Making the Case - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

I think that there are 8 players in NBA history that you can make the argument for as the Greatest of All Time. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of them. In this video, I make the case.
Twitter: / claytoncrowley
Patreon: / claytoncrowley
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ballsnsuch.com

[@vl1553]

Kareem sliced the apple just as good as anyone man.

[@big8dog887]

With all due respect to Kareem, slicing the "Apple" was a Reggie Miller specialty.

[@davidfebreeze428]

harold mccoy he Mercer Sido it in a couple of seconds tho ... nah im just kidding the most unstoppable weapon is his skyhook and he doesn’t get enough credit

[@Handle35667]

Wilt Chamberlain is better in every respect. This “analysis” is a joke for not acknowledging that from the beginning. Kareem isn’t even the best big man.

[@andypalencia3365]

Lemon Squeezy if you wanna go by stats then yes but stats are not everything with accolades and stats Kareem is better

[@blue-pi2kt]

@@xk302a this ignores the improved quality of competition in the NBA between when they entered and left the league respectively.

[@ramoncruz2453]

“A lot of those MVPs should have gone to you but you never said anything you allowed them to give them to me.”-Magic Johnson

[@tomashin2000]

You got a source for that? I wanna see the full interview where he says that it sounds interesting!

[@ramoncruz2453]

tomashin2000 i believe it was the KAJ statue unveiling, where Magic made that speech. You can watch a documentary called “Minority of One”. It was about KAJ’s career. In that documentary there’s footage of the Lakers on the plane back from beating the 76ers in 1980, when CBS forced reporters to give the FMVP trophy to Magic. Magic and KAJ spoke about that FMVP trophy. Magic offered it to KAJ and he said no, that he didn’t want that to come between them.

[@ramoncruz2453]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnibpHxtjNp_sMk 4:40

[@tomashin2000]

@@ramoncruz2453 thanks!

[@Amick44]

Cool. And Kareem can thank Magic for helping him add some titles too. Like going from 1 to 6.

[@ramoncruz2453]

KAJ third all time in blocks. The first four years of his career are not tallied.

[@iamrangers8351]

wilt had more tho, none of his were counted

[@ramoncruz2453]

IamRangers that’s true, Wilt and Russell’s steals and blocks we’re not counted. That’s my point he played in two different eras and was still Top 3 in blocks. If you took his first four years and deleted his last fours for blocks I’m pretty sure he’d be the all time leader in blocks.

[@CiabanItReal]

Wilt played most of his career before that was ever a stat, apparently a team employee kept track of those before it was official, just for team purposes, and he got over 25 in one game.

[@iamrangers8351]

@@ramoncruz2453 well behind Wilt and Russell of course. Nate Thurmond may have been up there as well...

[@BigShaneGillis]

Points leader in league history (over 5000 above MJ). 6x MVP. 6x Nba champion. 19x all star. lost two total games in elementary and high school. Went 88-2 at UCLA in college. See how he absolutely dominates some of the other all time greats he faced during his career.

[@don_brodka]

I would 100% watch a 10 hour documentary on Kareem. I feel like as he's aged he's been more open and approachable with the media and we've learned a lot about his struggles and why he was so distant during his playing days. His segments in Basketball: A Love Story are a great place to start if anyone is wanting to learn more about him.

[@seanswinton6242]

I agree. Kareem. Abdul-Jabbar's NBA career and early years would be fascinating. Also his life off of the court would be enlightening. His activism, philanthropy, his breadth of knowledge, and his passion for history and music. It would strictly be about him. The personal stuff would be his discretion because again it's all about him.

[@job.jordan7981]

There's a documentary about Kareem called minority of one. You should check it out it's pretty good

[@3DogSound]

You could easily fill 10 hours of a documentary about Kareem’s life on the court, and another 10 on his life off the court. HIs early rise to prominence on the basketball court caught Wilt’s attention. Wilt used to go see Lew Alcindor and gave clothes and shoes and mentored him. Something that I’ve never heard Kareem talk about. His activism, his friendship with Bruce Lee, even just spend time on the books he has written. They are some of the best most detailed books on Black History in America, that have ever been written. He’s immortalized the jazz. movement and all kinds of black culture. He was aloof. Can you imagine the things that he had to face in 1968 as a 7’2” black college student athlete, who opposed the Vietnam War? We still don’t treat peace activists, or civil rights activists very well. Examples: Colin Kapernick and Megan Rapinoe.

[@ems6706]

I think Kareem needs it because he's probably one of the living experts on the 70s in the NBA. Like I'd love that perspective 50 years later, and his books were really insightful so I think it would be an enlightening experience

[@adamnordmark7709]

I bet they'll make something pretty substantial when (if) he dies

[@carlyata1]

From a strictly objective perspective, the argument for Kareem as GOAT is as compelling as can be.

[@jackmacaulay3619]

in this case, objective perspectives are subjective... what does the objective goat entail?

