Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Calls Out Player As "Comical Buffoon"

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the greatest players in NBA history. In the decades since his playing career ended he's worked as a cultural ambassador and written on a number of important cultural topics. And significantly, he's been outspoken on social issues, calling out wrongs when he sees them. One of those 'wrongs', as Kareem sees it, is Kyrie Irving.

Abdul-Jabbar says that Irving's reckless attitude toward public health has tarnished the reputations of athletes, and in some cases, perpetuating a stereotype of "dumb jocks." In his latest essay on his substack, Kareem likened Kyrie to a "comical buffoon."

Kyrie Irving would be dismissed as a comical buffoon if it weren’t for his influence over young people who look up to athletes. When I look at some of the athletes who have used their status to actually improve society — Colin Kaepernick, LeBron James, Muhammad Ali, Bill Russel, Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe, and more — it becomes clear how much Irving has tarnished the reputations of all athletes who strive to be seen as more than dumb jocks.

The great Abdul-Jabbar isn't the only one, of course, to criticize Irving for his conspiracy theories and bizarre public stances and comments. But Kareem just always puts it so eloquently. 

Irving missed 53 of the Brooklyn Nets' games last season due to his refusal to get the Covid vaccine, and then his playoff performance left plenty to be desired (which many have pointed out is likely due to the fact that he hadn't been around his teammates enough all season to create a cohesion and chemistry with them.)

While his stances off the court will likely never change, this season will go a long way to determining Irving he can finally commit to his team on the court. Though Kareem's opinion of him will certainly not be changing anytime soon.

Photos: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports