Category — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Many of you youngsters have no clue who Willie Wise is. But some of us old heads remember dude balling with Drake in the late ’60s, when the Bulldogs almost shocked the world and beat unbeatable Lew Alcindor and UCLA in the NCAA Tournament. Wise also played in the colorful ABA, including a season with the Los Angeles Stars, before retiring after the 75-76 season and hitting the road as a truck driver.
Rob Trucks catches up with him.
Deadspin

The greatest player of all time, Wilt Chamberlain, was all the rage on the 50th anniversary of his 100-point game.
USA Today

Each week, the Lakers seem to have some issues. Last week, it was Coach Mike Brown and Ron Artest “clearing the air” and this week it’s Kobe Bryant and management clashes over trading or keeping Pau Gasol. Before that, Andrew Bynum was bitching and moaning about Brown’s 2-hour shootarounds. Brown, who apparently doesn’t know when to back off, has pissed off several Lakers with his long practices and his gift of gab for being long-winded.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Lakers held a players-only meeting to band together against Brown’s coaching and management’s tactics after Monday’s blowout of the Blazers. For problems, see union stewarts Derek Fisher, Bryant or Gasol.
Business as usual for the drama kings, no? Or maybe it’s just what the doctor ordered for the Lakers, who visit the Mavericks on Wednesday and then the Thunder on Thursday before taking off for the All-Star break.
ESPN.com

The Lakers announced today that they will retire Shaq’s No. 34, making him only the 8th Laker who will have received the honor.
ESPN LA

The 1961-62 NBA season provided some of the game’s most memorable individual performances. Wilt Chamberlain produced the greatest season of all time, averaging 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game. And Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double 50 years ago, finishing ith 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game.
But the Celtics claimed the ultimate prize, capturing the NBA title.
NBA.com

Some folks are calling for David Stern’s head in his decision to kill the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers. In this case, it’s Bill Simmons, a huge Celtics fan and Lakers hater.
Grantland.com

The track and field legend talks about his new book and how the 1968 Olympics changed his life.
ESPN.com

Just shopping, not buying anything. Damn, I thought she was hotter than that Mike. Just another reason Wilt is the greatest of all time.
I’ve been with the NBA players since Day 1 but I’m not the only 1. Here’s more reasons why.
SB Nation

Say what you will about LeBron, but at least he’s there. Kobe? Last we heard he was on some Nike tour.
Props to D-Wade too for telling David Stern where to stick it.
AP

The idea of NBA players telling the owners to shove it and forming their own league has been discussed in a few corners of the sports world. However, we’re partial to the approach and concept drawn up by our good friend Michael Tillery.
The Starting Five