THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : LAKERS WIN SECOND CONSECUTIVE TITLE : Abdul-Jabbar Makes a Promise--He’ll Return

Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made sure that Coach Pat Riley didn’t guarantee another championship after the Lakers became the first team in 19 years to win back-to-back National Basketball Assn. titles.

Asked by sportscaster Brent Musburger of CBS if he would like to promise a third world title, Riley never got a chance to utter a word.

Abdul-Jabbar silenced Riley by stuffing a towel into the coach’s mouth on the victory platform in the locker room after the Lakers had defeated the Detroit Pistons, 108-105, Tuesday night at the Forum in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

“We’re going to enjoy this one and not think about next year,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “This is the greatest ever. We showed everybody what we are about as a team. This certifies us as one of the most dominant teams of the ‘80s. That’s as specific as you can get with it, because we didn’t play any of the teams of the ‘50s or ‘60s.”

Said Riley: “I think Kareem was trying to make a great point. I wasn’t going to guarantee anything about next year.

“But I guarantee one thing, we’ll enjoy this all summer long. It took 115 games for us to get the job done. They worked and won it.”

There had been televised reports that Abdul-Jabbar, who had only four points and three rebounds in the season finale, would announce his retirement after the game.

“They said that about Mark Twain, too,” quipped the 41-year-old center as he announced that he plans to return next fall for his 20th NBA season.

Said Laker guard Magic Johnson, after Abdul-Jabbar’s announcement: “I’m so happy that I want another championship.”

Laker owner Jerry Buss, who is obligated to pay Abdul-Jabbar a reported $3 million next season, was delighted that Abdul-Jabbar plans to return for another season.

“My first reaction is that maybe I should talk him into two more years,” Buss said.

Riley will be happy to have Abdul-Jabbar return next season.

“I think Kareem is going to take about eight months off, and we’ll get him back in February for the stretch run.”

Said Detroit Coach Chuck Daly: “He (Abdul-Jabbar) is a warrior with great, great pride. The guy is unbelievable. I don’t know how he does it.”

Swingman John Salley of the Pistons thinks Abdul-Jabbar, who was inconsistent in the playoffs during the Lakers’ drive to their second straight title, has a few more good years left in him.

“His skills haven’t diminished,” Salley said of Abdul-Jabbar. “He’s gotten better with time. He’s like a fine wine.

“With his ability and mind power, he can play until he says it’s time to quit. I hope that he doesn’t come back, because if we’re in it (the NBA Finals), we don’t want to see him.”

Salley was one of the first to congratulate Abdul-Jabbar after the Laker center got the sixth NBA title of his career.

“Thanks, I learned a lot from you,” Salley said to Abdul-Jabbar.

Said Piston center James Edwards, a former Laker who once backed up Abdul-Jabbar: “Kareem will be back if he wants to come back.”

If it hadn’t been for Abdul-Jabbar, the Pistons might have won their first NBA title since moving to Detroit 31 years ago.

Although Abdul-Jabbar made only 3 of 14 shots Sunday in Game 6, he made two free throws with 14 seconds left to tie the series at 3-3 and force a seventh game.

“Name a center that’s better than Kareem,” said Laker backup center Mychal Thompson, who had 12 points and 4 rebounds off the bench in relief of Abdul-Jabbar. “Kareem is there for every important game. He could play for another five years he if wants to. He can still shoot that skyhook and he gets timely rebounds. The only thing he can’t do is play 48 minutes.”

Said Jerry West, the Lakers’ general manager: “We’ve won championships with Kareem and we won 62 games with him this season. What else do you want from him?”

Abdul-Jabbar, who was plagued by foul trouble, wasn’t a factor in Tuesday night’s game as he failed to score in the first half, missing three shots in 15 minutes. He had just one rebound in the first half.

Abdul-Jabbar hit his first basket when he hit a 12-foot hook shot with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter to give the Lakers a five-point lead. His only other basket came with 7:56 left on another hook.

He made just 2 of 7 shots in 29 minutes.

Johnson, however, said that Abdul-Jabbar is a vital part of the Lakers.

“Kareem is very important because of the fact that he’s a big-game player,” Johnson said. “He’s been through this a lot and he knows how to respond.

“He’s not going to be the Kareem he used to be, but he’s still got what it takes.”