Kareem Abdul Jabbar is one of the greatest NBA players of all time and his playstyle exemplifies the differences between the NBA and ABA. As a massive center with a signature move, the sky hook, Kareem’s style of play had a sense of inevitability (Streeter, 2023). As the second all-time leading scorer in NBA history, a possession felt as though it would end up in Kareem’s hands where he would shoot his unblockable shot and score. This inevitable play style perfectly juxtaposes Julius Erving’s playstyle which felt unpredictable. Erving would soar through the air and score using a move so acrobatic and creative it was unpredictable. Since both players were the main figures of their leagues, this gave the NBA the stigma that it was a more boring version of professional basketball. Fundamental, unstoppable, and inevitable, Kareem made his mark on the sport statistically and is a great example of the difference between the professional basketball leagues of this era.

The following photos are all taken by Wisconsin sports photographer Vernon Biever (Floss, 2014). Another local sports photographer allows the viewer to follow the early years of Kareem Abdul Jabbar as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Biever’s job was to photograph Bucks games, providing valuable photographs of Kareem’s early career against other stars of the time. This perspective, as a Milwaukee sports photographer, allows the viewer to experience a local point of view in the photographs, that does not care about opposing players but rather sees opposing players as menial figures against the Bucks players who are in focus. 

This photograph is in conversation with the dynamic blurry photo from Era 1 (1946-54). The figures in this photo are shown occurring multiple times since it is taken during a moment of motion (Kareem shooting his signature sky hook). These figures alongside the Era 1 figures exemplify how the game of basketball continues to be dynamic, always moving, and frenetic game since its inception as a professional sport.