[@tarencejohnsonjr3089]

Really why cuz he towered over everybody and stud under the basket and shot mostly layups while Jordan got fouled all the way to the basket and still scored to me that's way more compelling but let's jus ignore how much more difficult that is

[@carlyata1]

@@tarencejohnsonjr3089 If it's too easy then why haven't all big men reached his accomplishments? Boy you sounded like a 10 year old right there.

[@BigShaneGillis]

Points leader in league history (over 5000 above MJ). 6x MVP. 6x Nba champion. 19x all star. lost two total games in elementary and high school. Went 88-2 at UCLA in college. See how he absolutely dominates some of the other all time greats he faced during his career.

[@tarencejohnsonjr3089]

@@carlyata1 What you sound so stupid I have no time for foolishness I like who I like and I never said he was a weak 7 footer I gave him his due I said he was awesome little toddler, but to me it more awesome doing it at 6'6" period if you are not smart enough to know I can have my own opinion jus like you you can love Kareem but I DONT so miss me with that shit plus you never seen Kareem even play so what are you really talking about oh riding the ban wagon great for you

[@WetSocks1222]

Crazy how 50 years later we could still learn a thing or 2 from Kareem's actions and ability to stand up not for what is easy but for what is right.

[@talhakarsloglu4278]

Kareem was protesting. Today people are just looting small businesses and destroying lives.

[@WetSocks1222]

@@talhakarsloglu4278 obv im not talking about the looters.

[@burner1303]

@Lycan People are getting tear gassed and beaten up by cops for protesting. That shit ain't easy lol

[@jgray2718]

Everyone can learn something from Kareem. Champion at all levels, GOAT candidate, activist, and after his basketball career, historian, author, and philanthropist. And one of the best Celebrity Jeopardy players ever. Great player, great person.

[@williamakers1101]

What would he think about lebron bowing down to China?

[@stirfriedchuck3040]

The best part of this series is that after each installation I believe that player is the GOAT.

[@Romamb]

Have you managed to pick one yet?

[@mihailobogutovic7]

For me, after watching entire series, it convinced me that Bird is the goat

[@JensenParkour]

@@mihailobogutovic7 interesting!

[@badasssnow]

Man, I LOVE Bird; he's my favorite. While also being more of a superfan fanatic of MJ than I'd like to admit at the same time. But it's Wilt Chamberlain. And it's a travesty not to acknowledge it. Chamberlain was nearly a different species of human being entirely. His height, his sprinting speed, his weightlifting strength, his leaping ability. He had every physical advantage, and I think that doesn't sit well with people. It feels unfair, and they want to exclude him. Because well yeah "obviously" he should dominate. You'd expect it, and he did it. If we're talking about individual greatness in the team sport of basketball, it's Chamberlain.

[@kentaviouscaldwell-goat5880]

@@mihailobogutovic7 that’s gotta be racist!

[@saltycee7491]

His teams had an 88-2 record in college and if I'm not mistaken, one of those losses was to a Houston team (with Elvin Hayes) when he had a scratched cornea and could barely see. Greatness!!!

[@TheTdbj]

I think his cornea got scratched again later in his career leading to the iconic googles

[@anthonyanderson9303]

@@TheTdbj That's correct. The 2nd time was in a 1974 preseason game. It was after this that he started wearing goggles full time.

[@Amick44]

@@anthonyanderson9303 great idea too. James Worthy & later Horace Grant picked up on it.

[@anonymoususer2080]

@@TheTdbj yup the iconic googles, cant forget em

[@chickenmerchant3719]

@@anthonyanderson9303 man, those goggles are some of the most characteristic accessories any athlete has ever worn tbh 😎

[@Unknown-nc4jq]

your presentations are so good that could make Ian Mahinmi a GOAT

[@rafikz77]

Lmao

[@jakerojas4942]

He is

[@samwescoat5750]

I think he’s okay with his contract at this point😂

[@sugarcultist4932]

I want that video NOW

[@saeedsenpai5530]

as a wizards fan, i hate you for commenting that 😂😂

[@shadeedahmad6542]

Kareem Abdul Jabbar was as powerful as his name, relative to his basketball exploits and social consciousness. Those of us who actually saw him play on a regular basis are not under the trance of current flawed media bias and research, favoring players in more recent years. This video is a narrative of basketball supremacy that has never been experienced since, nor will be. The compassion, respect, accuracy, honor and professionalism presented in this video, by the producer, is parallel to Kareem's intelligence and dedication to enlightening humanity socially. Kudos for a magnificent presentation and subject matter. It's a breathtaking and refreshing story of authentic greatness.

[@MrBronx61]

FACTS!

[@LOL-ro9ef]

-Kareem’s MVP competition was the weakest out of any all time great. He went up against Bob McAdoo and Dave Cowens. He won MVP one year when he missed the playoffs. That screams weak competition. -He didn’t beat one all time great big man in their prime in any playoff series in the years he won rings. -The only time the Showtime Lakers didn’t make the Finals, it was when they played all time great big men and they throughly outplayed Kareem. Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon. - Kareem was supposedly the deserving FMVP in 1980 instead of Magic, yet the very next year they lost to Moses Malone in the playoffs and Moses Malone outscored and out rebounded Kareem. Moses was on a 40-42 team with no HOFers or All-Stars. This is the worst Finals team of all time. The Lakers had Kareem and Magic (and other good players) - The 2nd worse Finals team of all time, was the 42-40 Bullets, who Kareem won his first ring against. - Kareem got locked up defensively by Nate Thurmond in the playoffs. In 1973 he averaged 30ppg on 55% in the regular season and the Bucks were the 1st seed. Come the first round against the lowest seed in his conference, he loses to Nate Thurmond and gets locked up to 23ppg on 43%. -Kareem was defending FMVP in 1986, (one that he didn’t deserve over Magic), the Showtime Lakers were in their prime, yet in 1986 they lost in the WCF to a 2nd year Hakeem Olajuwon who outscored, outrebounded, outstole, and outblocked Kareem and he shot better. Hakeems second best player was Ralph Sampson who never made the playoffs without Hakeem. -Kareem in his prime, in the weakest era of all time, never even made the Finals. And he had help. He was on the most 50 win teams in the 70s out of any player, yet he still never once made the Finals without Magic or Oscar. -Swept by Bill Walton, lost to Jack Sikma back to back. -Kareem also doesn’t have any all time great playoff runs, any all time great Finals performances, or any all time great MVP seasons besides his first. He is by far the most overrated player in NBA history. He has done nothing GOAT worthy. His resume looks nice at face value sure, but when you add context to his career it’s still easy to see that he is just not worthy of being in the GOAT conversation at all. Don’t get me wrong, Kareem is still a top 10 player ever but he is far from even being the greatest center of all time let alone the greatest player of al time. People who think he is the GOAT center know next to nothing about his career and it’s sad because that’s the vast majority of NBA fans. Hope this helps!

[@patguitare]

No truer words have ever been said about Cap's dominance at all levels. I had the honor of watching him as a young boy (me at 7-8 years old) winning championships at UCLA and with The Bucks and The Big O, eventually getting to my Lakers and playing with Magic, prolonging his career. There will never be another player like Kareem Abdul Jabbar!

[@zakfalouji7467]

"He is the greatest of all time. Just pick a case." Damn dude, gave me chills. Fantastic video.

[@otisls]

Won championships at every level of basketball; 12 Championships [3 HS, 3 NCAA, and 6 NBA]; prominent in virtually all statistical categories and known by his iconic shot; GOAT = Skyhook!

[@marylynrobinson3147]

bill russel won 2 in college plus 11 in the pros

[@razkable]

@@marylynrobinson3147 plus a gold medal

[@BigShaneGillis]

Points leader in league history (over 5000 above MJ). 6x MVP. 6x Nba champion. 19x all star. lost two total games in elementary and high school. Went 88-2 at UCLA in college

[@user-sz6kp1tn6c]

@@marylynrobinson3147 Don't forget russell also won championships in high school lol

[@thomaspitts5161]

Magic also won at every level. High school, college,NBA, and Olympics.

[@merckmaguddayao6814]

I remember my childhood days, getting awestruck by Jordan, and I was always yelling he's the greatest to ever play the game, then my older cousin quipped, "You haven't seen Kareem Abdul-Jabbar." Here in the Philippines, Jabbar's name has been incorporated in our language. "Jabbar" is the Filipino word for a sweaty armpit; it's our country's tribute to the most hardworking basketball player ever.

[@henry-bo3np]

And then your father said, "You haven't seen Bill Russell" 🙂

[@Rocket-qg5jw]

Its so stupid that basketball stars have to seem “likable” to media in order to be considered the goat. At the end of the day, he has better achievements than Mj, lebron etc. The fact that he isn’t as popular as them just because he wasn’t an attention seeking clown and his skyhook wasn’t a flashy move shows how apparently being a pretentious player is more important than being a great scorer in NBA

[@johnsalem1795]

Because Lebron is an attention seeks clown...lol.

[@tommyosborne5201]

He doesn't really have better achievements though. He has less finals MVPs then MJ, not as many DPotY awards. He has a lower PPG average. If it wasn't for Magic coming along Kareem only ends with 1 title. Hell Kareem one an MVP whilst missing the playoffs thanks to players voting back then

[@andresmendozaondatube]

@@johnsalem1795 Lebrons a diva and frankly sort of annoying with the whole media circus he brings to whatever team he signs with. just look at what happened last year with the Lakers

[@johnsalem1795]

@@andresmendozaondatube He brings the medias attention to every team he joins because he is the best basketball player in the world. I fail to see how that is his fault.

[@dylanmuldowney1472]

@@johnsalem1795 true, but he is extremely active with his fans, Kareem... not so much

[@slatchet2799]

winning finals mvp 14 years apart is just incredible

[@NealX_Gaming]

"He let his celebrity die willingly, even intentionally." Makes perfect sense then that he never gets his due nowadays, always left out of the conversation. And now I know just how unfair that is.

