Editing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (section)

====Playoff disappointments (1977–1979)====
Two minutes into the opening game of the [[1977–78 NBA season|1977–78 season]], Abdul-Jabbar broke his right hand punching Milwaukee's [[Kent Benson]] in retaliation to the rookie's elbow to his stomach. Benson suffered a black right eye and required two stitches.<ref name=green_10191977>{{cite news|first=Ted|last=Green|title=Jabbar scores KO Over Benson|date=October 19, 1977|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Sec. III, pp. 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79416789/ 10]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79416779/|access-date=June 12, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=montgomery_10211977>{{cite news|first=Paul L.|last=Montgomery|title=Abdul-Jabbar Fined $5,000 for One Punch|date=October 21, 1977|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/21/archives/abduljabbar-fined-5000-for-one-punch-punch-brings-abduljabbar-5000.html|access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref><ref name=wolfley_02202011>{{cite news|first=Pete|last=Wolfley|title=Benson's NBA start did not lack punch|date=February 20, 2011|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/116563588.html|access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref> According to Benson, Abdul-Jabbar initiated the elbowing, but there were no witnesses and it was not captured on replays.<ref name=green_10191977/><ref name=wolfley_02202011/> Abdul-Jabbar, who broke the same bone in 1975 after he punched the backboard support,<ref name=montgomery_10211977/> was out for almost two months and missed 20 games.<ref name=wolfley_02202011/><ref name=simmons2009_p133>{{cite book|last=Simmons|first=Bill|title=The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy|publisher=Ballantine and ESPN Books|year=2009|location=New York City|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookofbasketball00simm/page/133 133]|isbn=978-0-345-51176-8|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofbasketball00simm/page/133|url-access=registration|ref=simmons2009}}</ref> He was fined a then-league record $5,000 but was not suspended.<ref name=montgomery_10211977/><ref name=simmons2009_p133/> Benson missed one game but was not punished by the league.<ref name=wolfley_02202011/><ref>{{cite news|first=Thomas|last=Bonk|title=Abdul-Jabbar Tells His Side of the Fight—Just to League Office|date=May 16, 1985|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-16-sp-17530-story.html|access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref> The Lakers were 8–13 when Abdul-Jabbar returned.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ted|last=Green|title=An Added Punch*|date=December 4, 1977|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, p. 1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79418140/|access-date=June 12, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was not named to the [[1978 NBA All-Star Game]], the only time in his 20-year career he was not selected to an All-Star Game.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jabbar replaces Magic for 19th All-Star game|date=February 11, 1989|newspaper=Journal Gazette|location=Mattoon, Illinois|page=B-3|agency=AP|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79417562/|access-date=June 12, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Chicago's [[Artis Gilmore]] and Detroit's [[Bob Lanier]] were chosen as reserves for the West, with Walton starting
at center.<ref>{{cite news|title=After Another Hearing, Kuhn Still Undecided on Blue Deal|date=January 25, 1978|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, p. 4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79417357/|access-date=June 12, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Amid criticism from the media over his performance, Abdul-Jabbar had 39 points, 20 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in a win over the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] the day the All-Star rosters were announced.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ted|last=Green|title=Jabbar Silences Critics, 76ers—and Jabbar|date=January 25, 1978|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, pp. 1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79417374/ 6]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79417368/|access-date=June 12, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He added 37 points and 30 rebounds in a victory over the [[New Jersey Nets]] (now Brooklyn) in the final game before the [[NBA All-Star break|All-Star break]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Ted|last=Green|title=Lakers Pull One Out of the Fire|date=February 4, 1978|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, p. 1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79417428/ 5]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79417422/|access-date=June 12, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Abdul-Jabbar's play remained strong during the next two seasons, being named to the All-NBA Second Team twice, the All-Defense First Team once, and the All-Defense Second Team once.<ref name=br>{{cite basketball-reference|name=Kareem Abdul-Jabbar|id=a/abdulka01|access-date=April 15, 2022}}</ref> The Lakers, however, continued to be stymied in the playoffs, being eliminated by the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] in both [[1977–78 NBA season|1978]] (first round) and [[1978–79 NBA season|1979]] (semifinals).<ref>{{cite news|first=Ted|last=Green|title=SuperSonics Finish Off The Lakers, 106–101|date=April 26, 1979|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, p. 1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79477881/|access-date=June 13, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>