Basketball HOFer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said that he has met with Bucks Owner Herb Kohl and "would be interested in taking an ownership role in an NBA team, but has not broached the topic of a Bucks investment with Kohl," according to Rich Kirchen of the MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Abdul-Jabbar, who appeared at last night's Jazz-Bucks game, said, "Being involved in the business of basketball is something I wouldn’t shy away from. But it would have to be a good situation for me. It would depend totally on what the situation was. ... Something where I had some equity in the team, so that what I would get [is] an opportunity to benefit from it." He said that if he does invest in an NBA team, he "would want to play a role in setting a team’s direction." Abdul-Jabbar said of Kohl, "He’s trying to run it the right way. They just haven’t been able to get the talented people they need to be more successful" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/3). Abdul-Jabbar began his playing career in Milwaukee, and he said of possible return to the Bucks, "If I get a call, I will definitely offer my services. 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." He added, "'They have to get their business model right. 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" (AP, 3/4).
SOMETHING OTHER THAN AN OWNERSHIP ROLE? In Milwaukee, Matt Velazquez writes Abdul-Jabbar's statements "made it sound as if he is interested in a future partnership with the Bucks, but not as an investor." Abdul-Jabbar: "I've seen what Larry Bird did down in Indianapolis. He's doing great. He knows how to pick the guys; they know how to play together. ... 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" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/4).
