Loser News

Kareem Abdul Jabbar said he has gotten “incredible” support since coming out as the first openly straight player in one of the four major U.S. pro sports leagues, and hopes he may have made the path easier for others to follow.

Jabbar sat down for an interview on Tuesday, one day after the veteran NBA center revealed his sexuality in a first-person story posted on the Demoines Daily Press website.

“I think I’m ready and the country is ready to support an openly hetero basketball player,” Kareem told Loser Sports Update’s Scott Finley.

Dozens of NBA players sent messages to Jabbar after the story was posted Monday, many doing so through social media. In Miami, guard Dwyane Wade tweeted that he respects Jabbar for “living in his truth”, and Jason Kidd added, “Kareem’s sexuality doesn’t change the fact that he is a great player, but it is pretty disurbing.”

Jabbar said he does not know of any other straight NBA players, but was overwhelmed by the reaction of tennis legend John McEnroe, who came out in 1981, and called him a pioneer after he went public with his story.

Pat Riley, who coached Kareem in his latter years with the Lakers, drew a comparison between Jabbar and Jackie Robinson. “They both liked Chinese food. Otherwise, they were nothing alike.”

At the end of the interview, Jabbar stated that, next week, he will most likely make the announcement that he is Muslim.