It is a splendid irony that both Johnson and Larry Bird wore No. 33 in college—the precise number worn by Jabbar, one of the NBA’s brightest stars. Both the Lakers and Celtics have good reason to feel that these two newcomers will match Jabbar’s number in more ways than one.
Author Archives: bobkuska
Dennis Johnson: Basketball’s Top Defensive Guard, 1980
Johnson says, “My reputation is as a defensive player. I like getting the credit. But no one seems to notice me for anything else, and that’s hard for me to accept sometimes.”
What Jerry Lucas Will Do for the Knicks, 1972
An All-NBA forward five times, he can also do a more-than-adequate job at center. And at either position, he can shoot from the outside about as well as any man his size ever has, and he can rebound with the best.
Jim Pollard—In Mikan’s Shadow, 1951
Pollard’s spectacular driving, jumping shots, and baffling ballhandling provide plenty of thrills around the circuit, but it is Mikan who makes off with all the records.
Never a Dull Moment with Norm Van Lier, 1974
Norm Van Lier just can’t hold back.
Did the 76ers Blow the Walton Deal? 1973
When the game was over, a horde of sportswriters chased Walton to the locker room, hoping to catch some kind of confrontation with the 76er people.
Mack Calvin: ‘The Knife’ Cuts Deep, 1972
They call him “Mack the Knife” because he has a knack for slashing defenses apart with his astounding moves.
Introducing Bill Walton, the 1980 Version
Ever since he signed with the San Diego Clippers last spring—on Mother’s Day—in a three-piece suit—he has been the object of squinting scrutiny.
Tom Meschery: The Bill Walton I Know, 1978
The only way to describe how a man seven feet tall comes into a room is to say he entered. All of a sudden ceilings become lower and door jambs grow smaller.
Dan Issel’s Inexorable, 1972
There is an unmistakable quality about Dan Issel on the basketball court: Once he makes up his mind to do something, he will do everything possible to accomplish it. Inexorable.
From Way Downtown 