Abdul-Jabbar Has a Party as Lakers Win

What can you say about a man who’s 40 years old and still wearing short pants in public?

For openers, you say that if this is a midlife crisis, then we should all be so lucky as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who celebrated his 40th birthday Thursday night in a manner altogether inconstant with his age--running, gunning and jumping (well, sort of) with men who were mere babes when Abdul-Jabbar was first paid for playing basketball.

Abdul-Jabbar played 36 minutes in the Lakers’ 11th straight win, 110-97 over the Utah Jazz. He scored 15 points, led the Lakers in rebounds with 10, handed out 5 assists and made 2 steals.

For outstanding achievement in conquering time, Abdul-Jabbar can proudly take his place alongside other icons of our youth-worshiping culture . . . like Jane Fonda and Raquel Welch.

“I’d have to say those girls are definitely in better shape, but Kareem has better lungs,” said Mychal Thompson, who is eight years junior to the man he serves as backup on the Lakers.

“You’re only as young as you feel,” Thompson said. “Look at Pete Rose (46) or Phil Niekro (48). People succumb to age only because they get lazy.

“Cap has always taken care of his body. He can play as long as he wants.”

Hall of Famer Bob Cousy activated himself for seven games when he was 41 and coaching the Cincinnati Royals. Wilt Chamberlain, who’s 50, says he still could play. But no player in the National Basketball Assn. has ever had a continuous career that took him into his 40th year--until Abdul-Jabbar.

Jumpin’ Johnny Green came closest--39 years 116 days.

“I’m very pleased,” said Abdul-Jabbar, who blew out the candles on a four-layer cake while being serenaded with “Happy Birthday” by a Salt Palace crowd of 12,212 before the game.

“It’s one thing you can’t predict. It takes a lot of luck. One injury could have stopped it.”

More than luck, of course, keeps a man playing 18 seasons in the NBA. The desire has to be there. It’s safe to say most of his teammates don’t share Abdul-Jabbar’s zeal for playing at his age.

“I know I’m not going to be in the NBA, that’s for sure,” James Worthy said. “I hope to be successfully retired, settled down with my family, at some point go back to school.

“I’ll be home in New Mexico,” Michael Cooper said.

Thompson: “I’ll be prime minister of the Bahamas.”

Kurt Rambis: “I don’t even know where I’m going to be when I’m 30 (He’s 29).”

But they also laugh at the notion of Abdul-Jabbar having a midlife crisis.

“I’m sure he will, eventually,” Rambis said, “but it will occur much later than for most people.

“He’s not gauged by the normal scale everybody else is gauged by.”

Abdul-Jabbar, Worthy said, “has stayed young the whole time he’s been in the league. “Guys his age are playing in ‘Y’ leagues, with pot bellies,” Worthy said, “but he’s been young his whole career.”

Kelly Tripucka of the Jazz figures he was about 10 years old the first time he saw Abdul-Jabbar. Tripucka, who grew up in New Jersey, went with his brothers, Todd and Tracy, to Madison Square Garden to watch him play.

“He had hair then,” Tripucka said. “He didn’t wear goggles. And his name was still Lew Alcindor.

“But he still had that hook shot. And now, even after all these years, I don’t really see much difference . . . The bottom line is he’s probably the best who ever played the game.”

For that reason, you’d assume opposing coaches would like to see him go. But not Utah’s Frank Layden.

“No,” Layden said, “because I’m a businessman. I like the Lakers. I wish I played the Lakers 10 times, because I know the building would sell out 10 times.

“You don’t think this is a sport, do you? You’re not that naive. This is show business, and guys like Magic and Kareem, you just wish they were on your team.

” . . . The good thing, though, is he comes here, sells tickets and we don’t have to pay him.”

So when will it all end, this career that spans 1,405 regular-season games, 32,461 points and four championship seasons.

Abdul-Jabbar said again Thursday night that next year will be his last. Another thought, however, occurred to Tripucka.

“They may have to carry him off,” Tripucka said.

Laker Notes

The Lakers (65-15), who had lost their other two games here, smothered the Jazz with their defense, especially in the first half, when Utah shot 28.8% (15 of 52). The Jazz then came out and missed the first seven shots in the third quarter. The Lakers opened a 10-point lead, 28-18, at the end of the first quarter and were ahead, 55-37, at halftime. The Jazz never got closer than 10, 91-81, with 6:30 left in the fourth quarter. Then James Worthy made two free throws and Byron Scott hit a three-pointer. Scott, who had a dreadful first half--no points and five turnovers--recovered to score 17 points, including two three-pointers. Magic Johnson led the Lakers with 31 points and 8 assists. Karl Malone had 24 points to lead the Jazz but was shackled to 3-of-10 shooting in the first half. “They did a good job of ganging up on him,” Utah Coach Frank Layden said. . . . The Lakers won despite committing 23 turnovers and getting hammered, 51-42, on the boards.