{"id":56724,"date":"2025-04-27T13:43:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-27T13:43:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=56724"},"modified":"2025-04-27T13:43:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-27T13:43:43","slug":"report-lakers-legend-kareem-abdul-jabbar-makes-heartfelt-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=56724","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Lakers Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Makes Heartfelt Post"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lakers<\/p>\n

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the best ten players in NBA history.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0legend last played in the league during the 1989 season.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Abdul-Jabbar made a heartfelt\u00a0post\u00a0to X that had over 690 likes and 25,000 impressions.<\/p>\n

He wrote: “April 25, 2025, marks the 75th\u00a0anniversary of the day that the NBA\u2019s first Black players entered the league as part of the 1950 NBA Draft. The players being honored include:\u00a01st DRAFTED:\u00a0Chuck Cooper became the first Black player drafted by an NBA team when he was selected by the\u00a0Boston Celtics\u00a0with the 14th overall pick.\u00a01st TO PLAY:\u00a0Earl Lloyd followed shortly after as the 100th pick by the Washington Capitols and later became the first Black player to play in an NBA game.\u00a01st TO SIGN CONTRACT:\u00a0In the same season, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton signed with the New York Knicks, becoming the first Black player to sign an NBA contract.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I\u2019m grateful that, in a time when diversity is being ignored and villainized, the NBA is standing tall (the only way they can stand) in celebrating the men who endured so much adversity to make it possible for players like me, Jordan, Magic, Kobe, and LeBron to have an easier road to success than they did.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s only when we look back at where we came from do we know which direction we need to go ahead. These men clearly illuminate our path.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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