Why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar might be the GOAT | Greatest Peaks Ep. 3
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- Support at Patreon: / thinkingbasketball - How good was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at his peak? What made him different from Wilt Chamberlain as an offensive player? Was he the best low post scorer in NBA history? And how impactful was he on defense?
This is the 3rd episode in a series on the greatest peaks in NBA history (focusing on 1977-2020), featuring detailed scouting reports and film breakdown on the best players in NBA history at their best, along with analysis of their impact using historical data & stats to size up the highest peaking players ever.
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Thanks to 70sFan for providing special footage for this video: / @70sfan
Book: www.amazon.com...
Podcast: player.fm/seri... or at www.stitcher.c...
Website: www.backpicks.com
Twitter: @elgee35
Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.
Stats courtesy:
www.pbpstats.com @bballport
www.basketball...
stats.nba.com
For more, see the Thinking Basketball stats series: • NBA Stats 101 Series
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Footage in this video is owned by the NBA and its partners. It is intended for critique and education.
Series music:
csus (instrumental)
Hair (fairlight)
Imperfect Place
Lost by Alter Ego
Restless Knight
#ThinkingBasketball #GreatestPeaks #NBAGoat
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Kareem stepped on my foot once. I turned around and did not expect to see a torso...Remember that Patreon Insiders & Deluxe subscribers get early access to each episode before it is released: www.patreon.com/posts/44743169 They will also able to vote at the end of the series on their top-10 after seeing all of profiles -- I'll include those results in the series finale when I attempt to stack up all these peaks.
You need to Dirk between 05 06 07 dude
Was lucky to see Him play as a Rookie on the Bucks
I was at the arena for an all star game, I turned the corner, and my vision disappeared. I stepped back, my vision had been blocked by Wilt Chamberlain's arm. That was the day I learned the definition of Giant.
@@jameschan1791 My dad met Wilt Chamberlain once (in the 80's, I think). When they went to shake hands, Wilt's hand totally engulfed my dad's, and my dad's hands are not small; he's 6'5 and about 200 lbs, so hopefully that gives you an idea.
Can you cover Moses 81'-83'? Far and away best offensive rebounder. Not as skilled but still dominant. Demoralizing everyone by rebounding his own shot over and over.
The fact that this content is free feels illegal
shhhhhh!
Agreed
& that’s why we donate
It's not even close to being free. It's just that you're not the customer, at least not directly.
I was thinking the same thing
Kareem is so special because he has one of the best peaks in NBA history while also being the most long lasting player of all time.
Lebron coming for this title
KRIT🤝
Facts. Same with LeBron.
Bill Pap. There’s no real way of predicting whether he will or won’t, as of right now it is Kareem.
But Kareem longevity more impressive due to his height and technology available to him
Kareem’s Skyhook is probably the most iconic signature move in NBA history
Its up there together with dirk 1 leg fadeaway and the dreamshake.
It's the most ridiculous too. This should not be a good way to score
It’s definitely the most efficient.
time to change the logo
Also the most unguardable move
7:10 ..."Kareem" of the crop numbers, HEYOOO!
Pls leave😭
@@trevon5437 I'm so sorry.
If only Ben had made that call when Kareem was playing for Cream City
🤔
The real greatest peak was the friends we made along the way
👀
I loved the Clayton Crowley video on Kareem, but it feels like that was the elementary school introduction to Kareem, and this is the graduate level, nuanced analysis I was really waiting for. There's no other channel that will find the stats and clips to analyze a player from 40 years ago with as much detail as channels analyze players today with 100x more stats available.
Clayton's video isn't meant to examine Kareem's on court play as it pertained to his peak and impact on his team mates. 2 very different types of content.
Clayton's video is an essay to convince why Kareem is the GOAT this video is an analysis to Kareem's play and how good he was
I fully agree with the above responders.
Please don’t denigrate another incredible content creator. We can enjoy both and appreciate that they seek to elicit different ways to appreciate greatness in this beautiful game.
