"We could have won seven championships" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on his only regret as a player

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has six NBA championships and a slew of individual accolades to his name. However, the legendary big man regrets that the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers didn't clinch more NBA titles than they knew they could.

For "Cap," the Lakers could've won in seven of their eight Finals appearances in the '80s, but unwanted injuries hindered the team from doing so.

"With regard to basketball, I don’t have any complaints. A few things could have gone better: if we hadn’t been injured in 1983 and in 1989– we could have won seven championships with the Lakers. That’s just the breaks of the game," the Hall of Famer told Phil Star Global in 2005.

Kareem was disappointed

Abdul-Jabbar's sentiment was totally understandable as Lakers key players Norm Nixon and Bob McAdoo got hurt during the '83 Finals. Magic Johnson , meanwhile, suffered a hamstring injury in Game 2 of the '89 Finals.

The injury-riddled Showtime Lakers struggled in those two Finals matchups and got swept in both series. The Sixers beat them in '83, and the Detroit Pistons did the same in '89.

Reflecting on it, Kareem confided that those two Finals losses still stung, but it was what it was.

"Personally, I had hoped to meet Sophia Loren, but it never happened," he quipped and smiled. "We all have to deal with some disappointment."

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Showtime Lakers are a rare dynasty

Indeed, Abdul-Jabbar has all the right to feel bad about not winning as many championships as the Lakers could during the Showtime era. Taking a quick trip down memory lane, that team was a powerhouse squad, and it would've felt right if they won in all of their Finals appearances.

Throughout the 80s, the Lakers captivated NBA fans with their fast-paced, innovative, and entertaining playing style. Spearheaded by Kareem and Magic, the Showtime Lakers revolutionized the game with their up-tempo offense, precision passing, and highlight-reel plays.

Apart from Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson, Showtime boasted a roster of multi-talented players, including McAdoo, James Worthy, and Byron Scott. The team was also coached by Pat Riley, one of the fiercest and most brilliant coaches in the game.

Off the court, the Showtime Lakers also left a lasting impact on culture, transcending the sport of basketball. Their flashy style, Hollywood vibe, and larger-than-life personalities helped elevate the NBA to new heights of popularity, paving the way for the global phenomenon that the league is today.

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