Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Opens Up About John Wooden

Record six-time MBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (B.A. ’69) learned from UCLA Coach John Wooden during — and after — their 50-year friendship how “to become a better person each day that I knew him.” In a special presentation at the 2017 John Wooden Global Leadership Awards ceremony, the former Los Angeles Lakers center compared the social climate of his first days at UCLA with today’s emphasis on the athletic spotlight. He said that when he met Wooden, “The first thing Coach wanted to talk to me about was academics. He was all about excellence.”

Learn more about UCLA Anderson’s John Wooden Global Leadership Award:

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[tedpeters]

Pure integrity. Kareem should be a role model for any young athlete.

[lawoftheuniverse]

Coach Wooden and Kareem....Pure Glorious AMERICANS...!!!

[andykerncomedian]

Kareem is a great guy. Met him a few years back. Still very shy and humble. Great man.

[TerlinguaTalkeetna]

To live my life with purpose and knowledge. Safe to say Kareen and coach both chose the high ground path in life.

[ManuelGarcia-pc]

Just a class act the way he talks about his former college coach with pride

[GMSparta]

I’m 57 years old. My memories are of you and Magic battling the Celtics in the mid 80s, and there was no greater entertainment in sports that I could think of. You are so much like John Wooden, Equally outstanding off the court as you were on.

[John-ip]

An absolute legend speaking on an absolute legend. Wooden is The Gold Standard!

[patrickr]

Class act...no mouth...no show boat...and a total success in life.

[brentwooden]

Kareem, you are one greatest player of all
God bless you and your family

[johnwright]

Kareem- one of my favorite human beings.

[richardshain]

A beautiful statement by one great man about another. It was so moving, and so from the heart, that I was almost in tears. Thank you for posting.

[wilrobles]

Watching UCLA basketball during that. Of time was a thing of beauty.

[edwardcapobianco]

Wow! What a classy guy! Obviously Kareem really valued John Wooden as a friend and mentor. A great speech for sure, so impressive

[jasonjackson]

I had the very fortunate opportunity to be coached by one of John Wooden’s players & protégés who was a starter way back when at UCLA. I learned more about the fundamentals of basketball in my 3 years on varsity than anyone could learn in a lifetime.

It wasn’t until years later that I realized how blessed I was & how that part of my education shaped me forever. I learned that work ethic and fundamentals are the ONLY keys to success in any life endeavor. I learned that the word “quit” was a 4 letter word to never, ever be allowed into your thinking.

[friedchickenridebarton]

The world is blessed by these 2 humans

[reidfarrill]

Two all time icons. The pinnacle of College Basketball.

[jyy]

We all need more John Woodens and Kareems

[photoboyonsi]

Brilliant! Inspiring! Human and Humbling! Thank you, KAJ, you are a man above and among men!

[ababner]

Class act who followed another class act. All respect.

[joeseddit]

The story about Wooden not telling Kareem about the Indiana St. situation was cool. It's also a credit to Kareem for recognizing the integrity in that.