My sentiments on this video are the same, clayton takes a very elementary approach to Kareem compared to some of the other videos
@@jdiabyClayton is the same as any other narrative basketball RUclips, he’s just a decent essay writer. Actual analysis is done like this
Kareem proved he could survive in any era, he balled out against legends of the 60’s like Wilt and legends of the 80’s/90’s like Parrish and Hakeem.
@The Ultimate how is wilt above mj, Lebron, magic, or bird?
Knodeway 18 I don’t have him above them but Wilt does have a solid argument considering his raw physical attributes and skilled scoring ability. Probably the most athletic NBA player ever. 7’2 with a 48 inch vertical. Crazy to think about.
Bill Pap. Because he probably wasn’t alive then lmao. They had much worse training, shoes, and coaching then so it was harder to play regardless of competition. Plus the travel and dribble rules.
The Ultimate Frazier was mainly in the 70’s and him and Reed beat Wilt in the finals. Not to mention Frazier had arguably the best game 7 performance of all time.
The Ultimate Hayes only played 2 years in the 60’s and Monroe only played 3.
10:25 so we see where Kobe got that athleticism
And also where he got them badman posters from.
I’ve never seen a bad video out of this channel. Genuinely curious though, what’s your favorite video?
The top 10 2019
LeBron and Kawhi defense I think
Comparing stats through different eras
Honestly love all his videos but his top 10's for each year are just so fun to watch
"How Luka Doncic is redefining what's possible for young players"
My son's only dream is to play in the NBA some day. I've tried to guide him away from the clickbait top ten content and toward your channel. Even bought him your book for Christmas. I think it's important for aspiring athletes to know the fact that they likely won't ever be the tallest, fastest, or strongest dude out there, but they CAN be the smartest. Really appreciate what you do.
You tell your old man to try dragging Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes!
Walton was never healthy enough for long enough. And don't forget 1972, the year Wilt SCHOOLED Kareem in Game 6 of the Finals after Kareem was MVP the year before.
@@bricefleckenstein9666 do you like gladiators, brice?
instasis. Have you ever been inside a Turkish Prison?
@@instasis No, and they have nothing to do with Basketball since it didn't exist for close to 1500 years after they did.
@@bricefleckenstein9666 Surely you can't be serious.
"robotic soul-sucking mastery of the skyhook"
Yes. Just yes.
Any appreciation of Kareem's game is always a positive. I genuinely feel like he is the most slept on all time great. People also don't seem to give him credit for being top 3 in blocks despite not having them tracked for his best individual years of his career in Milwaukee
I wish I could have watched him play in real life! He dominated a whole era like it was nothing.
i never realized he was so tall!
@@calebk8518 he was scary dude
I want to see Young Kareem in Milwaukee with Oscar! 30 for 30 ESPN? Spike Lee? Marty Scorsese? C'mon, hook a brutha up!
@@axucaroso I need it!!
@@calebk8518he was like 7’3
Kareem’s passing was probably his most underrated aspect.
Nbs
Man those passing highlights are so smooth to watch, wish there were more available on RUclips.
ruclips.net/video/PyMo7CpO1Oo/видео.html
Usman Qureshi thank you!
next one has to be a "Is Lebron STILL peaking?' video. That would go viral.
😂
LeBron*
in italy we say"lebron solo falli e sfondamenti" is not basketball is another game with other rules
I'd love to see a video on Dennis Rodman at some point
Detroit Leprechaun does this mean we’re getting one?
Very Selfish rebounder:
@@lloydkline1518 More like pound for pound best in NBA history.
@@coby4480 dennis rodman rebounding???: well cannot argue with his numbers
I’ve thought about this as well. Steve Nash and Jason Kidd, too.
Man, content like this..... it's gold Jerry, gold!
I might have to work an Ovaltine joke into a video now...
Boutros boutros ghali.
Had the most complete basketball career. Success at all 3 levels.
You could argue he was one of the top 10 basketball players in the world between the ages of 16 and 40 and I would agree with you.
A handoff from the elbow feels so weird. I'm so used to primeter handoffs in today's NBA
They only happen there now if your play got blown up or your target can't really hit threes (Fox comes to mind).