[@omacburma]

Great video. I remember a story that in the early 80s (maybe 82?) his house in LA burned down. He still went to practice and played the game without saying a word. Maybe not a media darling, but a real professional.

[@davidr.2633]

Interestingly that incident caused him to open up and be more fan- friendly as people all over the world commiserated with his loss. As a jazz fan, other collecters sent him irreplaceable recordings he had lost in the fire.

[@JAWrightonline]

Scored a season-high 34 in a win against the Mavericks in Dallas, if memory serves me right.

[@lynnerose7891]

That’s not what defined his professionalism. He wasn’t, you know, a firefighter lol. It’s more likely he didn’t think anyone would or could have helped him. Who was going to buy him a house? There were things that nobody there could do for him, so in his mind, he took care of his business for a few hours then got back to getting a new house. He probably didn’t think media was going to help him, at all, either, so why would he tell them?? Also how did LAKERS FANS send him gifts after the fire if nobody knew?? Lol Clearly ppl knew. “…Abdul-Jabbar's house burned down. Many of his belongings, including his beloved jazz LP collection of about 3,000 albums, were destroyed. Many Lakers fans sent and brought him albums, which he found uplifting.”

[@patguitare]

Yes, that fire destroyed his jazz music record collection which he loved. I remember a lot of fans sending him copies of the greats, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, etc...

[@Amick44]

I will always give him that. A true, classy professional. Wish more, in all eras would emulate him there. I'm sure many coaches do as well.

[@nathancarlk]

Everyone knows that the last video is going to be the real goat. Brian Scalabrine

[@MrMelloCountry]

Gotta hand it you: the way you've broken it down with bias for anyone is super admirable. I have Kareem as THE GOAT, but it will be interesting to hear you make your case for Jordan, LeBron, and Russell.

[@sigh.sy.s]

OOOOu i dont think Russell finna be on the list

[@KingGregory27]

Saihaan Syed he acknowledged that Russel is one of the 8 he’s focusing on

[@sigh.sy.s]

@@KingGregory27 oh really I missed that. I thogujt it would be bron Jordan and Shaq left

[@KingGregory27]

@@sigh.sy.s in his wilt chamberlain vid he mentions how he's going to be making the case for russel. He references about kobe & shaq a lot but I don't think he thinks either of them have a strong enough case as the other 8

[@MDHDH-iy7nm]

@@KingGregory27 honestly, i cant see someone making this type of vid about Kobe or Shaq and not both, and since hes doing only 8 I think thats why

[@Daz555Daz]

He's the GOAT for me. Partly because of his school career. Partly because of his college career. Partly because of his NBA career. But, also because of his "fantasy 1v1 career"....in my head!. I just can't think of a single player in history who would beat a prime Kareem 1v1 - too big, too much finesse. Greatest shot in NBA history.

[@masterchief5833]

Wilt bruh, that's why I'm so reluctant to put kareem as the goat, because it's pretty much guaranteed that wilt was better than him by a margin.

[@roundtable3501]

Yeah, I think a prime wilt could beat a prime Kareem in a 1 v 1. Old wilt was able to block the sky hook a few times, so prime wilt would be able to deal with it better. And wilt was also far stronger than Kareem, so he’d be able to back him down to the basket. That being said, whoever wins between those two 1 v 1 wouldn’t decide who’s the greater player. Because in basketball, it’s a 5 v 5 game with passing, setting screens, getting double teamed, etc. All of those things aren’t present in a 1 v 1 match.

[@kvltizt]

@@roundtable3501 Yep. A prime Kobe might have beaten prime Lebron in a 1v1 but Lebron is a better in game player.

[@kvltizt]

@Heini Grudziadz I thought of it myself because Kobe had more handles/ways to shoot the ball than Lebron but Lebron is a more willing and skilled passer. So in a 1v1 I’m picking Kobe but in a team situation I’m picking Lebron.

[@siddhartha894]

​@@kvltiztoh yea def, but I value individuality as my metric for goat so Wilt's got my vote. Respect how you see it tho, its hard to not pick Lebron because he's the most complete player out of all the greats.

[@justaderrickrosestan]

This series is one of my favorites on yt. Very underrated. Also we within the first 100 views bois. Keep up the grind my man

[@theOnyFUFU]

13:40 So basically, he was a much more dominant version of Tim Duncan in the 70s? I never knew that! I'm sure the fact that he didn't have a charismatic personality (like Magic, pre-Bad Boys Isaih Thomas, or MJ) also led to him being forgetten. Love your content man! Looking forward to more.

[@theinktician]

He was globally considered goat till the late 90s. The thing that makes him seem forgotten is the media's narrative pushes of the past 10 years. Actually - just the past 5 years.

[@owenmenne827]

real fans remember him

[@blue-pi2kt]

@@owenmenne827 I think suggesting it's forgotten is a little off target, but with that said I think it's really hard to split Kareem, Michael or Lebron (when his career is over).

