12 votes

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: What I think about LeBron breaking my NBA scoring record

5 comments

  1. [4]
    aphoenix
    Link
    I'm not really into basketball, but I thought this was a pretty good read. There are some interesting things in here - about reaching out, being introverted, how it feels when records are broken,...

    I'm not really into basketball, but I thought this was a pretty good read. There are some interesting things in here - about reaching out, being introverted, how it feels when records are broken, what drives great athletes, and more. The takeaway quote that really resonated with me was this one:

    If I had a choice of having my scoring record remain intact for another hundred years or spend one afternoon with my grandchildren, I’d be on the floor in seconds stacking Legos and eating Uncrustables.

    4 votes
    1. [3]
      cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Kareem is actually a really good writer, and even if you're not into sports his substack is still a good read, especially if you're into US news & politics. I don't personally follow it, but I...

      Kareem is actually a really good writer, and even if you're not into sports his substack is still a good read, especially if you're into US news & politics. I don't personally follow it, but I have occasionally read some of his other posts from there (and articles written by him for other publications) that have been recommended elsewhere.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        aphoenix
        Link Parent
        He's one of my few substack subscriptions, discovered from an article he wrote last year about the cult of Peterson. He is thoughtful, mindful, intelligent, and almost poetic in how he writes. I'm...

        He's one of my few substack subscriptions, discovered from an article he wrote last year about the cult of Peterson. He is thoughtful, mindful, intelligent, and almost poetic in how he writes. I'm not into basketball, but I like KAJ a lot and definitely recommend reading what he puts out.

        2 votes
        1. cfabbro
          Link Parent
          Yeah, the Jordan Peterson and Will Smith posts are ones I have also read, and would also recommend. Same with his movie/tv reviews. And I also remember reading a few op-eds of his from a few years...

          Yeah, the Jordan Peterson and Will Smith posts are ones I have also read, and would also recommend. Same with his movie/tv reviews. And I also remember reading a few op-eds of his from a few years ago about BLM, the George Floyd protests, and antisemitism in sports, that were all quite good too. Every time I have read something by him I have been thoroughly impressed, for many of the same reasons you mention.

          2 votes
  2. streblo
    Link
    Thanks for the article. I'm not a basketball person either, but it's hard not to appreciate LeBron James. He’s a generational athlete right up there with Gretzky and Jordan and will define the...

    Thanks for the article.

    I'm not a basketball person either, but it's hard not to appreciate LeBron James. He’s a generational athlete right up there with Gretzky and Jordan and will define the sporting era I grew up in. He’s only a little older than me, and I remember back in high school my sister (who's very much a basketball person) telling me about one of the most hyped NBA prospects ever. Hard to believe he not only lived up to the hype, but also exceeded it. Also hard to believe that for the last 20 years LeBron has been playing basketball at an elite level the entire time. That’s the entire formative period of my life and beyond. I hardly watch basketball, but in a weird way I’ll miss hearing about him when he’s retired.

    4 votes