West Angrily Denies Telling Newspaper That Abdul-Jabbar Is ‘Killing’ Lakers

PHILADELPHIA — It’s been a tough week off the court for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. First, one of his teammates on the All-Star team, Alex English of the Denver Nuggets, filed suit against the Laker center to collect $150,000 that English contends Abdul-Jabbar owes him and Brad Davis of the Dallas Mavericks.

Then, New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey wrote that Laker General Manager Jerry West was ripping Abdul-Jabbar in off-the-record comments.

“He’s killing us,” Vecsey quoted West as saying. “For the most part he’s not hustling, showing any motivation or leadership.”

The quote was picked up by several newspapers and published Sunday. West erupted in anger when read that quote over the phone Sunday morning.

“That’s absolutely the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard in my life--I don’t even want to hear the rest of it,” West said. “Why in the world would somebody put that in the paper?

“Why would we be working toward getting him signed again? I’ve never said anything like that, on or off the record. I have been consistent in my regards toward him. That’s so stupid I won’t even try to qualify that one.”