Chapter 1019 - 330: Gary, you can’t even beg for food! (Asking for monthly tickets!)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is unfortunate, he is someone whose career is full of dark humor.
Few people know what was the greatest moment of Jabbar’s career, which game and which day it was. It was the 1980 NBA Finals decisive battle, when Jabbar sprained his ankle at the end of the third quarter. After he went off the court, the Lakers were leaderless and played chaotically. The well-known rookie FMVP Magic was actually at a loss in Game 5, going 3 for 14 for the whole game.
The 76ers, under the leadership of Dr. J, quickly established an advantage, on the verge of getting the match point.
In the locker room, Pat Riley, the old farm owner, and Jabbar himself were very eager to get a pain-killing injection and play with an injury, but the team doctor insisted otherwise because he knew it would completely ruin Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career. He even told Jabbar the truth that only a GOAT can comprehend: "Kareem, this is just basketball!"
But after all, Jabbar didn’t have such high awareness, and he ended up taking a pain-killing shot and went on to play injured. In the last 6 minutes, he led the Lakers to reverse the game despite trailing by as much as 11 points. He ultimately scored 40 points, with 15 rebounds and 4 blocks in this critical decisive battle, which was undoubtedly the greatest game of Jabbar’s career.
But in that era when the NBA was not yet fully televised, Jabbar’s monumental and spectacular game was not broadcast on TV. Besides the fans watching live, most people had no idea what happened that night.
And the most darkly humorous part is, just two days later, Magic’s legendary game where he stepped into the center position and scored 42+15+7 was televised. All the fans across the U.S. witnessed Magic’s marvelous performance, that game led Magic to become the rookie FMVP, turning him into a true superstar, and it completely overshadowed Jabbar’s Game 5.
Jabbar was not just outstanding in Game 5; throughout the Finals, he averaged 33.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 4.6 blocks.
But because Game 5 wasn’t televised while Game 6 was seen, when people talk about the 1980 Finals now, they only remember Magic’s rookie FMVP, they only remember Magic’s miracle guarding the center in Game 6, completely ignoring Jabbar’s role.
That’s probably why smart players will never sacrifice themselves to let others take the FMVP.