[@Moses44476ers]

@@blue-pi2kt MJ is head and shoulders ahead of the rest in terms of brand marketing...media bias...commercial appeal...PR..popularity.... There are many great players who should be in the conversation...but they lack the brand marketing Jordan has

[@DeepUndaInAmsterdam]

My man ain't forgotten. You can remember him everytime you look at the NBA all time scorers

[@veerchasm1]

If you count just his NBA career he may be #2, but once you add his HS and college careers it’s a landslide #1

[@__ike8604]

True, but thats not a fair comparison because when all said and done, theres no possible way LeBron could beat Kareem when you include college. Theres no way he could make up the greatest college career in history with a similar amount of years in the NBA

[@Werdiknight]

@@__ike8604 There really is no argument for LeBron against Kareem if you exclude recence bias and just look at career accomplishments. Just forget about college, Kareem EASILY beats Lebron if you are really honest to yourself and try to be fair and as objective as possible.

[@PhillipCummingsUSA]

@Dhdhdh sksj Kareem wouldn't have laid on the court with cramps during an NBA Finals game.

[@bestlifenow2285]

The fact that his name is not mentioned regularly in the goat discussion is criminal.

[@duragjj]

This man gonna blow up

[@jugrajkang4532]

yeah, its clear how much effort he puts into these videos, he should have more than 100k subs

[@kettlemypedals]

I always had kareem top 5 but I never really looked in depth to his career. I think you may have changed him to my top 1! It makes sense that the media would not rank him up as number 1 with the reasons you listed.

[@jeremyleveille1532]

@Lycan yeah it was by design him waiting to do MJ and LeBron last to build up the suspense

[@Werdiknight]

Kareem to this day still is the one and ONLY player in NBA history who really has a legitimate case against MJ.

[@vexotimmer2675]

Agreed.

[@Fernandocatan]

I would say the opposite. MJ has a legitimate case against Kareem, but Kareem is the GOAT. PERIOD!!!

[@MP-dn4bs]

Who decided that 6-0 in the finals better than 6-4?

[@OhManItsTan]

Lol

[@thorntonwilliams3851]

@@MP-dn4bs Many big games must be won to reach the finals.

[@joejett5084]

This was good, and a much needed examination. I didn't get to see him play, just highlights, stories, and a look at stats. You put what he did in greater context.

[@Jay_C51]

Pink Floyd 🔥

[@burner1303]

He also dominated during the NBA-ABA merger era, which I've heard some older analysts (BBallBreakdown for example) say is the most talented era in NBA history. Obviously most talented era is debatable as well, but it's a point in Kareem's favor that he played in an era considered talented.

[@luke5767]

Always been a big Kareem fan. When I think of this man, words like "integrity" and "honor" come to mind. Sadly, both of those words rarely come to mind when discussing today's players.

[@markalterado88]

As much as I’m on the MJ side of things, I’m really loving all your videos(arguments) and you deserve more views!!!

[@tarencejohnsonjr3089]

Right doing it at only 6'6" that's what separates Jordan

[@andypalencia3365]

Tarence Johnson Jr ?

[@slightexag]

@@tarencejohnsonjr3089 so does that mean the shorter you are the more your championships count? by that logic steph curry is the best of all time since he won titles at just 6'3

[@Drpepper1525]

smithtable15 sure ignore the 6 chips, 6fmvps, 5 mvps, dpoy, etc...

[@andypalencia3365]

Drpepper1525 who is ignoring that?

[@thenobleone-3384]

Kareem is my favorite center of all time. I'm an introvert also. So I can relate to him.

[@lloydkline1518]

Skyhook;; greatest weapon in sports history

[@jackbuck6720]

Ive been defending Kareem as the goat for years, thank you so much for making this. Very well done

[@sey2818]

people still don’t understand i saw a dude make a top 5 centers ever and kareem wasn’t in its its so direspectful to him he was amazing and does not get the props he deserves it’s sickening

[@jeremyleveille1532]

@@sey2818 ok well that person is a moron if they don't have Kareem as a top 5 center ever. So wouldn't worry about them

[@TheDesisgarf]

Kareem cant be the GOAT, in his prime he struggled against other elite bigs. As a matter of fact, the Kareem/Magic lakers got swept in the finals because Kareem couldnt handle Moses Malone. Im sorry but you don’t hear stories about Jordan, LeBron or other top 10 caliber players getting torched by other guys at their position.

[@jeremyleveille1532]

@@TheDesisgarf exactly. The Kareem/Magic Lakers also lost in 5 games in 86 to the Rockets when Hakeem outplayed Kareem badly and in 1977 the Lakers with Kareem got swept by the Blazers with Bill Walton. Walton's supporting cast was better that series but not THAT much better where the Lakers couldn't have won at least 1 game

[@TheDesisgarf]

Jeremy Leveille exactly, imagine if Clyde had humiliated Jordan like that on the 92 finals, that would instantly remove him from the GOAT conversation. So for me that automatically takes Kareem out of the conversation.

