Abdul‐Jabbar Floors Benson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N6_8HOAhB4 Oct. 19, 1977 The New York Times MILWAUKEE, Oct. 18 (AP)— Kareem Abdul‐Jabbar , the Los Angeles Lakers’ star center, was ejected from the Lakers’ season opening National Basketball Association game tonight after he hit the Milwaukee Bucks’ rookie, Kent Benson , with a right cross to the face and sent him to the floor. The Bucks, with a fourth‐quarter surge, went on to win, 117112. Benson, top pick of the N.B.A. college draft last June. and Abdul‐Jabbar were jockeying for position under the Laker basket less than three minutes into the game. . Abdul‐Jabbar, a 7‐foot‐2‐inch, 235‐pounder, doubled over after apparently being caught in the abdomen by an elbow, turned almost immediately and hit the 6‐11, 245‐pound Benson flush in the face. Benson collapsed to the floor as the crowd rose to its feet in anger and astonishment. Two Bucks physicians helped Benson to his feet, but he sagged back to the court and sat for several minutes while being ...