Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Player Quotations

A lot of young players don't really know much about the history of the game and a lot of them are missing out on what the game is all about, especially the whole concept of sportsmanship and teamwork.

I think the NBA players have to be held accountable in a reasonable way, just like any other professionals.

A lot of players think the game is all about individual performances when it's really all about a team game.

Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievement for the achievement of the group. It enhances everybody.

It's hard for young players to see the big picture. They just see three or four years down the road.

When the line started to blur between the fans and the players, sometimes things can get ugly.

I don't get a big charge out of being the leading scorer. The object of competing is winning. I just try to do what has to be done for us to win. That might be anything at the time - defense, rebounding, passing. I get great satisfaction out of being a team player.

He doesn't necessarily have to learn the sky hook. He just has to learn how to be an effective post player. I think I can help him do that.

But people don't know if I can teach the game. I know I can. My experience in Oklahoma was positive. It opened my eyes to how the game is played - the interaction among players, fans and media, how all that works. You have to know about the business of the game and how the actions of players and coaches affect the business. I think I have it down now.

What I learned in my time isn't necessarily being taught now, and I'd like to help impart that knowledge to a new generation of players.

Kobe's an incredibly talented athlete, and there are many more like him among today's players.

Few players have cast a spell across the game like Yao Ming, before or since.