Last Hurrahs for Abdul-Jabbar : Laker Center’s 20th and Final Season Will Be One to Remember

The long goodby.

“Whatever happens to the Lakers this season, whether we win or lose,” Pat Riley said, “people will always remember it as Kareem’s last year.”

No more 6 a.m . wake-up calls in Cleveland. No more room service in Sacramento. No more waiting on an airport runway in Newark. Ted Williams was 42 when he hit a home run in his last at-bat. John F. Kennedy was 42 when he won his first presidential primary. Barring injury, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be 42 when he launches his final skyhook, 20 seasons after entering the National Basketball Assn. as Lew Alcindor.

He will be the oldest player ever in the NBA. And he has played in 533 more games than any other active player, the equivalent of 6 1/2 seasons.

In 25 arenas this season, starting tonight in Dallas, from expansion cities such as Miami and Charlotte, N.C., to sentimental sites such as Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden, fans will gather to bid hail and farewell.

“I’ll use that as a lightning rod for the nights we’re struggling,” Riley said. “I’ve told the other players, ‘If you guys are sincere about playing for him, then you’d at least better win those games.’ I said, ‘Cap, we should go 25-0 in those games. I know you’re going to play your best.’ ”

No more back-to-back games in Milwaukee and Indiana. No more shoot - arounds in Seattle. No more bus rides in Denver. Abdul-Jabbar will be paid $3 million this season. There was talk of the Lakers buying him out of the last year of his contract, although Laker officials deny it, and so does he. He told Jerry Buss and Jerry West that he wanted to play. He has said that he never wanted to go out like Willie Mays, a shell of his former self.

He could have gone out a winner last spring, when the Lakers won the second of consecutive titles. To do so now, the Lakers would have to become the first team in 23 years to win 3 consecutive titles.

“Obviously, people don’t expect us to win,” Michael Cooper said. “Some people aren’t even picking us to win our division. They’re picking Seattle and Portland. That’s OK. We feel good about our chances.”

No more staring strangers in Portland. No more undersized beds in Houston. No more shouted taunts in Salt Lake City. Abdul-Jabbar averaged 14.6 points last season, 10 below his career average. He scored only 2 points one night in Seattle, after his record streak of 787 consecutive games of double-figure scoring had ended in Milwaukee. He averaged only 28.8 minutes and a career-low 6 rebounds a game. He was humbled by Mark Eaton in the Utah series and shot just 41% from the floor during the NBA finals.

“We’re not expecting a lot from him,” Magic Johnson said. “In the back of your mind, you know it’s going to be tough for him. But we didn’t ask a lot from him last year, and we won it.

“Kareem is smart enough to know what he can do, and we’re smart enough to know how long he can last. Nothing is hidden. Everybody knows. It’s right out there. Look at the stats. It’s all there in black and white.”

Riley said he asked Abdul-Jabbar if he wanted to alter things at all, rest more often, sit out a game or two. Abdul-Jabbar said thanks, but no thanks.

“He knows we’re all concerned about him,” Riley said. “We all want to maintain him. But look at him--he’s going to be 42 and he’s in great shape.

“I think Kareem can get 12 to 14 points for us, get 6 rebounds, shoot 55%. He’ll help us as much as he’s been helping us.”

No more wind sprints in Dallas. No more wind chill in Chicago. No more dog - day afternoons in Atlanta. Despite a late-season run of injuries, the Lakers became the first team to win 60 or more games in 4 consecutive seasons. Had it not been for Johnson’s strained groin and Cooper’s sprained ankle and James Worthy’s bad knees, the Lakers might have had a shot at winning 70 last season. They went 38-4, remember, during one fabulous midwinter stretch.

The Lakers have not won fewer than 54 games a season since Johnson, who is in his 10th season, joined forces with Abdul-Jabbar. There are reasons to believe they can win 60 again this season: 1) Magic is in the best shape of his life 2) the Lakers have a much stronger bench, which is heresy to the Rambis Youth but gospel to those who have seen Orlando Woolridge at his peak.

“Somebody like an O or Tony (Campbell) can come off the bench and just put it in the basket,” Johnson said. “Last year, we had no scoring off the bench. Nobody scored.”

Woolridge is still learning the Laker system. He’s probably a month away, Magic said, from being acclimated. David Rivers, the No. 1 draft choice, still has to win over some skeptical teammates. But with Campbell and Woolridge available, Worthy--last season’s playoff most valuable player--should be able to give his knees some rest.

With his groin fully healed, Magic may score some more himself, offering a challenge to backcourt mate Byron Scott, who is coming off the best season of his life--career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.

“I can run all day,” Magic said. “I can wiggle and cut and get to the line. All last year, I couldn’t get to where I wanted to be. I wasn’t driving.

“I’m just flowing through now. From free-throw line to free-throw line, it’s easier now. Then I’m just making my move right to the basket.”

Any new Magic tricks?

“I got some new passes,” he said. “A behind-the-back bounce pass, and a couple of things I’m working on, me and the pick guys.”

No more migraine headaches in Philly. No more goggles knocked askew in Phoenix. No more elbows to the midsection in San Antonio. No more annoying referees in Indianapolis. Who will pick up the slack for Abdul-Jabbar?

On the far end of the bench, the Lakers have replaced Mike Smrek--whom they sent to the Spurs Wednesday for a draft choice--with Mark McNamara, the former Cal star, NBA journeyman and backup to a Wookie in a “Star Wars” flick.

McNamara is still No. 3 on the depth chart, however, and will probably play as sparingly as swing man Jeff Lamp, who made the roster after tenaciously sticking out a year with a bad shoulder.

A. C. Green, despite a late-season fade, averaged 8.7 rebounds, most by a Laker since Magic averaged 9.6 in the ‘81-82 season. Now Mychal Thompson, who will be 34 in January, will be called upon to deliver as many rebounds as he does one-liners. A familiar sight during the playoffs last season, especially during the Dallas series, was Magic glaring at Thompson, when he wasn’t barking at him.

“I did,” Magic said. “I told him, ‘In this day and age, everybody can jump over you--(John) Salley, (Dennis) Rodman, (Roy) Tarpley. If you just try to hand block them, they’ll just reach over you and grab the rebound. You definitely have to box out.

“I think Mychal knows he has to come back stronger than he was last year. And he can do that. He knows he’s going to get those set minutes now--those 30 minutes a night.”

No more high-fives from Magic. No more winks from Nicholson. No more standing ovations in the Forum. No more clutch skyhooks. No more championship champagne. No more transcendent moments. No more cheers. Fade out. Will Abdul-Jabbar go out a winner? It took the Lakers an exhausting 106 games to win the title last season. They were taken to a seventh game in the playoffs an unprecedented three times. Other teams--Detroit, Dallas, Utah, Portland--are ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness.

“I’m going for it,” Magic said. “The hunger is still in me. This is what I play for. Championship rings.”