Sports DBWI: What if Kareem Abdul-Jabbar chose the NBA?

In 1969, the Bucks drafted Kareem #1 overall, but the Nets were also interested. Kareem had more of an interest in the New York Nets, though, because he wasn't that interested in Milwaukee. However, he let both parties take their best shot.

Finally, realizing that getting Abdul-Jabbar could be their ticket to a national TV contract and a quicker merger, ABA Commissioner George Mikan gave Kareem a check for one million dollars, and he decided to return to his hometown, signing with the Nets over the NBA's Bucks.

With the Kareem signing, the ABA immediately benefitted. They were able to finally get a TV contract with CBS. As for the Nets, Kareem made them the dominant team of the ABA. They eventually moved into a new arena in Nassau Coliseum by 1971. With Kareem, Rick Barry, and then Julius Erving, who also wanted to play for them instead of the NBA's Bucks, they won the ABA title five straight years from 1970-74.

In the Summer of 74, with their league a legitimate enterprise, the ABA and NBA had discussions about a merger. The NBA decided to take the New York Nets, Indiana Pacers, Utah Stars, and Denver Rockets(who got new ownership and would change the team to the Nuggets). After the merger, the Nets stayed a dominant team in the NBA, winning the next two championships before being dethroned by the Blazers in 1977. They would go on to be a successful team throughout the mid-80's until Erving retired in 1987, and Kareem in 1988.

But, what would have happened if Abdul-Jabbar signed with Milwaukee instead? Would Kareem have stayed there? Would the Bucks have owned the NBA for the next several years?
 
Kareem probably would have been as successful in Milwaukee if he decided to play there. Buy Milwaukee is not NYC and for a convert to Islam and a jazz music fan, there is not much to do outside of playing basketball for a resident of Milwaukee.

It is also possible that the Bucks would not move their franchise to Miami in 1976 if they had Kareem on the team.

Around 1978-79, the LA Lakers were also interested in Kareem but when that failed, they drafted Larry Bird. What a rivalry they had with the Nets, especially when Bird, Magic and Jordan were billed as the Triple Threats. After Dr. J retired, the Lakers would win 5 straight NBA titles.

I wonder if Kareem would have ended up coaching in the NBA if he began his career in Milwaukee. He has already coached the Nets to back-to-back championships (last year, they swept the Baltimore Bulls).
 
Miami

Kareem probably would have been as successful in Milwaukee if he decided to play there. Buy Milwaukee is not NYC and for a convert to Islam and a jazz music fan, there is not much to do outside of playing basketball for a resident of Milwaukee.

It is also possible that the Bucks would not move their franchise to Miami in 1976 if they had Kareem on the team.

Around 1978-79, the LA Lakers were also interested in Kareem but when that failed, they drafted Larry Bird. What a rivalry they had with the Nets, especially when Bird, Magic and Jordan were billed as the Triple Threats. After Dr. J retired, the Lakers would win 5 straight NBA titles.

I wonder if Kareem would have ended up coaching in the NBA if he began his career in Milwaukee. He has already coached the Nets to back-to-back championships (last year, they swept the Baltimore Bulls).

1976 was the year that Miami got the Bucks, and they also got the Golden Seals from the Bay Area after Mel Swig couldn't get an arena built in Downtown San Francisco. I heard that Miami passed an arena referendum through in 1975. They were really confident that they were going to get an NBA or NHL team in the next few years. That was the deciding factor in both of those teams moving there. The Bucks were re-named the Miami Sharks, and the Seals were renamed the Miami Screaming Eagles after the failed WHA team that they were awarded in 1971. They never played a game because Miami couldn't get an arena deal at the time.

But, how would the Lakers have gotten Jordan, Magic, and Bird?
 
Lakers

Bird came to LA in 1978, Johnson in 1979 and Jordan in 1984.

I think that it could have been possible for them to get Bird and Magic, but they would have been too good to get Jordan by 1984. I think that Bird, Magic, and Worthy would have been more realistic.
 
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