"I said to myself, 'Oh, man, how am I gonna stop that?'" - Patrick Ewing described facing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the first time

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was already 38 years old when he faced a promising rookie, Patrick Ewing, for the very first time in the NBA.

Ewing, filled with anticipation and nerves, understood that going up against the six-time MVP would be no easy task.Early in the game, KAJ beat Ewing down low with his signature skyhook It quickly became evident to "Hoya Destroya" that stopping the iconic shot was impossible.

The finesse and precision that the Los Angeles Lakers' legend displayed with that move left the New York Knicks ' big man grappling with the reality of facing one of the greatest players in NBA history.Despite the difficulties he encountered, Ewing recognized the significance of this matchup.

It was not just a game but a defining moment in the formative stage of his career.

A memorable encounter that he would carry with him as he continued to grow and develop in the league."I said to myself, 'Oh, man, how am I gonna stop that?" Ewing said after the game, describing Abdul-Jabbar's sky hook shot on him early in the opening quarter.

"It's unstoppable.""He was tough," the Knicks center added of KAJ.

"There's no way to stop that sky hook of his.

When he gets the ball, you try to take him as far away from the basket as possible.

But I don't think I can block his hook."Kareem's take on young Pat's gameThe 7-footer is often regarded as one of the most dominant college basketball players of his era.

His exceptional skills and power set him apart from his peers.

In 1985, the Georgetown alum was selected by the Knicks as the rightful No.

1 overall pick.

From the moment he entered the NBA, Ewing showcased his immense talent, quickly establishing himself as a future superstar.Even before their highly anticipated matchup, Abdul-Jabbar already acknowledged Ewing's extraordinary potential.

As a seasoned player, "Cap" understood the qualities that could elevate "Big Pat" to greatness.

KAJ saw a young athlete determined to absorb every lesson and skill necessary to become one of the greatest players of all time."He's going to be a very fine center," the future Hall of Famer said of Ewing, who was named NBA Rookie of the Year in '86.

"He's only been in the league two months, and he's doing a very good job under very difficult circumstances.

He plays both ends well.

He's learning - that's the important thing."Patrick Ewing posting up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the All-Star Game.

pic.twitter.com/e541tjw39A Paul Knepper (@paulieknep) May 21, 2024Related: "When you get somebody with that kind of potential and they're white and you are in America, you keep that dude" - Stephen A.

Smith claims Dallas must draft and keep Cooper FlaggKAJ was one of Pat's toughest matchupsAs Ewing looked back on his illustrious career, he felt a profound sense of honor in being recognized as one of the greatest centers to ever play the game.

Throughout his journey, "Big Pat" took immense pride in competing against legendary big men.

Understandably, Ewing considers Kareem as one of the toughest matchups of his career."Kareem was still playing, Moses was still playing, Robert Parish used to kick my butt every time we played Boston.

You got David, Shaq, and those guys," Ewing said on the Roommates Show.

"Every time you played that you played against those guys, you definitely want to perform at your best.

I played in a great era where the big man was dominant."In retrospect, it's quite fascinating how Abdul-Jabbar recognized that Knicks legend had what it takes to be in the same category as him right after their first duel.

On the other hand, Ewing didn't disappoint and lived up to everybody's expectations.Related: "Please let it be New York" - Ewing was rooting for the Knicks to win the 1985 Draft Lottery.

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