Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Milwaukee Bucks’ all-time leading scorer, is interested in rejoining the organization in a front office like capacity.
“If I get a call, I will definitely offer my services,” the outspoken Jabbar recently told NBA.com. “There’s nothing on the table right now. A couple of people have asked me and if I had the chance to be part of this franchise again, I would take it.”
In the midst of an 11-46 season, struggling to fill seats or spark interest and with longtime owner retired Sen. Herb Kohl having recently announced he is seeking minority investors for the team, the Milwaukee franchise currently stands at somewhat of a crossroads.
Still, Jabbar, who scored an eye-popping 14,211 points in a Bucks’ uniform, senses the franchise’s appeal.
“They have to get their business model right,” he added. “I hope that the Bucks are able to sort it all out and get on a good footing. You can’t win it all unless you get the right players and you can’t get the right players unless you’re really in a good position as a business.”
In town to promote a new tourism ad for the state of Wisconsin that plays off his role in the movie “Airplane,” Jabbar also touched on his interest in someday being an NBA coach. Then known as Lew Alcindor, Jabbar was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft by the Bucks and by the next season, teamed with Oscar Robertson, was leading the team to the NBA title.
Before that, Jabbar’s winning ways became legendary on the college scene as he led UCLA to three straight NCAA championships (1967-69) and was named MVP each time. The Bucks returned to the Finals behind Jabbar n 1974, losing a seven-game series to the Boston Celtics.
The next season, Jabbar was shipped to Los Angeles, where he teamed with Magic Johnson to win another NBA title in 1979.
