It has been 23 years since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar last played for the Los Angeles Lakers, but soon fans headed to Staples Center will see him every day.
The Lakers plan to erect a statue outside the arena to honor The Captain, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
The Lakers plan to announce the date of the official unveiling of the statue in the near future, according to a league source.
While Abdul-Jabbar’s on-court accomplishments were no-doubt stellar, racking up six championships and six MVPs during his 20-year career, his relationship with the Lakers had become strained in recent years. The team cut ties with Abdul-Jabbar as a special assistant following the 2010-11 season and the former 19-time All-Star also voiced his frustration at Jerry West receiving a statue before he did, after West’s statue was unveiled during the 2011 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.
— Reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles
