Nick Viall Slammed By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: NBA Great Says ‘Bachelor’ Wasn’t Good Enough For ABC Star

Nick Viall does not have a fan in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The legendary basketball star had a few choice words for Viall in an op-ed piece for the Hollywood Reporter. Kareem, who previously penned a piece titled “How the Bachelor and Bachelorette Franchise Are Damaging Romance in America,” was a guest star on a basketball-themed group date on Rachel Lindsay’s season of The Bachelorette. Nick famously dumped Rachel after their Fantasy Suite date in Finland during his season of the ABC reality franchise.

Abdul-Jabbar noted that Rachel made it to the semi-finals of Viall’s season before the Bachelor star decided she wasn’t his cup of tea.

“Before Nick Viall tearfully decided (weren’t all his decisions tearful?) to cut her loose, Rachel distinguished herself as intelligent, athletic, playful, witty and emotionally mature,” Kareem wrote. “She also happened to be black.”

The basketball great went on to say that when he met Nick’s castoff during the group date on The Bachelorette, he was impressed by the way she handled herself. But he also threw some major shade at Viall, who went on to propose to Vanessa Grimaldi.

“Rachel immediately displayed a clear-eyed view of what was going on and handled herself with dignity while treating the others with compassion,” he wrote.

“I was relieved she wasn’t chosen by Nick because let’s face it, she was too good for him. She was smarter, wittier, funnier and more mature than he was, which I suspect he realized and is the reason he didn’t select her.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says #Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay was "too good" for Nick Viall https://t.co/hmZ5XG4WLx

— Vulture (@vulture) May 30, 2017

Nick Viall hasn’t commented on Kareem’s assessment of his personality, but let’s face it, it’s not every day you get torn apart by a sports legend. Of course, the diss also insinuates that Nick’s fiancée, Vanessa, isn’t all that smart, witty, funny, or mature either, but that’s another story.

Nick Viall previously revealed that saying goodbye to Rachel was “one of the most heartbreaking” moments of his life.

“I have met very few people who possess as much beauty, grace, and charisma as Rachel and after hearing that she’ll be the next bachelorette I couldn’t be more excited,” Viall captioned a photo on Instagram shortly after her headlining gig on The Bachelorette was announced.

“Bachelor Nation is so lucky to have her but not as lucky as the group of men who will have a chance at winning her heart. No one is better prepared to show Bachelor Nation, and the world, the beauty of embracing diversity. Good luck Rachel, not that you’ll be needing it. I’m so proud and happy for you, I’m honored to be able to call you a friend. I can’t wait to watch your journey!”

After Nick Viall sent her packing on The Bachelor, Lindsay told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres that she had moved on from the drama. But she also agreed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that Nick Viall missed out on a major catch —
her!

“I really thought that I Nick and I had a really strong connection—and I was pretty heartbroken when it happened—but I’ve moved on since then,” Rachel said, according to E! News. “It’s not the typical way that I like to date a man, but it was something different for me to try. I really had a connection with Nick and I was shocked. I was kind of skeptical that it would happen that fast, but it did. It didn’t work out—I guess he was looking for something else. His loss!”

Take a look at the video below to see Nick Viall on one of his final dates with Rachel on The Bachelor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeICWha0gT0

[Featured Image by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images]