One of my favorite player ever. Everything he did looked effortless, but required extreme coordination, skills and athleticism...
@@whatitdobaby2382
That's your opinion. I specified "my favorite" in the first sentence. I wasn't ranking nor talking about former legends you named. I don't rank legends like simple minded people adore doing.
Also, he was an incredible efficient scorer, a solid rebounder and he was a great defender until his mid 30s; nothing I wrote was debunked in your incoherent babbling.
I guess Jordan retards (key distinction to make with fans) love to destroy other legacy in order to protect their idol.
If you can't read a simple sentence, stay quiet.
Wait, if the landing zone foul is illegal now and most centers are under 7ft, does that mean in the modern NBA Kareem's skyhook would be literally unstoppable?
Ya
It was virtually unstoppable back then too.
@@yd856 I agree! that's why it's such a cool thought: going from virtually unstoppable to literally unstoppable
It’s like when Dirk got into his turnaround, you can’t stop it. Just gotta hope he misses
And seeing how smooth and efficient his midrange jumper was I’m sure he could’ve developed a 3 ball.
Kobe’s dad in 23 was a nice touch, on this perfect breakdown, with many examples in footage, of peek Kareem.
Kareem was the real deal, i was a Celtics fan and believed he was wash up after the Memorial Day Massacre...and then the 38 year old Captain stepped on the Bridge and demolished us, oldest guy in the league...30 plus points dam 17 rebounds, blocks, pumping his fist after dunks, he had my attention and respect from that day forward.
One of his peak performances, and one of the greatest of all time. As good as he ever was in the 1985 Finals.
Just binged all of the Greatest Peaks episodes today. This channel is amazing - keep up the great work! Statistically backed + you never forget the eye-test. It's truly all a genuine basketball fan could ask for. Subscribing to your Patreon today.
This is amazing. Ur research and material presented is UNMATCHED. Please keep it up!
Great breakdown, expected nothing less. A few minor issues I had. First, I think calling him a good and not great rebounder is a bit of an understatement. It's a question of language, but Kareem was top 5 in rebounding average for a whole decade, which I think by most definitions would be considered great. He wasn't Wilt or Russell, but he was probably only a notch below the best ever in that category despite inconsistent effort. Secondly, with regards to his defense, I think you somewhat glossed over the fact that the Lakers in the late 70s had some terrible defenders around him and never started a legitimate power forward in the playoffs. I'm assuming most of your film study was from the playoffs, and I think it's difficult to really judge his defense at face value when the "PF" next to him is getting outrebounded 47-11 in a playoff series. It's something that is unfortunately impossible to really know for sure given the circumstances around him, but I'm pretty confident he would look better if he didn't have to play 1v2 against opposing frontlines in the playoffs. Looking forward to the rest of the series, and would love a cumulative top-10.
You know ball
Was waiting for that Airplane! clip :D
good video. one point of contention: Kareem didn't "develop" counters like a turnaround J. He had those in college, over both shoulders. He was also a great pull up shooter. He was a complete player going into the NBA.
I promise I watch your videos just to hear how u describe basketball it’s literally poetry
Kareem's game is beautiful to watch. His footwork and agility are superb.
Simply the greatest!! Such a joy to watch his career
Great video Ben! Can't wait for the Bird episode next!
Very insightful and helpful for anyone
You're amazing man. Pure quality.
I like the Joe Bryant highlight. Kobe is my favorite basketball player so it made my day. Thank you.
LETS GO! I always thought Kareem was the best SOOO UNDERRATED because he didn’t talk to the media.
After this series I’d like to see who he thinks would comprise the greatest starting five of all time
I'd go Steph, Kobe, KD, LeBron, Hakeem.
Benjamin An in no universe is Kobe better than MJ.
Magic, MJ, Bron, Duncan, Hakeem (Kareem was better but Hakeem had a better prime in my opinion.)
@@yd856 Fit matters, Kobe has more range & that's important cause it gives Hakeem & LeBron more space to operate. In no universe is Magic a better player, Magic had: no game with his off hand, an inconsistent J, & subpar on ball defense.
