Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Quotes

United States, Basketball Player
April 16, 1947

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.; April 16, 1947) is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. A member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two as an assistant coach, Abdul-Jabbar twice was voted NBA Finals MVP. In 1996, he was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. NBA coach Pat Riley and players Isiah Thomas and Julius Erving have called him the greatest basketball player of all time.

Also known as Basketball Coach, Actor, Film Producer, Author, Screenwriter

Michael Jordan and Magic and myself all learned how to play the game in college programs that emphasized the team.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Game
- Team
- College
A lot of young players don't really know much about the history of the game and a lot of them are missing out on what the game is all about, especially the whole concept of sportsmanship and teamwork.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- History
- Game
- Missing

When we went up against teams that were better, I just hoped that we could steal the victories.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Up
- Better
- Victories
Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievement for the achievement of the group. It enhances everybody.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Up
- Great
- Achievement
My grandfather and my uncle both died from colorectal cancer, my dad almost died from it and I have the gene for it.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Dad
- Cancer
- Uncle
Music rhythms are mathematical patterns. When you hear a song and your body starts moving with it, your body is doing math. The kids in their parents' garage practicing to be a band may not realize it, but they're also practicing math.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Music
- May
- Kids
What I have is P.H. positive chronic myeloid leukemia, which is an aberration in your white blood cells.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Positive
- Blood
- White
I have always thought that writers come with any variety of attributes. Some are capable and some aren't.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Always
- Thought
- Capable

I think race has been a burden for black Americans. Being Muslim has also been a challenge because so many people do not understand Islam.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- People
- Black
- Challenge
I've never been a person to share my private life, but I can help save lives.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Life
- Help
- Never
I enjoy seeing new places.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Enjoy
- New
- Seeing
Well, I'm a professional.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Professional
- Well
I would suggest that teachers show their students concrete examples of the negative effects of the actions that gangsta rappers glorify.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
In athletics there's always been a willingness to cheat if it looks like you're not cheating. I think that's just a quirk of human nature.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Nature
- Think
- Cheating

High school dropouts are forfeiting their opportunity to pursue the American Dream.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- School
- American
- High
After practice, I would have to go back to the dorm and take a nap.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Practice
- Back
- Nap
I just like seeing the world, and it doesn't matter where.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- World
- Matter
- Seeing
I'm the baddest among the bad guys.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Bad
- Guys
- Among
I am highly offended by the total lack of acknowledgement of my contribution to Laker success.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
I totally alienated some reporters as I retreated.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Some
- Reporters
- Alienated

I want to do as little as possible when I finish playing ball - just spend a lot more time with my family.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Time
- Family
- Finish
I felt that a number of people might have questioned my loyalty, but I continue to be a patriotic American.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- People
- American
- Loyalty
The extra pass and the extra effort on defense always get the job done.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Done
- Job
- Effort
I was a baseball fan myself, I wanted to play baseball.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Play
- Myself
- Baseball