“You are getting paid to do something you have done for free prior” – Kareem admitted being an NBA player was easy for him originally appeared on Basketball Network.
All basketball junkies can ball out any day of the week and not get a single dime for it, as that is simply enough for them to be happy. Well, NBA players have the luxury of doing so, getting paid millions for it, and living luxurious lifestyles. Sure, being in the spotlight and on that level is far from easy, but one can argue it is the dream job of anyone who has ever played basketball in a somewhat serious manner.
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In a 2007 interview, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was asked how the life of an NBA player compares to that of a player who is still a part of a major college basketball program. Cap was quick to point out that the most significant difference is the money and freedom it earns guys in the Association to focus solely on basketball.
“I think life in the NBA is pretty easy because you’re getting paid to do something you have done for free prior to that. You get paid very well, and that’s all you have to do,” Kareem explained.
Care-free life
The former legendary center of the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers spent some glorious years with the UCLA Bruins and built a long career in the NBA that spanned 20 years. In the meantime, KAJ collected plenty of hardware, experiences, and money as he focused on the game of basketball and got rewarded for it.
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“All of the distractions are on the periphery, and you can concentrate just completely on basketball, and if you have a good foundation and a game, you can do very well,” Abdul-Jabbar added.
While NIL drastically changed this situation today, with freshmen getting millions and millions to commit to certain programs and represent various brands through sponsorships, back in Kareem’s days, the life of a college basketball prospect wasn’t nearly as luxurious.
That’s why the jump to the NBA, despite not being in the absurd money range it is today, still felt like a significant step for these young ballers, making a good living from their talent and skills.
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KAJ always felt modern NBA players need to understand their privilege
Interestingly, Kareem has said on numerous occasions that the players today are not aware of how good they have it, from their paychecks to the organizational structure and treatment in the NBA being on the ultimate level to please the stars. For Abdul-Jabbar, being able to live comfortably on his salary was essential, underscoring how modern-day players really take this job for granted.
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“I think young players today don’t appreciate how great the opportunity is for them to play in the NBA,” Kareem told Bill Velasco via Philstar Global. “They take it for granted that there is a professional basketball league that will pay them lots of money to do what they love. It wasn’t always like that.”
“In the early days, they had to endure segregated hotels in Atlanta, things of that nature, being cheated out of their salaries,” the Hall of Famer further stressed.“That was part and parcel of it. There’s a whole lot of things about this game that were quite different. People didn’t see that it would end up like this, the most popular game in the world.”
While all the travel, pressure, time away from family, and dedication are challenging, there is no doubt that being an NBA player, especially nowadays, is one of the best jobs in the world, and something all of us hoop junkies would die for. That’s why, as Kareem said, no individual in the league should take it for granted.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
