Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Magic won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and three league MVP awards.

In the 1980 NBA finals as a 20-year-old rookie, he famously filled in at center for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the clinching game and put up 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists, winning the finals MVP.

It was a performance that announced a new superstar to the world.

Magic's infectious smile and love for the game helped bring the NBA into a golden age of popularity.

They were smart basketball plays to get the best shot for his team.

As a leader, Magic knew how to bring out the best in diverse personalities.

From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's calm focus to Pat Riley's intensity, he listened, communicated, and led with positivity.

Off the court, his impact has been just as profound.

I forget who invented the sky hook.

Not Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's or Magic Johnson's, but you throw a hook up in the sky, it holds on, then you pull yourself up.

It does not make any sense.

But, you know, stranger things have happened.

Um, so that's never been a huge concern to me, but if that is something that, you know, you're worried about, I don't suggest going after big men or role players.

You know, the exceptions maybe to like a Kareem or a, you know, Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing.

I mean, maybe the most popular big men, y- you're a little safer, but for the most part, n- not, not somewhere you're gonna put into your investment portfolio going after these guys.

Yeah.

And, and it really follows the same kind of trajectory that the NBA did, Jim.

I mean, think back to George Mikan and Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain and, and, and, and all of the r- Kareem and all of the big-centric basketball that we saw from the '60s, '70s, '80s, you know, um, Robert Parish and Moses Malone and all of these.

And then it started to kind of go into Michael Jordan s-

My bad

Honorable mention.

Larry Bird, LeBron James, Walt Frazier, Kareem.

Who was that last one? I can't

see it.

Pettit?

Yeah.

I think Kareem should be on there.

Was Kareem elite defensively? Elite shot blocker.

The Milwaukee Bucks have been hit where it hurts the most.

Their star center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, has a disabling injury, and no one in the league is about to help the Bucks out.

General Manager Wayne Embry says, even when you're healthy, people don't want to trade with you and help you.

Now people feel that with Kareem out, it's to their advantage.

Larry Bird.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Sorry.

I think

And it really follows the same kind of trajectory that the NBA did, Jim.

I mean, think back to George Mikan and Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain and all of the Kareem and all of the big centric players basketball that we saw from the 60s 70s 80s you know uh robert parish and moses malone and all these and then it started to kind of go into michael jordan magic johnson you know just like all of the guards and and that is when it got super uh supersized and just really kind of hit another gear and i think the wnba is going through that as well right now and uh I think it makes it more sustainable as well.

When you're looking at fans and wanting to connect with the game and, you know, young girls and boys watching and wanting to play like these players do, it's easier to try and figure out like, hey, I could become a guard that can make great passes more so than I can be a 6'6 center and dominate in the paint that way.

And so, yeah, Caitlin's game is known for those deep threes, but she brings so much more to the table than that.