[@brianhobson1127]

I can't believe you didn't include his skyhook that ended the curse in '85 as a signature shot/moment.

[@Cbrunning849]

You're really making me change my viewpoint on some things. These videos are fantastic. This should honestly be an ESPN special. Keep doing your thing.

[@jordanrobertson6573]

Bro the look in Phoenix face when they didnt get that pick! Look like somebody in the group got slapped and everybody's like did that just happen?

[@burner1303]

look like they just got dumped lol

[@RedAbalde]

As a Tim Duncan fan for so long, I can say that Kareem is like the better version of Duncan. I didn't even know there could be such a thing.

[@thomaspitts5161]

Duncan is closer to Bill Russell than Kareem. God tier Defender. Excellent leader and awesome teammate. Kareem was not a culture creator like Tim.

[@lightofworld8806]

@@thomaspitts5161 are your sure about that?

[@cm9241]

Wouldn't say better but I see an early version.

[@ThaTruth223]

@@cm9241 definitely better, hence why he’s the more successful one and the all time leader in points

[@cm9241]

@@ThaTruth223 yeah there's more to a goat conversation than points scored

[@jasonl8565]

20 years in the league in the 88 finals with the game on the line, who do they go to? The GOAT. Kareem and the sky hook.

[@veracity5977]

The GOAT?😂 he barely did anything that year. The would’ve won without him.

[@melvynsngltn27]

@@veracity5977 no they would not

[@veracity5977]

@@melvynsngltn27 then why did they win game 6 1980 without them? Why did they go 63-19 without him and then make the Finals the next year?

[@thedawashow7480]

​@@veracity5977 they got hella lucky game 6 Kareem avg 33 points 14 rebounds kids this is why you stay off drugs

[@PapaJoeB]

This series is EXCELLENT! It's the definitive GOAT series on and off YoutTube. You should consider putting the word "basketball" in your channel name. I've said in SO many comment sections before that Kareem is truly the Basketball GOAT. MJ is maybe the NBA GOAT with Kareem right there but BASKETBALL OVERALL GOAT is Kareem. Winner from Elementary school to Retirement.

[@jeremyleveille1532]

Russell was more of a winner than Kareem, no?

[@vishishtg3062]

@@jeremyleveille1532 in the nba Kareem is the goat of basketball Kareem is a winner in nba In college In high school The best high school and college players ever

[@jeremyleveille1532]

@@vishishtg3062 Russell did all of that, plus he also won an Olympic gold medal. And Russell was the best player on his team on pretty much every one of his 11 NBA championship teams whereas Kareem only won 6 NBA titles (while playing 7 more seasons) and one could argue that Kareem was only the best player on 1 of his 6 NBA championship teams, with Magic being arguably the best player on 5 of them.

[@vishishtg3062]

@@jeremyleveille1532 first Kareem won 3 championships in high school Bill hasn't done that Kareem was the winner of 3 NCAA championship Which not just bill but nobody in the entire NCAA history has done that Kareem is the greates NCAA player ever

[@vishishtg3062]

@@jeremyleveille1532 kareem won 2 finals MVP which means he was the best player in two of his championships Second 1980 finals On the 1980 finals magic was a young rookie and kareem was leading the charge In the first five game kareem averaged 25 and 15 and he was obv the best player In game five kareem was injured but he came back and propelled a Lakers win Lakers were up 3_2 In game 6 kareem didn't play and on that one game magic did his thing So the media gave the fmvp to the young magic But deep down he was always the best player He was the best in 3 championships and thesecond best on his 3 remainmg rings

[@justaderrickrosestan]

I remember when you had less than 600 subs just a while ago! I’m so happy you’ve hit 1000! Keep up the grind to keep growing

[@fintripod22]

@@zee7487 try almost 20k

[@omnipepper3665]

2:18 I thought he was just gonna do a skyhook and then he dunked that

[@michaelmatzner5033]

You absolutely nailed Wilt and Kareem. Perfectly done.

[@TASAA85]

I can appreciate the respect and attention you give in these videos. there is a true aesthetic you have for these legendary players whose bodies of work endure through this worlds fragile history.

[@MrGameonthis]

Just came across this series and I gotta say, it's incredible. Good stuff man!

[@dennybaek576]

This series has been fantastic! Im excited to watch the next few installments and I'm stoked to see what kind of videos you're cooking up next. Great basketball analysis and a really fun look through the history of some of the greatest players ever. Keep up the great work Clayton!

[@fwah23]

This is amazing, I thought I had seen all the footage on legends, and this just has so much of Kareem's early days game that I have never ever come across

[@ronanoconnell5136]

Great video. Only found your channel yesterday can't wait to watch the rest

[@wessampson2873]

I CANNOT wait till we get the next 3 videos. Fantastic series!

