The New York Knicks have been at the end of jokes for years. Whether it’s a poor trade or a shameless draft decision, most of their decisions have come back to haunt each other. These bad decisions date back to the 70s, when the Knicks decided to give up a future Hall of Famer to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
After spending six seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, Kareem decided it was time to look for new pastures. He was a fan of the Knicks and even called him home. Despite expressing a desire to play for them, the Knicks did not bother. During his time with the Bucks, Kareem has won the MVP prize three times and averaged 30 points, 15 rebounds and over 3 blocks. And what’s more, the legendary Knicks center Willis Reed retired in 1974 at the age of 31, after suffering many injuries.
But despite this, in 1975, the Knicks decided not to trade with Kareem and watched him leave for Los Angeles.
Could Kareem Abdul-Jabbar keep the Knicks series alive?
During the press conference after his trade with the Lakers, Kareem revealed that his heart was set in New York. “I wanted to go to New York and play (there). It has been a dream of mine since I started playing basketball: playing with the Knickerbockers. But the way things worked has been very interested in getting me here and they have made sincere and determined efforts to bring me here. They tried to make me feel at home and in New York, it wasn’t their case. So I don’t think it’s smart to go around people who don’t really want you. ”
After their last NBA title win in 1973, the Knicks have been in crisis for 47 years. Willis Reed’s MVP in 1970 was the last time a New York Knicks player won that award. If they had traded for Kareem, everything could have changed. After a slow start with the Lakers, Kareem continued to win five rings and three MVPs during his 14 seasons with the Lake Show.
During last year’s Hall of Fame ceremony, Kareem aimed a few shots at the Knicks. “The last one [time] they won a championship, I was playing Milwaukee. They always seem to be doing the wrong deal. [Players] he could simply surrender to the city. “
The Knicks will try to learn from these mistakes. But with the current front office, the future doesn’t look bright for the organization.
