Valley of the Suns
Fansided

The Phoenix Suns are the centerpiece of the biggest what-if in NBA history

By Ryan Bawek

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19, 1982 : Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a skyhook during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at The Forum, Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19, 1982 : Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a skyhook during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at The Forum, Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images) /

The Aftermath

Abdul-Jabbar (he changed his name in 1972) would play six seasons for the Bucks, averaging 30.4 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game.

He would win NBA Rookie of the Year in 1969-70 and NBA Most Valuable Player in 1970-71, 1971-72, and 1973-74.

The Bucks would also win the NBA championship in his second season in 1971.

He would be traded from the Bucks to the Lakers in one of the most infamous trades in NBA history on June 16, 1975.

Why in the world would you trade a player after he had the best first six seasons of any player in league history? Because he no longer wanted to be there.

Check out this awesome piece from the LA Times in 1987 that gives more context to the history-altering trade.

In summary, Kareem told the Bucks before the 1974-75 season that he wanted out of Milwaukee, desired to be back home in Los Angeles to play in a bigger market (yes that even mattered then too). Then he broke his hand in the pre-season, missed the first 16 games of the 1974-75 season and the Bucks started out 3-13 and struggled to return to contention upon his return.

Kareem would go on to win three more league MVP awards and team up with Magic Johnson in the 1980s en route to forming the “Showtime Lakers” and win five more NBA titles.

He retired after the 1988-89 season at the age of 41 as the NBA all-time leading scorer and was viewed as the greatest player in NBA history at the time.

Meanwhile, the Suns would draft fellow center Neil Walk with the No. 2 pick.

He would average 14.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in five seasons as a Phoenix  Sun from 1969-1974.

A period that included one NBA Playoff appearance.

Related Story. Best Suns draft pick in every decade. light

Walk wasn’t a bust by any means, but when you are most known for your impressive body hair and the guy you almost had was, you know, Kareem, that is a crappy consolation prize.

Over the 1970s and 1980s, Kareem would win six league MVP awards, six NBA titles and appear in nine NBA Finals.

The Phoenix Suns franchise would win zero titles, have zero league MVPs play on their roster and make one NBA Finals appearance against the Boston Celtics in 1976.

To be fair, the Phoenix Suns franchise as a whole has still fared better than the Milwaukee Bucks franchise over the 45 years since Kareem was traded to the Lakers.

Let’s take this a step further though, what if Kareem enjoyed playing in the desert and the warm weather, as opposed to the harsh MIlwaukee winters and his close proximity to home in Los Angeles, was enough to keep him as a Phoenix Sun for his entire career?

How would the NBA look different?

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