There’s no denying Kareem Abdul – Jabbar’s positioned among the everlasting legends, not merely because of Los Angeles Lakers but in NBA From his supremacy in high school through his outstanding professional career, Abdul-Jabbar assembled a portfolio that very few could match. Nevertheless, in discussions about who is the greatest of all time, his name often gets overlooked. Mychal Thompson , who has won the NBA championship twice, recently expressed his views on why this occurs.
Appearing on “ Run it Back, Thompson mentioned that Abdul-Jabbar is underappreciated since current audiences did not witness his performances and frequently lack knowledge of his remarkable accomplishments. Additionally, he pointed out that numerous fans are unfamiliar with his legacy. NBA The memories begin during Michael Jordan’s era.
“ Teenagers believe that the NBA began when Michael Jordan became part of the league. ,” Thompson said. “ In my opinion, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stands as the ultimate basketball great. He was undoubtedly the top performer during his high school days. At the collegiate level, he towered over all competitors effortlessly. When examining his professional record with six MVP awards and five Finals MVP honors, I believe he tops them all. He's simply the best there ever was.
Thompson, who was once a teammate of Abdul-Jabbar, noted that as years go by, fewer people from Kareem’s time remain to support his position in the debate over the greatest of all time (GOAT). “ It seems like we're growing older. A lot of us veterans are passing away, so there aren’t many of us remaining who can truly advocate for Kareem and Wilt. ,” Thompson added.
A generational problem
Thompson, who happens to be the father of Golden State Warriors' ace player Klay Thompson, feels that Abdul-Jabbar’s omission from discussions about the greatest players ever is due to generational differences. In his view, numerous contemporary analysts and enthusiasts tend to concentrate solely on athletes from their own formative years, often overlooking the sport’s storied past.
“ And you have so many younger individuals... everyone has a podcast nowadays, and everyone acts like an expert commentator, mostly seeming to be in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. ,” Thompson said. “ They only recall Michael Jordan and LeBron James. And remember that basketball has been around for many years before those players joined the league. ”.
Thompson also emphasized Bill Russell’s amazing heritage, showcasing his unparalleled title wins. " Why is Bill Russell often overlooked? He won an impressive 11 championships in just 13 years. Think anyone will go up to that? No. ,” he added.
The cycle of generational forgetting
This gap between generations isn't something new.Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade shared a comparable viewpoint back in 2022 during an episode of the " Armchair Expert Podcast: Wade suggested that coming generations might not remember Michael Jordan and LeBron James, similar to how contemporary fans frequently disregard Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s legacy.
“ We won’t be the ones talking about the greatest of all time. ,” Wade said. “ When I watched players compete today, I realized I considered myself skilled... but they outshine me significantly. As the game keeps progressing, we'll inevitably witness unprecedented developments. Moreover, the upcoming talents will only be getting more youthful. And people will overlook Jordan just as we've overlooked Kareem. ”.
