PHOENIX SUNS

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sees a (coin) flip in the Bucks-Suns NBA Finals

Jul 8, 2021, 5:59 PM

A coin-flip determined that the Milwaukee Bucks would draft before the Phoenix Suns to lead off the 1969 NBA Draft.

It did not go the Suns’ way.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who wound up going first overall that year only to end his career as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, is using that historical mark to tease Phoenix on behalf of Milwaukee once again.

He tweeted his own coin-flip on Thursday before Game 2 of the NBA Finals — and declared that the Bucks would take down the Suns in six games for the title.

“Some 50-odd years ago, the Bucks and Suns had to flip a coin to see who would have an opportunity to draft me,” Abdul-Jabbar said in his video. “This time, I’m taking charge of it.

“Bucks in six. Fear the deer.”

Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, was the unanimous top draft prospect back in 1969. He would go on to help the Bucks to the 1971 championship before winning five more as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

His career spanned 20 years, allowing him to finish first in career points (38,387) and third in rebounds (17,440).

With the No. 2 pick in 1969, the Suns drafted Neal Walk, whose career lasted eight years. He compiled 7,157 career points and 4,392 rebounds, with his best statistical season coming in 1972-73 (20.2 points, 12.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game).

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