For Lakers, Two More Years of Abdul-Jabbar Might Be Just Enough

On a California call-in show the other night, a guy with a certain youthfulness in his voice said he was not the least bit concerned about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retiring after next season, because as long as the Lakers still had Magic Johnson and James Worthy, they could still win National Basketball Assn. championships, even with Mike Smrek at center.

I have news for this kid.

The Lakers with Mike Smrek at center are the Chicago Bulls.

Just imagine the relief of the Jerries of Inglewood, Buss and West, that their ballclub will not have to make do against the likes of Robert Parish and Kevin McHale of the Boston Celtics or Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn of the Detroit Pistons in this year’s NBA championship series without their old friend Captain Hook occupying the paint.

And just imagine their relief that the 40-year-old Abdul-Jabbar, after thinking about it long and hard, evidently has decided to stick around for a year longer than originally planned, playing for at least two more seasons. Yes, the captain is still in the cockpit. The Lakers can keep flying KAJ Airlines. He will still be out there, dragging Parish and Laimbeer up and down the court for at least 40 minutes, busting his buns every night.

As Linda Evans says on that hair-product commercial: “Forty isn’t fatal.”

Not for everybody, Lin, babe.

On the other hand, old basketball players never die; they just shoot their fade-away jumpers and then fade away. Dave Cowens is 39. So is Bob Lanier. So is Pete Maravich. Dan Issel, Spencer541614457McGinnis is only 36. Long gone, every one of them. As forgotten as leisure suits.

And if you think that’s something, think about this: Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier are only 42. Sen. Bill Bradley is 43. Dave DeBusschere and Willis Reed are 46. If the Knickerbockers had taken better care of themselves, New York would still have a decent team.

Heck, Kareem’s coach, Pat Riley, is only 42. Bernie Bickerstaff, Ryley’s rival in the Seattle series, is 43. George Karl, the guy Riley outcoached in the Golden State series, is 36. Mike Fratello, whose Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs, is 40. Doug Collins, whose Bulls made the playoffs, is 36.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the only player in professional basketball who calls coaches “Sonny.” He has socks that are older than Doug Collins. Kareem has been alive so long, he probably can remember when Wilt Chamberlain was clean-shaven. He is the only active basketball player in the world who knows for a fact that Chamberlain has a chin.

And how about that guy whose Houston team beat Lew Alcindor’s UCLA? Remember him? Elvin Hayes? Yeah, the Big E. He hasn’t played ball for quite a while. What’s that old geezer up to these days?

He’s 41.

Others come and go, but KAJ flies on. The big fella isn’t ready for a rocking chair yet. He presented one to Julius Erving when the good Doctor came to the Forum for the final time, and Erving made Abdul-Jabbar sit in it while he addressed the Laker fans. It was not difficult to imagine Kareem sitting there thinking about what his own retirement party would be like.

What the Lakers might as well do is retire Abdul-Jabbar’s golden jersey now, with him still in it, just to save time. Because by the time this guy is ready to actually quit, some of us are going to bee too old or too dead to attend the ceremony.

We can see it now--senior-citizen Abdul-Jabbar, bald on top and distinguished gray at the temples, being forced to leave the Lakers by the NBA’s 65-mandatory retirement. A doddering Doctor J drops by to give him his gifts--a rocker, a cane, a bottle of liver pills, some orthopedic sneakers and a pair of magnifying goggles.

Then the 64-year-old Kareem goes out to play in that evening’s game, and the Bulls hold him to 19 points.

Although the man prefers jazz, Abdul-Jabbar’s theme song ought to be that old Beatles tune, the one that goes: “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?”

Yes, they will.

His value to the organization is such that, if he chose to, Abdul-Jabbar probably could consent to play backup center for the Lakers right into the 21st Century. He is in good shape. He bulked up a little during the winter and is stronger than he has been in years. The legs are not bad, particularly since he saved them some wear and tear over the years by not always making the trip up and down the court.

Thought he was lazy, did you? Aren’t you glad those legs are still working now? Aren’t you glad, if you’re a Laker lover, that Abdul-Jabbar has enough left in the old gams that he can re-enlist with the Lakers for another two-year hitch?

He may be The Old Man Who Lives Down the Lane, but this basketball franchise is indebted to Abdul-Jabbar for taking pretty good care of himself, and for giving them plenty of time to pick his successor. Now, of course, if the U.S. Navy’s David Robinson does care to join up with the Lakers once he’s done with the Oceaners, the NBA franchise can survive the two-year wait without going to pieces, because Kareem will still be with the team.

Without him, hard telling how ordinary the Lakers might be. The 1988-89 season might have been no picnic. Suppose the Lakers offered human sacrifices like Worthy or Michael Cooper to get this year’s No. 1 draft pick away from San Antonio. Should that happen, their lineup in 1988-89 would suddenly turn into Magic Johnson and the Mysterians.

Now, though, the Lakers don’t have to be in any hurry. All they have to do is drop two dimes into a pay phone and place a shore-to-ship call to Mr. Robinson. If Robby the swabbie wants to play with the Lakers, bingo. He plays with the Lakers.

And the rest of the league sleeps with the fishes.

So, much obliged, Kareem. You made L.A.’s day. NBA life begins at 40, so keep your shirt on, old-timer. We’re not ready to retire it or you. You’re the ultimate golden oldie.