Abdul-Jabbar’s Laker Contract Is Extended for 1986-87 Season

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Lakers for the 1986-87 season.

Attorneys for Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers reached an oral agreement Monday that will pay the 38-year-old center $2 million, the same amount he will make this season.

“The fact that he wanted to play was an incentive for getting it done,” said Laker General Manager Jerry West.

West began pushing for the contract extension after holding a meeting with Abdul-Jabbar at training camp in Palm Springs, but actual details of the deal were not made until West met with Laker owner Jerry Buss over the weekend.

Ted Steinberg, who is Abdul-Jabbar’s attorney, said the extension was agreed to Monday after he spoke with Laker attorney Jerry Fine.

“I know they got it worked out, and I’m glad they did,” Laker Coach Pat Riley said.

Tom Collins, the agent for Abdul-Jabbar, said it was important to his client that he felt needed by the team.

“The Lakers have always had open arms,” said Collins, who said he did not try to influence Abdul-Jabbar’s decision to play another season.

“I stay out of that,” Collins said. “I always tell him ‘You can afford to quit if you want to.’ ”

According to a source close to the negotiations, the contract extension contains a “courtesy date” by which time Abdul-Jabbar must inform the Lakers should he decide to retire in advance of the 1986-87 season. That date is believed to be after next spring’s college draft.

Steinberg would say only that Abdul-Jabbar retains the option the retire whenever he wishes.

“What the Lakers want is to know as soon as possible, so they can make their plans as soon as possible.”

This season will be Abdul-Jabbar’s 17th in the NBA, longer than any other player in history. If Abdul-Jabbar does play another season under his extended contract, he would be 40 years old during the 1987 playoffs.