If there was one thing certain about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his playing days with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, it was that the man could certainly take care of business.
In the 1970s and 1980s - that far-off era of basketball that's these days commonly known as 'pre-Jordan' - his 7-foot-2 shadow loomed large over the National Basketball Association.
At his best - and let's not forget he was at his best for a long, long time - Kareem was unstoppable. His patented sky hook remains, on reflection, a work of art.
Devised initially to counter a ban on slam dunks in college basketball - while Kareem was lifting UCLA to the 1967, 68 and 69 NCAA titles under the tutelage of the legendary John Wooden - it was simple in design, deadly in execution.
With a defender between him and the basket, Kareem would turn side on, creating some space for his arm (either arm) to arch up from down low. Clear of danger, the ball would float high, and it would usually float in. It was all net; no nonsense. And it is a shot that suits the man's character perfectly.
The rumours of course had preceded Kareem's visit to Hong Kong this week. As an interview subject he can be difficult, it is said. He can be aloof. He neither suffers nor tolerates people wasting his time, or impeding his progress towards getting done the job at hand.
In the days previous to arriving here he had cancelled a whole day of interviews at the last moment, and the PR agents circling the trip were flighty to say the least.