MILWAUKEE -- Back in Milwaukee to debut a commercial for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, Bucks and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fielded all sorts of questions from the local media at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Those inquiries ranged from the lost art of the skyhook to his role in the movie 'Airplane!', but the most pertinent responses came on the subject of his future involvement with the franchise.
"If I had a chance to be a part of this franchise again I would take it," Abdul-Jabbar said. "When they get it together if I get a call I will definitely come and offer my services, but there's nothing on the table right now."
Bucks owner Senator Herb Kohl has made public his desire to seek additional investors to keep the franchise in Milwaukee, but Abdul-Jabbar seemed more interested in returning in a player personnel role. For one, Abdul-Jabbar isn't worth nearly as much as former Bucks guard Junior Bridgeman, who has reportedly expressed interest in buying into the ownership group.
He referenced what Larry Bird has done as the president of the Indiana Pacers, saying he would like a shot at putting together a team. Abdul-Jabbar has frequently expressed interest in coaching and has served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers and Seattle SuperSonics.
Abdul-Jabbar was hired as a special assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005 and was tasked with working with center Andrew Bynum.
"He's doing great," Abdul-Jabbar said. "He knows how to pick the guys, they know how to play together. It's very obvious. I would hope that I would get a chance to do some of that and be a valuable asset in terms of the think-tank that has to identify talent.
"I'd discuss what my position might be just to find out. I'm open to having that discussion. I certainly would have it. Hopefully we can work something out."
Picked first overall by the Bucks in the 1969 NBA Draft out of UCLA, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 30.4 points and 15.3 rebounds per game over six seasons in Milwaukee. He's still the franchise's leading scorer at 14,211 and leading rebounder at 7,161 and led the team to the 1971 NBA championship. Three of Abdul-Jabbar's six Most Valuable Player awards were won with the Bucks.
After the Bucks went 38-44 in 1974-75, including a 3-13 mark in 16 games he didn't play in, Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade out of Milwaukee. The Bucks shipped him to the Lakers in June of 1975 for Bridgeman, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers and Elmore Smith.
"I talked to Bucks management and told them I didn't want to stay and maybe they should make the best deal they could make in trading me," Abdul-Jabbar said. "If they let me play my contract out I was leaving. They appreciated that and appreciated the fact that I kept my mouth shut about it. I gave them the opportunity to approach the other teams and they figured out the best deal they could make for themselves.
"Oscar (Robertson) had retired, we were not a contending team. I wanted a change of scenery to go to some place where I had more of a chance of winning."
Abdul-Jabbar insisted Monday that his request to be dealt had nothing to do with cultural makeup of the city of Milwaukee.
"I didn't have problems with any parts of the city," Abdul-Jabbar said. "It didn't matter where you live, your ethnicity or anything -- there certainly weren't any Bulls fans here. It was Bucks country. If you were a Buck, you were alright."
He told a story noting how many fans greeted the Bucks back at the airport after falling in the second round of the playoffs to the Knicks in his rookie season of 1969-70.
"We get to the Milwaukee airport at two in the morning and there's 200 to 300 people out there," Abdul-Jabbar said. "I've seen rabid fans at Pauley Pavilion, but that was awesome. I realized I was in a different kind of place."
Abdul-Jabbar addressed the Bradley Center crowd during a timeout of Monday's game against the Utah Jazz, offering up some strong words to the fans in attendance.
"The fans we had here in Wisconsin are the best in the world," Abdul-Jabbar said. "I hope everything works out so the Bucks stay here.
"I hope they get their act together soon so you guys can see some championship basketball."
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