Indiana Pacers center, Roy Hibbert, recently got lessons from legendary NBA superstar, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In a Yahoo! Sports report, Hibbert decided to improve his game by getting tips from the former Lakers center. Hibbert is among the few true centers in the league but sometimes underperforms, costing them a few games during playoffs. Hibbert is 7'4" and has a soft touch and will benefit much by learning from one of the greatest centers of all time.
Abdul-Jabbar shared the news by posting a photo of himself and old friend Larry Bird, the current coach of the Indiana Pacers. Abdul-Jabbar posted, "Pacer fans get ready for next season. I'm helping Roy ready to become a serious threat to his competitors."
According to Pro Basketball Talk, experts expect that Hibbert will benefit the most in terms of mental focus. Aside from teaching Hibbert the skyhook and other powerful moves that match their size, it will be most essential for Abdul-Jabbar to boost the young center's confidence on the court. Abdul-Jabbar is well-known for his outstanding mental approach which made him the most dominant center in his era, even eclipsing another great center at times, Wilt Chamberlain.
Abdul-Jabbar was one of the most powerful players to ever play the sport since his college days. He initially played with the Milwaukee Bucks then moved on to the Los Angeles Lakers where he reached his peak. He is the all-time leading scorer in the NBA and after retirement, served as assistant coach for a short while. The game as well as the role of centers has changed much since Abdul-Jabbar's days. Plays are much faster and shots are preferred taken from the perimeter, rather than the low post. Nevertheless, Hibbert will get some polish in his game.
Hibbert's performance during the regular season has dropped for the second consecutive year. His teammates and coach believe that the big guy struggles with his confidence especially during crucial games. There are times when he gets outrebounded by much smaller players and can get defended in the paint, causing him to make ugly and highly inaccurate shots. Considering that he is one of the biggest players in the NBA, USA Today writes that Hibbert has to rely on the basic movements of classic centers, as opposed to practicing a jump shot or trying to cut and drive like Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins can.
The Indiana Pacers will benefit much if Hibbert takes Abdul-Jabbar's lessons to heart and improves especially in defense.
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