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Hollywood actor Alfonso Ribeiro has long been a big Los Angeles Lakers fan. He has even admitted that he started supporting the team during the Nick Van Exel era, indicating he’s well-versed in basketball history.
During an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take”, the New York-born actor, who played Carlton Banks in Will Smith’s iconic “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” TV series, discussed why former Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the greatest basketball player of all time over Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
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“There’s stats, and there’s emotional conversation where we talk about MJ, emotionally,”said Ribeiro. “Stats support my man. They’re both six-time NBA champions. We’ve got five MVPs for Michael, we’ve got six MVPs for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. They’re both 10-time All-Stars, first team. We’re talking about two of the greatest players to ever play the game. Are we talking about the NBA? Or are we talking about the totality of their careers?”
Ribeiro praises totality of Kareem’s career
After comparing Abdul-Jabbar and Jordan’s NBA accolades, Ribeiro went on to discuss the former’s college basketball career, during which he won three national championships, compared to Jordan’s one.
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It could have been four, but NCAA rules did not allow him to be a part of the senior team during his freshman year. But to prove how dominant he was even during his first year, the UCLA JV team defeated its senior squad, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation, 75-60 in an exhibition game at Pauley Pavilion on November 27, 1965.
During the next three years, UCLA posted an 88-2 record with Abdul-Jabbar, then still known as Lew Alcindor. The Bruins won three straight NCAA men’s basketball titles, with him winning both the Final Four MVP and College Player of the Year awards during all three years.
“He is the greatest hands-down player in college,” said Ribeiro. “When you get the totality of his career, no one compares.”
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“Yes, MJ moved the needle. MJ was the man. We’re…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/no-one-compares-alfonso-ribeiro-124500146.html
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Publish date : 2026-05-14 12:45:00
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