NBA

5Abi · February 7, 2008, 9:09am

Re: NBA

shaq has been traded to suns

“You’re from L.A.,” D’Antoni said to a Los Angeles writer. “Didn’t they [Lakers] have Showtime and they had a 40-year-old center running down behind everybody?”

That was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played until he was 42, but the Suns better not hold their breath until they become Showtime II.

The Lakers’ nucleus, which included Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and James Worthy, grew up around Abdul-Jabbar as opposed to having him dropped in their midst, making it natural for them to take over as the years went by and Kareem slowed down.

Most of all, even at 42, Abdul-Jabbar could do one thing as well as anyone in the game – get a good shot and make it in crunch time.

O’Neal can still get 15 points and eight rebounds. He will improve the Suns’ defense just by standing in the lane. That’s all useful but not the same thing.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-heisler7feb07,1,5592546,full.column