FCBARCELONA.CAT

02.06.2010 13:57

Abdul-Jabbar: “Barca will be a competitive team”

Aleix Santacana

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is convinced that Regal Barça will put up a good fight against the LA Lakers when the two sides meet on October 7th. The former NBA legend spoke to us about Barca, the Gasol family and the final between Lakers and Celtics.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA title six times with the Lakers and was voted MVP also on six occasions. He attended the official unveiling of the game between Regal Barca and Los Angeles Lakers (October 7th here in Barcelona) and afterwards, he spoke to Barca TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat.

First of all I’d like to ask you about the NBA final between the Lakers and the Celtics.

"I think the Lakers will win because they have had fewer injuries. Their only serious injury was to Andrew Bynum while the Celtics have had to contend with a number of problems leading up to the final. They haven’t been able to play as many games together as the Lakers and that will favour the Californians”.

This season Regal Barca are playing such attractive and effective basketball that many people think they could compete in the best league in the world. What do you think?

"The only way to find out is to watch the game on 7th October. Only the game itself will show us the results. That’s what’s good about this sport. I’m sure that Barca will be a competitive team. The standard of European basketball has improved a lot over the past 20 years. Right now the NBA is full of great European players that come from great teams”.

Do you know any of the Regal Barca players?

"The truth is that I haven’t seen Barca play and I don’t know exactly who the players are. I know that Ricky Rubio has great potential and that he will end up in the NBA”.

What could Ricky’s future in the NBA be?

"I’m convinced he’ll have to go through a period of adaptation but without having seen him play I know he’s a player with great potential. When he’s assimilated the change from European to American basketball I’m sure he’ll play very well”.

Two of the players in the NBA, the Gasol brothers, came up through the ranks here with Barca…

"I have the pleasure of knowing all the Gasol family. I train with Pau and his family always visit us. They are lovely, friendly people. They’re great ambassadors for the city of Barcelona”.

By the way, how do like Barcelona?

"I’m having a great time here. People are really friendly and I’ve been received with open arms. It’s been a great trip”.

The other day, the president of the United States, Barack Obama, said that Pau Gasol is currently the best center in the NBA. Do you agree?

"Yes, one of the best. It’s hard to say he’s the best because there are different teams with different players… Pau Gasol is fundamental for the Lakers. He’s going to win the NBA title so he must be among the best”.