Roy Hibbert had one of the most inconsistent seasons in NBA history in 2013-14. To remedy his situation next season, he will work with a former player with one of the most automatic shots in NBA history.
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FanSided.com posted a photo of Roy Hibbert with former Milwaukee Bucks/Los Angeles Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, courtesy Abdul-Jabbar's Instagram account.
Abdul-Jabbar tweeted that he will be in Hibbert's corner in the offseason to make him more of a force.
Pacer fans get ready for next season. I'm helping to get Roy ready to become a serious threat to his… https://t.co/2msrJh5sr0
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) July 23, 2014
Hibbert is hoping the former Lakers captain and NBA's all-time leading scorer can help him acquire the consistency that Kareem enjoyed during his 20-year NBA career. Abdul-Jabbar scored 38,387 points - still the league's record - thanks to his famed sky hook that he used with both hands.
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It's unclear whether Hibbert will try to adopt the sky hook, but he needs something to help him become more of an offensive factor night in and night out - especially in the absence of Lance Stephenson, who signed with the Charlotte Hornets over the summer.
Hibbert averaged 10.8 points per game on 43 percent shooting last season, often disappearing in games offensively.
Abdul-Jabbar averaged 24.6 points per game over his career. During his last year in 1988-89 as a 41-year-old, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 10.1 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting. It was the only time in his career that the Hall of Fame center shot less than 50 percent during a season.
FanSided.com suggested that Abdul-Jabbar's biggest challenge will be to get Hibbert to slim down from his 7-2, 278-pound frame to help him become a more active defender away from the paint.
"But once Hibbert was pulled away from the basket (see the Atlanta-Indiana series for proof), he became borderline useless, unable to keep up with his man," FanSided.com reported. "This forced (coach) Frank Vogel to rely more-so on Ian Mahinmi down the stretch of games."
The Pacers likely will have to contend with the Chicago Bulls' duo of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol and could also match up against a certain Minnesota Timberwolves big man who could end up with the Cleveland Cavaliers - or the Bulls.
Whichever team lands Kevin Love would certainly try to draw a matchup against Hibbert, who would have to jump out on the perimeter to guard him.
Do you think Kareem Abdul-Jabbar can transform Roy Hibbert's all-around game? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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