When I interviewed Craig Hodges for Scoop B Radio in August 2017, the conversation centered on a theme that has defined Hodges’ own life: the price of conviction. But Hodges wasn’t just there to talk about himself. He wanted to talk about a man he believes the history books have treated even more unfairly: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
Standing here in December 2025, as we look at the NBA’s offensive explosion and the global influence of the “three-point revolution,” Hodges’ assessment of Abdul-Rauf feels like a haunting prophecy. “Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was cut off from possibly being the greatest scorer in NBA history,” Hodges told me. “That is the part that hurt me about him.”
The “Stephen Curry before Stephen Curry”
In 2017, Hodges—a three-time Three-Point Contest champion—didn’t mince words about Abdul-Rauf’s talent. He described the fiery guard out of LSU (where he was known as Chris Jackson) as “ultra talented” and “nasty.”
By 2025, the “Abdul-Rauf to Curry” comparison has become a staple of basketball analysis. Phil Jackson himself has made the connection. Abdul-Rauf was a pioneer of the off-the-dribble, deep-range shooting that defines today’s game. In his 1995-96 season, he was averaging 19.2 PPG and shooting over 93% from the free-throw line—stats that, in today’s pace-and-space era, would likely translate to an MVP-caliber 30+ PPG.
2025 Vision: The Talent Density of a Pioneer
In 2025, Abdul-Rauf is finally receiving the “flowers” the league denied him in the late 90s. His legacy functions like a championship roster hierarchy:
- The MVPs (The Scoring Engine): Abdul-Rauf’s ability to pull up from anywhere. In 2025, we see this in every “logo shot” taken by young guards. Hodges argues that if Abdul-Rauf hadn’t been “cut off” at age 29, he would have redefined the record books.
- The Snipers (Efficiency): His career .905 free-throw percentage remains historically elite. He didn’t just score; he scored with a “deadly” precision that Hodges, a fellow sniper, recognized as generational.
- The Defensive Anchors (Social Conscience): Abdul-Rauf was “Kaepernick before Kaepernick.” His 1996 refusal to stand for the anthem—viewing it as a symbol of oppression—led to a suspension and an eventual exit from the league while still in his prime. In 2025, he is viewed as a pillar of athlete activism.
A Sacrifice Measured in Millions
What made my 2017 talk with Hodges so poignant was the comparison between the eras. Hodges pointed out that while modern stars are encouraged to have a voice, players in the 90s were “whiteballed.”
“Colin Kaepernick has gotten to get a portion of what he is supposed to get salary-wise,” Hodges said in 2017. “Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was cut off… his potential in the game was so much farther than myself and even Colin.” By late 2025, we know the financial toll was staggering; Abdul-Rauf himself has noted he “lost millions” because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
The Final Scoop: The Ink of a Scholar
Revisiting this article is a reminder that the NBA’s history isn’t just written in the box scores; it’s written in the sacrifices. Craig Hodges told me that Abdul-Rauf’s potential was “cut off,” but in 2025, we see that it was simply redirected.
Through his recent memoir and documentary Stand, Abdul-Rauf has ensured his “ink” is more lasting than his points. He may have been denied the title of “Greatest Scorer” by the powers that were, but in 2025, he holds the even more prestigious title of “Greatest Truth-Teller.” As Hodges told me back in 2017: “He felt it more than anybody.”