[@osmangunes1094]

Your making the case videos are absolutely amazing. Appreciate the hard work. Thank you. You deserve much more followers

[@diegoagruiz]

Loving every "Making the case" video. Great job! So interesting and fun to watch! Looking forward for the next one!

[@rolexmarcelo3218]

So Beautiful and well-put. I hope Kareem watches this, and know that innumerable basketball fanatics know clearly how good he was for such a long, enduring time.

[@lerrato6027]

This series is so good pls keep up with these videos! Thank you!

[@gasoline.]

This was an absolutely phenomenal video, keep these up! Thank you!

[@Sijan.G]

Keep em comin homie we love these videos🙏🏻

[@aTDecimate]

I am so impressed by your videos man! The level of detail and all-around dedication to your craft is fitting for the topics that you speak upon. I hope you continue along this path of education as well as respect for the game of basketball.

[@surrakasurovec3641]

This was a very good production. Seriously, this was damn near pretty professional and educational. I enjoyed this and learned a lot. Thankyou!

[@GhazarYaohBanLoay]

I love this format and the analysis are beautiful. Plus I almost cried hearing the part of the narration that descirbed how severely he ruled his first decade in the league. Plus the narration syntax also is moving 😢

[@76JStucki]

Great video! Thanks! I love the fact that you aren't insisting on just one guy, yet every video is convincing!

[@jamesonclements2447]

This channel and your videos deserve to go viral. Keep up the good work man i'm loving these.

[@Cam101077]

Quality content, like documentary worthy. Incredible video man, thanks! Looking forward to more, and subscribed.

[@mil7osokar]

I have been binge watching *for weeks* NBA videos, and video essays about legends and GOATs, etc. I've gone through most channels. You are by far the best. Bravo. Great great content. Thank you. Seriously. You've done a tremendous job. This is a magnificent project. Very very very balanced.

[@ythinman2277]

You convinced me ! Nicely done really enjoyed it.

[@Lizards_Lounge]

Keep doing this level of quality. Another great video.

[@traviscorcoran6205]

these videos are insane!! much love ❤

[@45blacksocrates]

I know I'm late to the party but I just want to give credit where credit is due this series is awesome and I think Kareem is the greatest but Jordan is more exciting like you said and he has the ball in his hand so much more memorable moments and it was in the area where everything was filmed beautifully and all stats were taken. You got skills man

[@EPIGIBSONPHONE]

Kareem is the only player i can see being at the #1 spot next the MJ. Also, this series is easily the best basketball youtube content i have ever seen on youtube.

[@foxjonfox]

@claytoncrowley your videos are insightful, well thought out and executed to perfection. Keep it up!

[@felipecampos4214]

The arguments, the narration, the stats and the off court reality... is all here. Very well made video man, ty

[@mhhmmhhm3301]

I have been debating between Kareem and Wilt lately and this video helped out so much. Awesome commentary great stats, clips and well narrated! Can't wait to watch the Wilt one next!

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Amazing player and wonderful human being. Another one of those guys who initiated a rule change.

[@burner1303]

They changed the rule to nerf him and it made him better lol

[@Kepa808]

Man all of these Making the Case videos are amazing.

[@Carlos-un8bk]

Bro I'm frr hyped up for the next episode your content is great fre

[@srfotog]

I love the last section on his clutch wins of the Finals. THAT is why he's the GOAT!

[@rafikz77]

They changed the rules to to make Kareem and Wilt less dominant ( but that didn’t work out lol) but they changed the rules to help Jordan

[@GlennGould77]

This is sooo good! The basketball community can't thank you enough for the "making the case" series. It's a joy to see that, in a time when modern media is flooded with childish quarrels between kids who neither understand the game itself, nor know basketball history to an extent that would entitle them to utter an opinion about matters like who is the best ever and who isn't. Apart from that, it's admirable how much thought and effort you put into this. So far, I can agree with everything you say, and I'm anxious to see the rest of the series.

[@Andre-qh3hr]

You gotta keep these up, loving these!

[@atomsk1972]

Excellent - I enjoy this series as much, if not more, than 'the last dance'.

[@steamyspenny]

I'm gonna get to say to people "I subbed to Clayton Crowley when he was just over 3k!" Also I die at the "Other Stuff" slide

[@mitchfriend9319]

such a good series man, keep it up!

[@troynewly]

Thank you, for this excellent capsule of basketball's GOAT, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I have followed Kareem throughout his career, one you highlight so auspiciously. Long have I, pretty much a Celtics fan for life, contended that Abdul-Jabbar's prowess on the court, has earned him that esteemed moniker - GOAT. When his Laker teams played the Celtics, I attended a few hometown games at the old Boston Garden, wearing purple and gold in support of him and the expected good natured chastisement of Celtics fans (I have been a Celtics fan from the 60s' championships. Nostalgically, I recalled watching many of the games you showed, and am excited to know someone has captured his illustrious career so precisely, objectively and with understood and undisputed positive bias. I hope he has seen this testimony to not only his place on the court, but to his role in civil rights and the national tenor of the times. I respected his reticence in discussing personal matters and remaining aloof from the press. Rather than view this attitude as dismissive, I see it as humility, a man secure in himself, without needing the adulation of the masses, as some sports' celebrities do. Thank you again.

