Kevin McHale Calls Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the Most Underrated Legend Ever, Says Lakers Always Trusted Skyhook in Clutch Situations

When Boston Celtics legend Kevin McHale reflects on his battles with the Los Angeles Lakers during the height of the NBA’s greatest rivalry in the 1980s, there’s one name that immediately rises above the rest. While many fans remember “Showtime” and the dazzling brilliance of Magic Johnson, McHale insists that the heart of the Lakers’ dynasty was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the man he describes as “the most underrated legend ever.” For McHale, Kareem was the immovable force he could never solve, and his admiration for the six-time MVP and six-time champion remains as strong today as it was when they clashed on basketball’s biggest stages.

“Everyone talks about Magic and Showtime, and Magic was incredible,” McHale admitted. “But when the game was on the line, the Lakers always went to Kareem on the right block. You could try everything… but you weren’t stopping that skyhook. He gave us 38,000 points, clutch shots, big games. And honestly, I don’t think Kareem gets enough credit as one of the top five players of all time.”

Coming from McHale, one of the most skilled post players in NBA history, that is high praise. McHale’s footwork, scoring touch, and low-post craft made him a nightmare for defenders, but even he could not crack the code of Kareem’s skyhook. That single shot, honed from his high school days in New York to the NBA’s grandest arenas, became the most unguardable weapon in basketball history. It propelled Abdul-Jabbar to 38,387 career points, a record that stood for nearly four decades until LeBron James finally surpassed it in 2023. Still, the way Kareem controlled games, dictated tempo, and delivered in clutch situations has often been overshadowed by flashier stories, highlight-reel dunks, or the charismatic leadership of his Showtime teammates.

McHale’s comments reflect a truth long debated by historians of the game: why doesn’t Kareem Abdul-Jabbar get the recognition he deserves in the GOAT conversation? He checks every box — six NBA championships, six MVP awards (the most in league history), 19 All-Star selections, two Finals MVPs, the Rookie of the Year award, and of course, the all-time scoring crown for decades. He was dominant from the moment he entered the league with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969, winning a title by 1971, all the way through the twilight of his career with the Lakers in 1989, where he continued to contribute at age 42. Few, if any, athletes in professional sports have sustained excellence for as long as Kareem.

McHale, who faced Kareem in multiple playoff wars, emphasized that while Magic Johnson’s leadership and fast-breaking vision defined the Lakers’ Showtime era, the Lakers always turned to their Captain when the game demanded poise and execution. In those moments, Kareem was the foundation. McHale describes how defending him was a thankless task. A defender could body him up, contest perfectly, and still watch that high, graceful skyhook arc over an outstretched arm and swish through the net. “There was nothing you could do,” McHale admitted. “You could know it was coming, prepare for it, and you still weren’t stopping it.”

Beyond the court, McHale recalls a quieter, more enigmatic Kareem. While many stars thrived in the limelight, Abdul-Jabbar often chose solitude, intellect, and reflection. McHale remembered seeing him at All-Star weekends, quietly reading a book in the corner while others basked in the social scene. That contrast only added to the mystery of a man who dominated on the floor yet seemed almost removed from the glamour and chaos surrounding NBA superstardom. It is perhaps that understated personality that has contributed to Kareem being left out of the GOAT debates. He was never a showman. He rarely courted media narratives or flashy self-promotion. Instead, he let his game, his discipline, and his legendary skyhook speak for him.

Even when the spotlight shifted away, Kareem continued stacking accomplishments that today appear almost mythical. His six MVP awards remain unmatched. His consistency — scoring at least 10 points in 787 consecutive games — is a testament to his reliability. He averaged over 20 points per game for 17 straight seasons. And he did it all while being the focal point of opposing defenses night after night. McHale knows that kind of dominance is rare, and even rarer when it spans two full decades.

For Celtics fans, Kareem was the ultimate rival. McHale and his teammates battled him in three unforgettable NBA Finals matchups — 1984, 1985, and 1987. Those series weren’t just about Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson; they were about Kareem’s steady brilliance providing the anchor for the Lakers. In 1985, when many critics claimed Abdul-Jabbar was too old to hang with Boston’s younger frontline, he responded with one of the greatest Finals performances ever, earning MVP honors at age 38. It was a statement that silenced doubters and etched his name deeper into basketball lore.

Yet despite these achievements, the conversation around “the greatest of all time” rarely begins with Kareem. McHale’s words are a reminder that perhaps fans and analysts have grown too enamored with flash and overlooked the substance of Kareem’s career. His skyhook may not generate the same YouTube highlights as Michael Jordan’s dunks or LeBron James’ chasedown blocks, but its effectiveness and impact are beyond question. Basketball is about winning, and few players in history delivered victories as consistently and decisively as Abdul-Jabbar.

McHale insists that when ranking the game’s best, Kareem deserves automatic inclusion in the top five. His case is not built on a single era of dominance but on an unmatched blend of longevity, versatility, and success. He redefined what it meant to be a center, not only offensively but defensively as well. With his 7’2” frame and elite timing, he was a superb shot-blocker and rebounder. His presence alone changed the geometry of the game. Opposing teams had to account for him on every possession, whether through double-teams, altered shots, or restructured defensive schemes.

What makes McHale’s perspective even more compelling is that he speaks not as an observer but as a rival who experienced Kareem’s brilliance firsthand. Few players can offer that kind of credibility. To McHale, Kareem wasn’t just another great opponent; he was the opponent. The player who forced you to bring everything you had, knowing it still wouldn’t be enough. The player who haunted locker room game plans and who defined what greatness truly looked like in practice, not just on paper.

Perhaps Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s quieter demeanor, intellectual pursuits, and reserved approach to fame have made him less visible in today’s narrative-driven sports culture. In an age where personality often drives perception, Kareem’s preference for substance over spotlight may have worked against him. But as McHale’s heartfelt praise demonstrates, among those who played against him, there is no debate. Kareem was not only unstoppable but also underappreciated, a legend whose legacy still demands proper respect.

Today, with the benefit of history, it seems almost impossible to deny Kareem his rightful place in the GOAT conversation. The numbers, the trophies, the dominance — they all speak volumes. Yet it is the respect of his peers, those who went to battle against him, that carries the most weight. When one of the greatest forwards in NBA history calls you the most underrated legend ever, it’s time the world listened.

Kevin McHale’s words aren’t just a tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. They are a call to basketball fans everywhere: to re-examine the record books, to remember the battles fought on hardwood stages, and to place Kareem where he belongs — among the very best to ever play the game. For McHale and countless others who witnessed his skyhook soar over outstretched arms, the answer is clear. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wasn’t just great. He was the ultimate difference-maker, the anchor of a dynasty, and perhaps, as McHale says, “the most underrated legend ever.”