Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Reflects on Bucks Ending Lakers’ 33-Game Winning Streak and Wilt Chamberlain’s Frustration
In the world of professional basketball, few streaks have achieved the mythical status of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 33-game winning run during the 1971-72 NBA season. It’s a record that still stands as the longest win streak in NBA history. But for Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one particular moment from that streak lives on in memory — not because of a win, but because of a game that ended it.
The Lakers’ streak came to a crashing halt on January 9, 1972, at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks — and at the hands of Kareem himself. Then playing for Milwaukee, Abdul-Jabbar was in his prime and already an MVP and NBA champion. In a recent reflection, the legendary center looked back on that night with both pride and an acute awareness of the history surrounding it — particularly how it impacted Lakers icon Wilt Chamberlain.
“We knew what they were chasing, and we respected it,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “But we also knew we had the tools to stop them. I was ready. Oscar [Robertson] was ready. The whole team was locked in.”
The Bucks handed the Lakers a 120-104 defeat in front of a buzzing home crowd, with Abdul-Jabbar scoring 39 points and anchoring Milwaukee on both ends of the court. The loss snapped the Lakers’ incredible run and left Chamberlain, who was leading the Lakers during that magical season, visibly frustrated.
Kareem recalled Chamberlain’s reaction, noting that Wilt was deeply competitive — a trait that sometimes boiled over when the stakes were high. “Wilt didn’t take losing lightly, especially not when history was on the line,” Abdul-Jabbar remembered. “You could see it in his eyes after the game. He didn’t say much, but you could feel the weight of it on him.”
Chamberlain, at 35 years old and in the twilight of his career, had seen his team ride an unprecedented wave of momentum. The 33-game win streak was not just a statistical marvel but a statement of dominance. Ending that run wasn’t just a regular-season win for the Bucks — it was a monumental moment in basketball history.
Kareem’s respect for Wilt remains evident, even in recalling that tension-filled night. “He was a giant in every sense. Even when we beat them, you couldn’t take anything away from what that Lakers team accomplished — and Wilt was the anchor.”
Interestingly, despite the streak ending, the Lakers would go on to win the championship that year — a crowning achievement in Chamberlain’s storied career. Abdul-Jabbar, meanwhile, would later join the Lakers and carry on the team’s legacy, winning five championships in Los Angeles and surpassing Wilt’s career scoring record along the way.
Now, decades later, Abdul-Jabbar sees the game as a defining chapter in his own career and a reminder of the greatness he both competed against and eventually joined.
“When people ask me about that game,” Kareem said, “I think about what it meant to all of us. For me, it was about showing we belonged among the best. For Wilt, it was about chasing history. And for basketball — it was a moment that people still talk about. That says everything.”
Indeed, it does. The night the Bucks ended the Lakers’ legendary streak remains etched in NBA lore — not just for the record book, but for the towering personalities and fierce competitiveness that defined the era.
