notable West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats: Press Maravich coached at West Virginia Wesleyan College before LSU. (He is the father of LSU, NCAA and NBA Hall of Famer, "Pistol" Pete Maravich!).
Appeared on Boise ESPN affiliate sports radio station, KTIK Radio in June of 2007, regarding basketball camps and clinics for youth in Boise, Idaho.
What Are People Saying About ? New York Knicks