I’m white and I’ve always thought Dirk was overrated. If he was actually tough on defense, he’d be arguably better than Larry Bird. But, he’s soft and will never be in the same league as Bird was.
Maybe that’s more along the lines of what Jabbar was trying to express. Plus, he’s now a old man and getting into the “why in my day ...” phase of life. Is he racist in his attitudes? As a black muslim how could he not be? But these comments of his about Nowitzki don’t seem to be based on race as much as a critical look at the man’s overall game.
He is probably the second best Power Foaward (though mostly a stretch 4) in the NBA during his era. Of course the Best Power forward ever plays a few miles south on I-35.