Sport: Mountains High

Kareem skies past Wilt

On a "sky hook," a shot he devised at the age of nine and the height of 5 ft. 8 in. when all of his standard attempts had been blocked, 7-ft. 2-in. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar supplanted 7-ft. 1-in. Wilt Chamberlain last week as the National Basketball Association's most prolific scorer. Over 13 professional years, Chamberlain amassed 31,419 points, up to 100 at a time. Abdul-Jabbar, 36, is in his 15th season and showing no signs of halting. With a typical display of integrity, the Laker pivotman could not restrain himself from scoring 22 points, one more than needed, in a 14-point victory over Utah in Las Vegas, although the city of Los Angeles had hoped he would set the record there the following night. "I never played for records," he said. "Whatever I do, I do to help us win." Chamberlain, 47, who was not present at the game, has seemed pleased for Abdul-Jabbar while perplexed at the same time. "If this record is so great," he said, "well, it's only one of about 901 held."