Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to be the Knicks' new "Developmental Coach/Scout"

[Accord]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to be the Knicks' new "Developmental Coach/Scout"

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">February 20, 2004 -- The Knicks got one of the NBA's most famous centers at yesterday's trade deadline - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
While Isiah Thomas struck out on the trade market, he is close to hiring Abdul-Jabbar to serve as developmental coach/scout. Yesterday, the 7-2 icon out of Power Memorial was at the Knicks' Westchester campus, working with new center Nazr Mohammed and rookie power forward Michael Sweetney.

Isiah said he plans to talk more with the New York legend in the coming days to finalize a contract.

Abdul-Jabbar has had a rough time finding full-time NBA work. When Thomas coached Indiana, he had his former Laker rival drop by the Pacers' practice periodically to work with the big men. A few years ago, Abdul-Jabbar coached on an Indian reservation. </div>

More here.

 

[Accord]

Another article was written about this on ESPN:

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Head coach Lenny Wilkens said the 19-time All-Star will initially do some scouting, but his duties could be expanded down the road.

"I told the young players, the guy has got a wealth of knowledge -- don't be afraid to ask him questions," Wilkens told the Newark Star-Ledger. "And he feels good to share it with them. I think they were all in awe of him. How can you not be in awe with all he's accomplished?"

"Isiah is trying to pull together the right people, and he thought maybe I could help," Abdul-Jabbar told Newsday. Abdul-Jabbar also said he hopes the move is permanent.</div>

More here.

 

[Linkin]

New York Knicks Add Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Basketball Staff

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NEW YORK, March 4, 2004 ? New York Knickerbockers President, Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas today announced that NBA Hall of Famer and native-New Yorker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has joined the team?s basketball operations staff. Abdul-Jabbar will handle a variety of duties on the basketball side, including scouting and player evaluation.</div>

Link

 

[Erin]

So awesome!

 

[Rave]

That's great news, he'll bring some class and knowledge upfront. How is he on basketball off the court anyway, not as bad as MJ at least. How'd he coach at the Rookie/Sophomore game?

 

[bbwAce]

Yes he will add a lot of knowledge and teaching, but Greg Anthony recently reported that it took him so long to find a job because of his poor communication skills...which worries me, because coaching is all about communication...

 

[kobe35plus]

he prob got better post up skills then anyone on the team
its true even though im a knicks fan

 

[jbbCourtVision]

Good move on the Knicks side. How much knowledge can you get from the NBA's all time scoring leader? Too bad he's teaching a bunch of undersized power fowards and centres.

 

[$tarbury 3]

thats great he has so many things he can provide them with as a developmental coach teaching the players the hook shot which is a lost skill in the nba these days and teaching the knicks big man such as sweetny and muhammed how to go inside thomas and mutombo already got it down but mutombo is getting older and less able to keep healthy