Mahmoud abdul rauf where is he now

One gets the feeling that had he been in his hometown Gulfport, Mississippi, playing half-court pick-up basketball — which Big 3 strongly resembles — Abdul-Rauf still would not be pleased.

I can't wait to get back in the gym. I'm already thinking about next year, coming back strong. In the semifinals, Abdul-Rauf played five minutes and didn't score, going 0-for-3 from the field.

He started the second half but was taken out after missing two 3-point attempts in a second span. For Abdul-Rauf, it was a weekend of memories, anyway. After being selected for the conference's highest honor again as a sophomore, he was drafted third overall by the Denver Nuggets in Just things that I was able to accomplish in high school, and then coming to LSU and Coach Dale Brown just giving me the florescent light to pretty much play the way I wanted to play, it definitely brings back memories.

I still pinch myself. LSU announced on July 22 that it will retire the No. It will take place officially at an LSU basketball game this season. Adbul-Rauf said he was very appreciative of the honor, given that he was not always popular during his NBA career and after. But for me, retiring a physical jersey is great. But if somebody looks up at that jersey, and they do some research, and there's something that can impact them in a positive way, that's what's important.

The name change came in when he embraced the Islamic faith. Like many activists before and after him, Abdul-Rauf paid a stiff price for sticking by his principles. Abdul-Rauf moved on to play abroad before he retired in This interview was condensed and edited for clarity.

To constantly wake up to televised and broad-daylight public executions in what we would classify as the murder of Black people, with George Floyd being the most recent and visible casualty. To see these images, and to think about how their children and their loved ones are going to have to live with that image for the rest of their life, and all of us who are privy to it as well.

It has long-term effects and some of these effects for some people are going to be irreparable. How do you think society has changed in the way people respond to injustices today versus back when you were protesting the national anthem?

I think one of the differences is that now you have social media. Anybody with a phone could film something, and then it goes viral and more people have access. You always had people speaking out and challenging the system. But not much has changed. If you take the images that we have now on television, and you turn it into black and white, it looks the same. Only then there is this need to have a conversation about how we need to end racism. The people have been through so much. Keep it going and put the pressure on.

Now we need to push for other things and let them know this is serious now. But 24 years ago, the NBA suspended and fined you. Do you think these institutions are changing how they go about these issues?

I would be more inclined to embrace their genuineness if I can see a consistent defense when injustices occur and when their hiring practices change.

Do you think if your protest happened today, the NBA or society would have responded differently? Why do you think your stance was so controversial back then?

His playing time dropped. He lost his starting spot. He was just 29 years old. They play with your minutes, trying to mess up your rhythm. Then they sit you more. They lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Abdul-Rauf says Kaepernick was smart to have some guaranteed money in hand when he sat out the anthem. He signed a contract. Even if he planned it, it was an intelligent move, because he has foresight to know how the system and how the minds of people work.

Kaepernick is still taking a significant financial risk. He has a lot to lose. Justice and equality is more important than those things.