Basketball has changed quite a bit since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired, and the former Bucks and Lakers center knows exactly who to blame for the shift in the sport.

While Abdul-Jabbar starred in a slower game often dominated by physical post players, the league today is completely transformed, now about shooting and positional versatility.

When the three-point line was introduced in 1979-80 – already Abdul-Jabbar’s 11th season in the league – teams were combining for a measly 2.8 three-point attempts per game.

That figure this season so far is a whopping 34.2. 

Abdul-Jabbar recently met with the state champion girls of Oakland Tech and the boys of Oakland High School and was asked about the sort of advice high schoolers may ask from him.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league's all-time scoring leader for 38 years until February

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league's all-time scoring leader for 38 years until February

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league’s all-time scoring leader for 38 years until February

Steph Curry has taken - and made - three pointers at an unprecedented rate in his career

Steph Curry has taken - and made - three pointers at an unprecedented rate in his career

Steph Curry has taken – and made – three pointers at an unprecedented rate in his career

His answer made it clear what he thinks about the state of the sport. 

‘They’ve forgotten about anything that does not say three points on it,’ Abdul-Jabbar said in a video captured by NBC Bay Area.

‘And I got to go across the Bay and slap Steph Curry for changing everybody’s mind about how to play the game.’

Despite Abdul-Jabbar cracking a smile at the end of his answer, it’s not an overstatement to say Curry’s changed the way the game is played.

The most prolific three-point shooter ever by just the age of 33, Curry smashed the previous three-point attempts season record in 2015-16 (before it was broken by James Harden) and owns the record for the most attempts ever.

Curry is attempting a whopping 11.5 three-pointers per game this year – only the fourth-most of his career- and is shooting 42.8 percent from behind the arc.

While the sport has changed since Abdul-Jabbar hung it up in 1989, he remains near the top of the record books.

He held the all-time scoring record for 38 years before LeBron James surpassed the mark in February

Curry's Warriors are currently sixth in the West and eyeing a repeat of their 2021-22 title

Curry's Warriors are currently sixth in the West and eyeing a repeat of their 2021-22 title

Curry’s Warriors are currently sixth in the West and eyeing a repeat of their 2021-22 title

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