Pat Riley on urging the Lakers to sign an aging Kareem-Abdul Jabbar: "We have to sign him unless somebody knows something that I don't know"

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is in a class of his own and remained reliable until his twilight years. He was a key figure for the Lakers and was considered one of the best centers in the 1980s. Hence, it was hardly surprising that then-coach Pat Riley wanted the 'Big Fella' around despite his age. Kareem was already 36 years old in 1983 and was seeking a two-year deal worth $2 million.

However, Lakers management did not see it that way at first. Team owner Jerry Buss was not too coy about spending that money on an aging center. Riles, however, stressed that if it were not for Kareem, the purple and gold would not be where they were at the time.

Signing Jabbar was a must

At the time, KAJ and Moses Malone were the two best centers in the league. Hence, Riley batted that letting the 7'2" player go would be a big mistake.

"We have to sign him unless somebody knows something that I don't know," Riley said at the time via the New York Times. "He and Moses are the best centers in the league. I don't care about his age," he added.

Despite Riley's rant, nothing was set in stone. Buss deemed the chances of seeing Jabbar stay in LA at 50-50. He also added that a decision on the former UCLA Bruin would depend on Mitch Kupchak's health.

The former North Carolina Tar Heel has been struggling with a knee injury, forcing Kupchak to miss the 1982-83 season. Although he was a lot younger than the legendary center, both players are far apart regarding talent and production.

Lakers re-sign Kareem

The negotiations between Jabbar's camp and the Lakers lasted about three months. In September of that year, both finally agreed to a two-year pact, UPI reported. However, it wasn't clear if the six-time MVP got the $2 million deal he demanded.

"Basically, it's done," Tom Collins, KAJ's agent, stated.

The move paid off for the Lakers in the following years. Kareem helped LA win three more NBA titles. In their 1985 title conquest, Kareem was even named the Finals MVP.

It is also worth noting that Jabbar was able to retain his productivity even when he was in his mid-30s. When he finally decided to call it a career, KAJ wrapped up his Lakers stint with averages of 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 blocks in 1,093 regular-season games.

After that contract, the former UCLA Bruin proved that he could still play at an All-Star level. He remained a regular candidate for the Most Valuable Player award until the 1985-86 season. Beyond that, Jabbar also made the All-Star selection and helped the Lakers advance to several NBA Finals until he eventually retired in 1989.

Related: "A black athlete criticizing the society" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a 'scary feeling' transitioning into post-basketball life