1971 NBA Finals: An ode to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wes Unseld

Gabe and Alex explore the legacies of two NBA Hall of Famers, Wes Unseld and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, through the lens of Kareem’s first title in their 1971 finals clash. They explore the unique play of the late Wes Unseld, a superstar player with bruising style that the NBA will likely never see again. They also explore Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long history of civil rights activism and how it has affected our perception of him. The podcast also touches on the constant circus of the NBA-ABA era, the greatness of Oscar Robertson, and the fact that the Washington Area Professional Basketball Team has always been run exactly the same way regardless of location, owner, or stars.

Show Notes

• SI article on Kareem’s life in LA in the late 70’s

• New York Times Magazine Piece on Kareem in 2015

• The Athletic’s Wes Unseld Obituary

• The Roast of Wes Unseld in 2014