Benjamin An depends which MJ we’re talking about, 1995-1996 MJ shot 42.7% from 3 on 3.2 attempts.
Another great video! KAJ is my pick for GOAT over MJ, LBJ, M(agic)J, Bird, Russell, Shaq, and Wilt. KAJ has literally won EVERYTHING at every level from high school to the NBA, he has all the stats, all the individual awards and accolades, a peak performance level at least as high as anyone else's, and longevity that dwarfs everyone else in the GOAT debate. I just don't see any way to pick anybody over KAJ.
Also, the photo at 1:35 not only shows KAJ may have been closer to 7'3" which is even more remarkable given his athletic agility, it also proves Bill Walton was lying his ass off about being only 6'11". Dude was AT LEAST 7'1", which like KAJ being so tall makes Walton even MORE impressive to me as a talented and highly skilled athlete. If Walton had stayed healthy, he would EASILY have been in the GOAT conversation.
I agree with you, he is my favorite player
I just wanna say that I really appreciate the work that goes into this series. The insight is incredible.
Its funny to hear comments that Kareem wasn't a good enough rebounder or defender. Then check the record, he waa all defense 12 times, multiple shot blocking titles. He was the all-time shot block king when he retired. He also won two rebounding titles and holds the single season record for defensive rebounds in a season..
I think film analysis is a better indicator than accolades
Probably the best basketball content I’ve ever found. Great work man.
Who rewatched the travel sequence 😂
Thanks for making this. Nash gets slept on because of box score stats that seem underwhelming as a result of the era’s pace.
He was so dominant for such a long time (I think he could've won MVP every singe year during the 70's) that it's difficult to decide when he really picked and to measure how impactful he actually was in an historical context.
Love seeing this old footage. Thanks for the video Thinking Basketball !
Kareem was so cold of a scorer that my uncle named his shot the masterpiece we know it as the skyhook / he called it masterpiece.because no one could block it or stop it.
I love the detailed views you give on these players games I’m definitely subscribing
i can't wait for the hakeem video to compare them
Man I watched your first videos and then I came back and you already have 100k subs. Keep up the growth man.
How much would you value a player's playoff performance against their peak, especially with Kareem's early years? His 70-73 run with Milwaukee put up his best regular season numbers in PPG/Rebounds, but then he'd face Nate/Wilt in the playoffs and loses 5-7 points off his PPG and .100 off his FG%. How much would facing a playoff mismatch (the only two centers strong enough to disrupt him) repeatedly count against his overall peak for that time, and would it slot those years under his early LA years?
Abdul-Jabbar is still (as of 11/26/23) the all-time leader in field goals made (15837)
i think ill just have kareem on the top of my goat list, so unstoppable. at least for a while until i probabaly get convinced its mj again
This content is truly the Kareem of the crop.
His Skyhook is literally one of a kind.
Found your channel about a month ago, been binging on your awesome content since. Thank you for all the great videos.
Kareem got magic but I just can’t stop thinking about Kareem with Steph Curry...
Just unfair man. Best internal and external weapons of all time.
@@Isaiah_McIntosh plus Kareem is not slow at all and can run the offense. The motion offense will be insane with Steph’s shooting...
I think Magic is better than Steph but Kareem would fit so well with Steph. All the off ball attention he gets would open up WIDE OPEN 3’s for Curry. Then if you try to contain Curry, Kareem can open up his repertoire of unguardable post moves. Definitely the most unstoppable duo in NBA history.
@@yd856 exactly what I’m thinking about!
Issues with Tissues too bad that the only real player to use to the 3 point line at a high volume during Kareem’s time was Larry Bird. If he had played just a decade later and had been paired with Reggie Miller it would be amazing too.
This is the ultimate NBA history channel! Great content!
I've long held onto this theory that the reason more people don't discuss Kareem as the GOAT is because he didn't win the 1980 NBA Finals MVP, even though he was well on his way to winning it before missing game 6 due to injury. Instead, 1980 became Magic Johnson's arrival party, which indirectly affected Kareem's reputation in a negative way.
