A biography for Kareem Abdul-Jabbarhasn’t been written yet.
“If not shown appreciation, it gets to you.”
“Fundamental preparation is always effective. Work on those parts of your game that are fundamentally weak.”
“I am highly offended by the total lack of acknowledgement of my contribution to Laker success.”
“A team will always appreciate a great individual if he's willing to sacrifice for the group.”
“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.”
“If there is moral insanity," he said in a conspiratorial whisper, "then there may be the reverse, immoral sanity, if you will, that comes upon one suddenly, like a fever.”
“I'm still my parent's child, I'm still me, but I made a choice. I evolved into Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I think it has to do with evolution.”
“I want to do as little as possible when I finish playing ball - just spend a lot more time with my family.”
“When the doctor told me I had cancer, I was scared.”
“The '80s made up for all the abuse I took during the '70s. I outlived all my critics. By the time I retired, everybody saw me as a venerable institution. Things do change.”
“I totally alienated some reporters as I retreated.”
“One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.”
“I'm not comfortable being preachy, but more people need to start spending as much time in the library as they do on the basketball court.”
“I tell kids to pursue their basketball dreams, but I tell them to not let that be their only dream.”
“You can't win if you don't play as a unit.”
“I was a baseball fan myself, I wanted to play baseball.”
“Yoga is just good for you.”
“I'm the baddest among the bad guys.”
“Practices were tough.”
“I always thought I could do a good job coaching, but the opportunities have not presented themselves.”