So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

[Zone_Out]

Really? SMH

[SIZEqueen]

Are you saying in game he can't dunk?

[VDusen04]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

I've come across quite a few classic team big men with extremely low dunk ratings. As in, low enough that they cannot actually dunk in games (Dickey Simpkins). I'm not sure if that's what he means about KAJ though.

[VDusen04]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

Apologies for the back-to-back post, but after taking a look myself, Kareem's '87 dunk rating is 34, which I'm not sure is enough to make him dunk in a game. I bumped it to 50. As mentioned, there's a handful of big men with a rating like this.

[jeebs9]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

Question is did he really dunk that much back then? Because he did play for Wooden (at UCLA) who was totally against his players dunking or getting fancy. So I wouldn't be surprised if that translated into the NBA for him.

[cactusruss]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

The NCAA banned the dunk for awhile because of him. I'm pretty sure his dunk rating should be higher than 34, even when he was 40 years old.

[jeebs9]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

I would think the Lew Al would dunk a lot more than a 40 year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

[VDusen04]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

Question is did he really dunk that much back then? Because he did play for Wooden (at UCLA) who was totally against his players dunking or getting fancy. So I wouldn't be surprised if that translated into the NBA for him.

The original post was referring to '87 Kareem, not the '71 version. Even then, it's a fair question and the answer is yes, he did dunk a lot back then (in '71). For a small look, starting at 0:32:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lM6xCirDOKs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In addition, 40 year old Kareem was still definitely dunking. I mean, he was a long 7'2''. He hardly had to jump.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SmAo83lMlIs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Zone_Out]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

^^ Thanks for the videos.

Yes, he did dunk a lot back in the 70's, even late in his career he was still well conditioned and dunking, just watch some showtime Lakers games ('87 to compare to the game), he was still dunking quite nicely and not just a few little times, on fastbreaks and so on...

[youvalss]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

At 7'2" I bet he can still dunk today. Unless he has no knees at all, no reason he shouldn't dunk. Even though players use their abilities to dictate their tendencies, just because someone doesn't dunk a lot, doesn't mean they can't. Rip Hamilton RARELY ever dunks - even when he's wide open. But of course he has the ability.

[Colts18]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

Yao Ming package fits him well with a 50 dunk rating.

[jeebs9]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

If you put his dunking higher will he start dunking like Shaq? But I wasn't talking Lew Al. I just borught him up because I love playing with that team. Everyone picks Jordan, Bird or Magic.... I'm picking Lew and the Big O.

[VDusen04]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

If you put his dunking higher will he start dunking like Shaq? But I wasn't talking Lew Al. I just borught him up because I love playing with that team. Everyone picks Jordan, Bird or Magic.... I'm picking Lew and the Big O.

With his dunk rating boosted to 50 (a sizable jump) I just ran him against the '89 Pistons. No dunks. So it appears he doesn't transform into a monster or anything with such a boost. I'm just hoping now he'll be able to dunk when the time is right. I think Yao's package is a good idea too. I may try that next.

[jeebs9]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

Maybe it's his standing dunk rating?

[Zone_Out]

Re: So '87 Kareem couldn't dunk?

I could never dunk in game with him even below the basket with no one else around, so I went to practice mode and noticed that he really couldn't, so stupid.