Real fans know he was the FMVP 🤷🏾♂️
if you miss a full game in the nba finals especially when that game was the closeout then no you dont deserve to win finals mvp. magic winning was perfectly warranted@@tyjohnson3111
This is my favorite basketball series on RUclips
ik we're probably gonna move on to larry and magic in the next couple episodes, but i'd love a Moses Malone episode pretty pls
Wow, learnt a lot his defense this video. Amazing work!
Can't wait to see your Hakeem analysis. Of the Big 5 Centers, he's def the most underrated.
I have him in my Top-5 all time list.
@@tchalla7828 oof top five is a stretch. I've got Jordan LeBron Kareem Magic Russell, but I guess it depends on your criteria. I def have him in my top 10 though.
@@anonuniversal364 I personally think magic is a little overrated no shade whatsoever though.
@@tchalla7828 Ben has him at 5
Kareem
MJ
LBJ
Shaq
Hakeem
@@willhooke where's that list at?
Bless Thinking basketball. Just keep giving us content
We not gon past up the fact Kobe’s dad dunk on Kareem 😭😭
How did that game end?
Thank you. Best channel on RUclips!
GOAT center. He is a mix of Wilt and Bill Russell.
Can't stop watching this
I believe Kareem holds the single season record for defensive rebounds. I believe it was his first or second year with the Lakers. Whe you hold records like that in areas that are not considered your strengths you might be the GOAT.
So we start @ season 77 when Erving, Jabbar and Walton were scrambling for titles pre the Bird and Magic takeover. Pre 77 was the Chamberlain and Russell, West and Baylor, Havlicek and Big O eras... alot of great basketball pre 1980.
honestly, kareem is how people hype up wemby rn
incredibly tall, agile for his size, offensive weapon and fantastic rim protection
I was looking forward to this so much and you def didnt disappoint!!
I don't why people have a problem saying he's the greatest. It's not a dis to Jordan when a guy has 6 MVP's and the rings to back it up.
Kareem had the most formidable offensive weapon seen and used in the history of the NBA, the "SKYHOOK"!!!
I’ve been wondering for the past year what the PPP of Kareems skyhook is, and if it would be a viable option in today’s game.
Hell yea it would be
It’s automatic man
The 80’s lakers really had it in mind that if the shot clock goes down and you can’t get a bucket just dump it to Kareem for the hook or pass
I forget where I heard this tip but most of the time Kareem was the trailer being older in the 80’s where Magic ran the fastbreak
With Kareem knowing he’d be the bail out
I saw another comment that tracked Kareem’s skyhooks over a couple of years and found the PPP data.
hey i tracked over 40 games of kareems mainly from 75-83 and he went 150/247 a stellar 61% on hooks
@@qwikscopez6619 WOW.
Makes you wonder why they didn’t feed it to him more often.
@@qwikscopez6619 Where'd you find all those games, and do you have any idea what his overall percentage in those games was?
Amazing video, super excited for the Bird one next!
Kareem is the Greatest overall basketball player ever. When you factor in HS and college. He is the 2nd best NBA player ever. Because of his personality, his greatness is under estimated.
Hard to say anyone was ever better than Jabbar
one of my fave players all time. I just like how the Skyhook was a >50% shot . you could rely on it to get the job done. mhmm!
As far as individual accolades go, he legit rivals mj
6 mvps 6 championships
I'd rather have him over mj.
The 70s was his era and he dominated took Milwaukee... a nobody franchise and turned it into a somebody franchise. The Lakers he helped return the franchise to greatness. Without Kareem, magic Johnson would not win 5 titles in the 80s
Thank U. And After Kareem Retired Magic Won No Titles.
Great idea for a series! Please do Vince Carter some time! His peak was in NJ, not Toronto, as people often mistakenly think.
KAREEM had the greatest career in basketball ever...
And the second or 3rd greatest NBA player/career ever.
Your videos make my day!!
The fact that Kareem was arguably a top 3 player for nearly 2 decades is only matched by Lebron and Malone.
