Coaching (continued from Kareem's Biography page)

Abdul-Jabbar understands the situation and has been quoted as saying, "I didn't understand that I also had affected people that way and that's what it was all about. I always saw it like they were trying to pry. I was way too suspicious and I paid a price for it." He said he had a mind set he could not overcome, and proceeded through his career oblivious to the effect his withdrawn approach and reticence had on his coaching prospects in the future. Kareem began lobbying hard for coaching opportunities in 1995, but he has only managed to obtain low-level assistant and scouting jobs in the NBA, and a head coaching opportunity in the United States Basketball League in 2002 when he lead the team, the Oklahoma Storm, to the leagues Championship. But he still did not receive a viable coaching opportunity even after that. He attempted to land the head coaching job at Columbia University but was unsuccessful.