UCLA Basketball: Best Bruin Hooper Ever Finishes Among Top 3 In Expert GOAT Rankings
Bruins alums in the NBA continue to make headlines in recent days but looking back shows that the university boasts some of the best in the history of the game.
One famous UCLA center continues to rank high among the best of all time from the hardwood and history hasn't forgotten his contributions to the sport.
The GOAT debate is considered a two-horse race at this point in the NBA, but if there is a strong third candidate, it’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who dominated for almost two decades thanks to his skyhook shot and overall greatness as a scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker. If anything, the longevity argument may still be with Abdul-Jabbar, as the all-time big man won his two Finals MVP awards 14 years apart, first in 1971 and then again in 1985. Most players’ careers don’t last anywhere near that long, yet Abdul-Jabbar was dominating at the highest level for that long. Still, Jordan and James are too tough to overcome, despite Abdul-Jabbar’s resume.
The man formerly known as Lew Alcindor dominated in his time as a Bruin after he won three straight national player of the year awards from 1967-1969.
Abdul-Jabbar continued his great play while in the NCAA Tournament also winning three straight national titles as the Most Outstanding Player for all three iterations.
Cap later dominated the early 1970s with the Bucks as the best player of the decade after Wilt Chamberlain retired.
His legacy was refined when he returned to Los Angeles, this time as a Laker, and paired with Magic Johnson to define another decade of NBA basketball through their Showtime Era.
Still the all-time leader in regular season MVPs and former all-time leader in points scored, Abdul Jabbar's legacy as one of the greatest on the court remains a tale fans can't stop telling.
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