Kareem Abdul-Jabbar landed his first head coaching job Wednesday, signing with the Oklahoma Storm of the U.S. Basketball League.
“I’ve done a lot of research on Oklahoma and its history,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “Part of my heritage is Cherokee. I think I’ll fit right in.”
Abdul-Jabbar, who retired as a player in 1989, spent several years out of basketball before beginning his quest for a coaching career.
In 1999 he worked with a high school team at White Mountain Apache Reservation in Whiteriver, Ariz., and wrote a book about the experience. The 54-year-old Hall of Famer was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2000 and did a training session with the Indiana Pacers last year.
Storm owner James Sears Bryant would not disclose Abdul-Jabbar’s salary, but said the six-time NBA MVP is coaching “for the opportunity, not the money.”
Say what?
`There is life after baseball.’
–Veteran pitcher David Cone, who’s still without a team but says he hasn’t retired.