[@tomguu7260]

Yes, I remember that Final series when Magic won the MVP. I thought he and Kareem should've been Co-MVP!

[@Fernandocatan]

IMO, they robbed Kareem when they gave the MVP to Magic in 1980. Clayton explained us why.

[@lloydkline1518]

🎩Johnson;; showtime fastbreak;; running rebel

[@lynnerose7891]

How the hell do you NOT give the MVP to a player who AVERAGED 33 POINTS/14 REBOUNDS with 4.6 BLOCKS PER GAME FOR 5 games?? Magic was great but his 80 series wasn’t better than KAJ.

[@jeremyleveille1532]

Great video! Only thing I feel it was missing was some analysis of Wilt vs Kareem. What happened when they went against each other, who had the upper hand, etc.

[@aaronrider4051]

When Wilt was 35 and playing shortly after knee surgery, he defensively dominated a 25 year old Kareem.

[@abemartin8095]

Imagine having this much quality to your videos, having arguments do so good that depending on what video you watched, you would think that person was the GOAT, and having background music that is only second to Trap Sax. My friend, I think YOU are the GOAT!

[@alejandrocantu1811]

This is probably the best sports series on youtube, awesome work

[@gregoryblake4062]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was My Favorite Basketball Player of All Time Great Video!

[@Mrjhugr]

Fantastic ! I can't believe how addicted I've become to your portraits and analysis... Thanks again for the wonderful work and I can only hope you'll continue with other basketball insights when you'll be done with Making the Case !

[@michaelstankiewicz6617]

This is the first video of your I have seen, and omg your production quality is amazing. You understand pacing, the use of tone and inflection, and are engaging. If this was a professional production by a major network, I would be impressed at their impartiality. This production by a single person is insane. I think you may be my binge watch for the next few days. Congrats on the great work

[@Mattribute]

I think you're very good at making arguments. A rare ability. This series is like a fun exercise in doing just that.Thank you.

[@inteligentidiot7233]

You could have skipped over Kareem's struggles with racism, his activism, and his conversion to Islam, but you didn't, because you knew it was as important to his career as his skyhook. Thank you for including the essentials that were as important off the court as the ones that were on.

[@macgordon9523]

Not only was he the greatest NBA player but also the greatest high school and college player to ever play. He perfected the hook shot to a point that no other player will dare practice the shot let alone use it. It’s inarguable that he had the greatest shot ever and that if it came down to one shot to win he’d be the one you’d want to take it no matter who was defending him. Larry Bird, Jordan, Lebron, Curry or anyone else would all defer to his sky hook. And add to that he is by fay the greatest writer of any athlete ever in any sport.

[@osmangunes1094]

Great great video again. Thank you very much. This is so important

[@saturnprince.23]

I am so glad u made this 27-minute masterpiece I made sure to watch all the ads

[@BigShaneGillis]

Points leader in league history (over 5000 above MJ). 6x MVP. 6x Nba champion. 19x all star. lost two total games in elementary and high school. Went 88-2 at UCLA in college. See how he absolutely dominates some of the other all time greats he faced during his career.

[@williamlarimer334]

There can't really be a greatest of all time. Kareem was pretty competetive for many years, but before Magic/Larry, he didn't really play against greats. The Magic/Larry years were the MOST competitive ever and Kareem punched Larry because he said 38-6 which Larry owned the 38. Larry was like he was from a different planet.

[@BigShaneGillis]

@@williamlarimer334 I agree with your initial statement that there can’t really be a factually overarching accurate GOAT, however if you needed to assign one nba player in the history of the league to be considered the “greatest of all time”, it’s hard to make a logical argument against Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

[@MrNasher113]

The skyhook is so good that it’s even unstoppable on 2k20 😂

[@joshuasilva8168]

finally lol

[@lloydkline6946]

Yao ming, would chew up jabbar skyhook

[@ritzisantos85]

@@lloydkline6946 i would hope so, dude is like 8'9

[@drpk6514]

But who can do it now?

[@Fernandocatan]

@@drpk6514 ME! But I don't play in NBA! I am only 172 centimeters!!

[@rankoutsider73]

These videos are so quality, thank you!

[@renatoruaspinto]

Great video. I am a huge Kareem's fan. Lethal and elegant at the same time. His sky hook is fantastic and, by Scott Pippen's word, an unguardable move.

[@jarontherocks5337]

I think I’m convinced

[@travisjones9933]

Excellent work! I really love the premise, making a case for each of the 8 as though they were your goat-candidate...and I agree with pretty much everything you are saying, and when I don't, I always understang the logic that goes into it

[@mike77514]

Excellent series!!!! Keep it up

[@apepen3]

In all honesty before I got on yt I did so with the hope that you posted another making a case video and you did how crazy is that? That’s all I came on to see