On April 16, 1947, Kareem Abdul, a retired professional basketball player from the United States, was born. He participated in all 20 seasons of the National Basketball Association (NBA) competition for the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has also been selected as an NBA All-Star 19 times, an NBA Most Valuable Player 6 times, an NBA All-NBA 15 times, and an NBA All-Defensive Team 11 times. He also had the honor of being named one of the top 50 NBA players of all time. In 1989, when he was 42 years old, he completed his retirement. He was the NBA’s all-time leader at the time. President of the United States Barack Obama presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
The top 106 quotations from Abdul-Jabbar are listed in this article. Do follow these to have success.
Table of Contents
“You can’t win unless you learn how to lose.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I try to do the right thing at the right time. They may just be little things, but usually they make the difference between winning and losing.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I saw Islam as the correct way to live, and I chose to try to live that way.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“The word ‘leukemia’ is a very frightening word. In many instances, it’s a killer and it’s something that you have to deal with in a very serious and determined way if you’re going to beat it.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5th of 106 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Quotes
“I am highly offended by the total lack of acknowledgement of my contribution to Laker success.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Five guys on the court working together can achieve more than five talented individuals who come and go as individuals.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Fundamental preparation is always effective. Work on those parts of your game that are fundamentally weak.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“You can’t win if you don’t play as a unit.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“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.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I enjoy seeing new places.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“When the line started to blur between the fans and the players, sometimes things can get ugly.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Yoga is just good for you.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievement for the achievement of the group. It enhances everybody.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“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
“Your mind is what makes everything else work.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
17th of 106 Kareem Abdul Quotes
“and Magic and myself all learned how to play the game in college programs that emphasized the team.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
34th of 106 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Quotes
“As brilliant an individual that Michael Jordan was, he was not successful until he got with a good team unit.”― 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
“Jackie Robinson, as an athlete and as someone who was trying to make a stand for equality, he was exemplary.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“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
“I would suggest that teachers show their students concrete examples of the negative effects of the actions that gangsta rappers glorify.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“As a parent, I have a job as a role model to my children, and by extension, to other young people.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Sports and entertainment are the only places where inner-city kids see themselves being able to succeed. Their intellectual development is something they don’t relate to.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Quote on dream
“When I was 17, I worked in a mentoring program in Harlem designed to improve the community. That’s when I first gained an appreciation of the Harlem Renaissance, a time when African-Americans rose to prominence in American culture. For the first time, they were taken seriously as artists, musicians, writers, athletes, and as political thinkers.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“After practice, I would have to go back to the dorm and take a nap.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“When I was a kid, no one would believe anything positive that you could say about black people. That’s a terrible burden.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Black people don’t have an accurate idea of their history, which has been either suppressed or distorted.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“The extra pass and the extra effort on defense always get the job done.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I expect more people from China and Asia to end up in the NBA.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I felt that a number of people might have questioned my loyalty, but I continue to be a patriotic American.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I have been coaching recently. I coached high school basketball in Arizona, and I hope that more opportunities become available.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I feel that there has been progress made since I was a boy on matters of race, but we have a long way to go.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
50th of 106 Kareem Jabbar Quotes
“I WANTED TO PLAY BASEBALL!”― KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
“The transition was difficult. It’s hard to stop something that you’ve enjoyed and that has been very rewarding.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“My most memorable moment came in 1985 as we beat the Boston Celtics.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I think black Americans expect too much from individual black Americans in terms of changing the status quo.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I think someone should explain to the child that it’s OK to make mistakes. That’s how we learn. When we compete, we make mistakes.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I think the NBA will certainly survive without Michael Jordan.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I listen to jazz mainly. Mainstream jazz.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I think the NBA players have to be held accountable in a reasonable way, just like any other professionals.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I hope to be involved in a successful movie script.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“When we went up against teams that were better, I just hoped that we could steal the victories.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I think I did very well against everyone who tried to defend me.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Center is a very tough position to play.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“It’s hard for young players to see the big picture. They just see three or four years down the road.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“My mother had to send me to the movies with my birth certificate, so that I wouldn’t have to pay the extra fifty cents that the adults had to pay.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I rooted for the Dodgers when they were in Brooklyn.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I did a book in 1996, an overview of black history. In that process I became more aware of a lot of the black inventors of the 19th century.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“In a typical history book, black Americans are mentioned in the context of slavery or civil rights. There’s so much more to the story.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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“My biggest accomplishment has been making a transition from athlete to author.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“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
“My health is fine.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
70th of 106 Kareem Jabbar Quotes
“I have always thought that writers come with any variety of attributes. Some are capable and some aren’t.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I always thought I could do a good job coaching, but the opportunities have not presented themselves.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“When the doctor told me I had cancer, I was scared.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“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
“I’ve always tried to stay out of the fray and not be an object of controversy.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Angel Delgado(Photo by Gabriel Christus / ESPN Images)
“I’m the baddest among the bad guys.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“The 3-point shot has created a situation in the game akin to ‘Lotto’ fever.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“You got guys now declaring they’re ready to play pro ball in their second or third year of high school. It’s crazy! They’re missing so much.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“OK, I’ll put it like this: I doubt if we will see another All-American basketball athlete who is a Rhodes Scholar.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Reporters used to ask me the same inane questions year-in and year-out, city-to-city, and it would drive me crazy.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I totally alienated some reporters as I retreated.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I got all A’s and was hated for it; I spoke correctly and was called a punk.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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“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
“I was a baseball fan myself, I wanted to play baseball.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I pitched and I played the outfield.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
85th of 106 Kareem Jabbar Quotes
“A lot of players think the game is all about individual performances when it’s really all about a team game.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I think I really benefited from going to college.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“LeBron James can get a shot off under any and all circumstances and he makes them.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I have to say I have an incredible musical education because of my father.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“There are a lot of authors in the world, so it’s difficult to find a unique niche to present your take on things. That is always a challenge for any author.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Today’s youth are told to get rich or die trying and they really shouldn’t take that attitude forward with them.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“You’re never really cancer-free and I should have known that.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“If not for the success that medicine has made, I might be part of a much different story right now.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with his precious award
“I’ve never been a person to share my private life, but I can help save lives.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I was getting hot flashes and sweats on a regular basis. That’s not normal, even for my age.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Cancer is a scary thing and you have to deal with it seriously.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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“I need about three seats lengthwise to sleep on a plane. It’s not easy for me to curl up.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Well, I’m a professional.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“Even when there are adverse circumstances, I try to do my job. And I usually do.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
99th of 106 Kareem Jabbar Quotes
“I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME ACTING, THEY THINK, ‘I MIGHT BE A STAR.’”― KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
“This is what I would have done if I had to have a real job: I would have been a history teacher.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I’m not exaggerating when I say that the 761st was Patton’s best tank unit and nobody knew about it.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I feel like I’ve always been a full-time historian, but nobody knows it.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“What I have is P.H. positive chronic myeloid leukemia, which is an aberration in your white blood cells.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I want people to understand that I intend to continue living and doing all the things that I love to do up until the end. And the end is by no means rushing up on me.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
“I just like seeing the world, and it doesn’t matter where.”― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
