And yet, egos are egos, and NBA superstars rarely lack them. Abdul-Jabbar resented Johnson’s contract, Johnson’s buddy-buddy relationship with Buss, Johnson’s stardom. He wasn’t Nixon, a flamboyant man who felt robbed of the spotlight. No, Abdul-Jabbar—awkward, standoffish, emotionally stunted—didn’t quite know how to react. He wanted praise, he shunned fame. He wanted attention, he loathed attention. Why didn’t more fans approach him? Why should he have to sign autographs? He craved the love of teammates. He didn’t bother to talk with teammates. Whether one liked Abdul-Jabbar or loathed
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