Kareem is greater than labron and Malone
I love this series as an Idea. When you're finished and have run out of ideashow about a series about the greatest defenders of all time and the metrics that made them that way.
Yes! I would love looking at Ben Wallace defensive metrics, he’s my all time favorite player.
Kareem in Airplane is easily the best NBA-player-in-a-movie performance of all time (yes better than Ray Allen)
Julius Erving in The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh.
Kevin Garnett is really good in Uncut Gems.
We need Ben to do this series again, this time for the best acting peaks of NBA stars
💯
Space jam?
the Sky Hook may have been the Ultimate Weapon, it was seemingly effortless, and consistently made at extremely high percentages. It was still devastating opponents when Kareem was in his 40's. Daryl Dawkins: 'I got nightmares! Sky Hook! Sky Hook! Sky Hook!!! Brrrrrrrr!'
Doctor J! DOCTOR J!!!
Great video as always! Top level analysis
kareem is the greatest BASKETBALL PLAYER of all time
I love this channel!!! Wow!!! I learn so much!!! Will you do a breakdown of the player that scored the MOST POINTS IN THE 80’S!!!!! My man…… ALEX ENGLISH of the DENVER NUGGETS!!! thank you so much!
Alex English never won anything.
If yall liked this one wait untill you see next week's episode!!! I thought it couldn't get better haha
Who's next? magic or bird
Odilon Rwabukamba probably Bird then Magic.
@@or1343 It's Bird!
Man…. Magic came in right on time , linking those to up when the old Guy still had Game
To go with The Rookie
9:26
With a MAJOR asterick, that helps him some but also hurts him some.
He lost a few years when they weren't tracked (which probably puts him ahead of Hakeem) - but Bill and Wilt lost their ENTIRE CAREER (probably the real Top 2) and Nate Thurmond ALSO lost over half of HIS career (might be as high as #3 in reality, and almost certainly in the Top 5 in reality).
So Kareem would STILL be #3 at best, might be #4.
excited for the bird episode! dude was a GOAT in his peak years before his back went out
he said in his goat series that bird had one of the most impressive 2 year peaks ever
It is baffling to me that during his playing days and up until the turn of the century Kareem was never really in the GOAT conversation. This dude was arguably the greatest winner in basketball history and had the peak, the stats, the accolades and until LeBron and Karl Malone unheard of longevity. What else needs to be said really? Other than this video of course.
What an incredible series
“one of the 5 best centers in nba history at his peak” ?!???!?!!!!!!! c’mon man... kareem deserves a bit more respect and a bit less diplomatic framing. kareem is arguably the greatest to ever grace a basketball court with his talent. the only bigs truly worth comparing are bill russell and yao ming 😋
You had me right up until you said Yao Ming.
He has Kareem 1 all time of ANY NBA player on his back picks GOAT. He was just specifically talking about peaks.
@@yd856 He doesn't think Kareem is the greatest player of all time just that he impacted winning the most. He has Kevin Garnett ahead of players who had far greater careers and were more skilled than him.
Kai Clark KG is underrated but yeah 8 doesn’t really make sense for him. Especially above Magic.
@the dude damn, thanks for dropping this. i’m a kareem goat forever guy, but you can’t argue with facts. every great center had a rival (or many) that caused him trouble along the way. i think kareem’s struggles w thurmond were worse earlier in his career, akin to mj being stifled by the pistons and celtics gangs of wing and post defenders. idk man, i still take kareem over everyone except maybe yao ming 😂 i’m sorta joking, sorta crazy.. until one day, history proves me to be the basketball genius that i really am not. yao ming was the lebron james of asian 7-footers. baron davis is the greatest point guard not named jason kidd. kareem maybe was not as great as my imagination tells me he was (he retired just as i was old enough to start closely watching bball) but i’m pretty sure even despite that, he was better than (insert your favorite center w his crusty knees and broker feet here). and let’s remember, nate thurmond was a generational great player, so there’s no shame in only shooting 42% fg against him. even though the bucks lost that second time against thurmond, i believe the stats don’t tell the whole story. further investigation is warranted. brb.
You’re killing it