Mahmud Abdul Rauf knew that everything would follow.
He just doesn’t know when or how fast.
Originally Chris Jackson, Abdul Rauf is publicly exploring his unique legacy in “Stand Up,” a new Showtime documentary premiering February 3rd. Now 53, he also explores the lesser-known depths of the story. .
“For a long time I felt like I had something to say, but the older I get, the more I read, the more I see and experience, the more I think the circumstances were right. ” Abdul Rauf told The Post ahead of the film’s premiere. I feel good about the movie, and I’m just worried about how other people will see it. The goal is always to get people thinking and someone to use it.
Above all, and as similar debates continue in contemporary discourse, Abdul-Rauf wants people to think about the message, perhaps a little closer to where it started.
One of the NBA’s most efficient ball handlers and best shooters – Phil Jackson, who once compared Stephen Curry – to the Nuggets, converted to Islam in 1991 and changed his name in 1993. In the year In 1996, he refused to stand for the national anthem, saying that as a Muslim he could not stand for the injustice in the country.
Unlike other athletes protesting (Colin Kaepernick, with whom he has a personal and professional relationship), Abdul-Rauf did not draw attention to himself or necessarily intend to be seen. As the national anthem played, Abdul Rauf either sat on a chair or stretched out and continued to warm up on the sidelines. He did it publicly for four months, and it wasn’t until a sports radio host saw him and asked him about it that he got attention. The normally soft-spoken Abdul-Rauf expressed his opposition to the anthem and amid several questions about the flag being labeled as a symbol of oppression.
Immediately, his actions and words entered national history. He was immediately suspended by the NBA. After two years, he couldn’t find a team willing to sign him.
“It started as a personal protest, because of what I experienced from reading and talking to people,” Abdul Rauf said. “What I thought would happen finally happened. Because when you do something like that, every time I read it, my behavior started to change into certain things. And so I eventually went from someone who was quiet, engaged and engaged in conflict and debate, to someone who wanted to throw information out there and see how he felt.
“I think especially black people, but a lot of people, we’ve learned to go through life apologizing — apologizing for being black, apologizing for being rich, apologizing for being smart. I said you know what? I’m not going to spend my life apologizing.’ I had a feeling it would happen at some point. [his not standing being noticed]. And when it does, I’m going to pick it up. And it came sooner than I thought, and I did what I set out to do, and I’ve been doing that ever since.”
Born in poverty and raised by a single mother in Gulfport, Mississippi, Abdul-Rauf overcame Tourette syndrome to become one of college basketball’s greatest scorers and shooters of all time, then became one of the sports world’s most famous figures during his time in the NBA.
He averaged 29 points per game in two seasons at LSU and as a sophomore playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal. Still, Chris Jackson led the SEC and was second in the nation in scoring as a freshman and then led the SEC in scoring as a sophomore. His freshman season scoring average of 30.2 points per game is the 10th-highest of any season in NCAA history. Before moving to the NBA, he was named the SEC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American.
After convincing teams that Tourette’s syndrome would not hinder his skills on the court, he was drafted No. 3 overall by the Nuggets in 1990. He made the All-Rookie Second Team his first season and was inducted in his third season in 1992. 93, scoring 19.2 points per game and earning the league’s Most Improved Player Award.
Steph Curry speaks in “Stand Up”.
Jalen Rose speaks in “Stand Up”.
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Steve Kerr speaks in “Stand Up”.
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Abdul Rauf led the league in free throws made twice in 1993-94 and 1995-96, but it was his shooting from deep and off the dribble that drew attention. Steph Curry, who appeared in the documentary along with O’Neal, Steve Kerr, Jalen Rose, Ice Cube, Mahershala Ali and others, was heavily influenced by Abdul-Rauf’s style and willingness to shoot from anywhere. “I was watching God play basketball,” O’Neal said of playing with Abdul-Rauf.
None of that changed after his comments on the song. Abdul-Rauf found himself isolated.
Unlike his predecessors like Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and others, as well as modern day athlete activists who gain strength in numbers, Abdul Rauf did not have much support. Other players around the league. “We had to have his back and we didn’t,” said Rose, who played alongside Abdul-Rauf on the Nuggets in the film.
“When you hold certain positions that you think are fair, you hope that people will find you,” Abdul Rauf said. “They support it, because it’s the right thing to do. But do not be surprised when this does not happen because there are many social situations that occur in life. “Another sad thing is that most of the conversations, people are on the bus. They are doing it. They are getting on the plane. They are living in a barber shop. But there is this concern when it comes time to go public. It is very disappointing, very disappointing. After being suspended, Abdul-Rauf made a deal with the League to stand down, but pray during the anthem. After the season, however, the Nuggets traded Abdul-Rauf to the Kings, and his playing time quickly declined. He was constantly heckled and bullied by fans, and then-Nuggets coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff called him “annoying” before trading him, even though Abdul-Rauf led the team in points and assists. After his contract expired after two seasons, he was unable to find another NBA suitor. Abdul-Rauf played overseas with the Grizzlies before returning for part of the 2000-01 season. Yes, he was able to get back on the court after the protest, but Abdul-Rauf feels beaten out of the NBA and cheated out of much of his career — a feeling that remains. “Am I safe? Mostly as an individual, yes. But I am not at peace because without justice there is no peace,” said Abdul-Rauf. “So that changes all the time. Do I have a grudge? Yes, as long as things stay the way they are, and people keep doing the same jobs, I’ll be disappointed with those things. I’m still bitter, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that I’m still at peace overall, I have a lot to be thankful for. But the NBA presents itself as progressive. Compared to the NFL, a lot. But they are wise, wise in how to approach it.” “Another sad thing is that most of the conversations, people are on the bus. They are doing it. They are getting on the plane. They are living in a barber shop. But there is this concern when it comes time to go public. It’s very sad, very sad.” In many ways, Abdul-Rauf sees his legacy as following the same path as other activists. Like Ali, Tommy Smith and other civil rights activists, he was ridiculed and met with vitriol during his time. But like his predecessors, Abdul-Rauf has seen his legacy and the way he is viewed by others change in a positive way over time. After retiring and attempting to return to his native Mississippi, Abdul-Rauf’s newly built home was burned down by the Ku Klux Klan. He said he was constantly stopped by individuals praising him for what he had just done. About activists, you often hear the phrase ‘they were ahead of their time’. “But the thing about us and the system is that the system is so wise that they can continue to fool us and make someone into someone we should accept,” said Abdul Rauf. But Abdul-Rauf doesn’t want him to apologize for how it all turned out. But he hopes the effort will help prevent similar mistakes from being made. Through the power of social media, he has noticed strides as athletes come together to raise their voices and take collective power. As with Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem, he’s upset that similar conversations happen over and over again about how the Messenger is being treated. Abdul-Rauf currently resides in Atlanta. He coaches many NBA players, is a public speaker and competes in Big3 basketball tournaments. And if he could do it all over again, he wouldn’t hesitate. “I’m not perfect, but people say, ‘You know what, this guy, he was raw. And until the day of his death, he did not hesitate to try to live the truest, God-conscious, justice-promoting life he could have,'” Abdul-Rauf said. “And it comes from a place of love, because as the old saying goes, ‘Justice looks like love.’ If you can remember that, I’m fine. God knows if you don’t.
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