Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Quotes

You can't win unless you learn how to lose.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Sports, Learn, How, Unless

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

Musicians, Political, Athletes

I got all A's and was hated for it; I spoke correctly and was called a punk.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Punk, Spoke, Got, Correctly

I need about three seats lengthwise to sleep on a plane. It's not easy for me to curl up.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Need, About, Plane, Curl

I would suggest that teachers show their students concrete examples of the negative effects of the actions that gangsta rappers glorify.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Teacher, Show, Concrete, Suggest

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

Think, Always, Been, Cheating

The type of leukemia that I am dealing with is treatable. So if I do what my doctors tell me to do - get my blood checked regularly, take my meds and consult with my doctor and follow any additional instructions he might make - I will be able to maintain my good health and live my life with a minimum of disruptions to my lifestyle.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

My Life, Maintain, Leukemia, Doctors

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

Deal, Going, Very, Leukemia

What I have is P.H. positive chronic myeloid leukemia, which is an aberration in your white blood cells.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

White, Cells, Which, Leukemia

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

Play, Year, Pro, Declaring

Jackie Robinson, as an athlete and as someone who was trying to make a stand for equality, he was exemplary.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Trying, Athlete, Someone, Jackie

I was getting hot flashes and sweats on a regular basis. That's not normal, even for my age.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Hot, Normal, Basis, Sweats

I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Think, Only, I Think, Separated

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

Fifty, Birth Certificate, Certificate

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

Game, Young, Players, Missing

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

Love, Doing, Means, Intend

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

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

College, Magic, Play, Jordan

As brilliant an individual that Michael Jordan was, he was not successful until he got with a good team unit.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Michael Jordan, Michael, Jordan

I think the NBA will certainly survive without Michael Jordan.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Think, Michael, Certainly, Jordan

After practice, I would have to go back to the dorm and take a nap.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Practice, Take, Would, Dorm

It's hard for young players to see the big picture. They just see three or four years down the road.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Young, Big, Players, Down The Road

I wanted to play baseball!

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Baseball, Play, Wanted, Play Baseball

I was a baseball fan myself, I wanted to play baseball.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Play, Fan, Wanted, Play Baseball

A lot of players think the game is all about individual performances when it's really all about a team game.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Game, Think, Individual, Team Game

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

Think, Compete, Explain, OK

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

Little Things, Winning, May, Right Time

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

Athlete, Will, Like, All-American

Your mind is what makes everything else work.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Work, Mind, Else, Everything Else

The transition was difficult. It's hard to stop something that you've enjoyed and that has been very rewarding.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Been, Rewarding, Very, Transition

My biggest accomplishment has been making a transition from athlete to author.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Making, Been, Biggest, Transition

When the doctor told me I had cancer, I was scared.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Doctor, Me, Had, Scared

I am highly offended by the total lack of acknowledgement of my contribution to Laker success.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

I Am, Acknowledgement, Total, Highly

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

Difficult, Always, Author, Authors

The extra pass and the extra effort on defense always get the job done.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Always, Defense, Pass, Extra

Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievement for the achievement of the group. It enhances everybody.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Give, Everybody, Enhances, Group

A team will always appreciate a great individual if he's willing to sacrifice for the group.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Appreciate, Will, Always, Group

I always thought I could do a good job coaching, but the opportunities have not presented themselves.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Thought, Always, Could, Presented

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

Book, Black, More, Context

I have always thought that writers come with any variety of attributes. Some are capable and some aren't.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Thought, Some, Always, Attributes

Five guys on the court working together can achieve more than five talented individuals who come and go as individuals.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Go, More, Achieve, Working Together

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

Process, More, Became, Overview

I can do something else besides stuff a ball through a hoop. My biggest resource is my mind.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Mind, Through, Resource, Besides

I rooted for the Dodgers when they were in Brooklyn.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Brooklyn, Rooted, Were, Dodgers

Practices were tough.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Tough, Were, Practices

Black people don't have an accurate idea of their history, which has been either suppressed or distorted.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Been, Either, Which, Suppressed

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.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Everybody, By The Time, Took, Outlived

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

Kid, Could, About, Terrible

I have been coaching recently. I coached high school basketball in Arizona, and I hope that more opportunities become available.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Arizona, Been, Coached, Coaching

I've always tried to stay out of the fray and not be an object of controversy.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Always, Tried, Controversy, Object

I think black Americans expect too much from individual black Americans in terms of changing the status quo.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Think, Individual, I Think, Status Quo

I totally alienated some reporters as I retreated.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Some, Reporters, Totally, Alienated

I saw Islam as the correct way to live, and I chose to try to live that way.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Islam, Correct, Saw, Chose

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

Think, Been, I Think, So Many People

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

Race, Been, Made, Long Way

The 3-point shot has created a situation in the game akin to 'Lotto' fever.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Game, Fever, Created, Situation

LeBron James can get a shot off under any and all circumstances and he makes them.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Circumstances, Makes, James, LeBron

I listen to jazz mainly. Mainstream jazz.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Listen, Jazz, Mainly, Mainstream

I'm the baddest among the bad guys.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Bad, Guys, Among, Bad Guys

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

Almost, Gene, Dad, Cancer

Cancer is a scary thing and you have to deal with it seriously.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Seriously, Scary, Deal, Cancer

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

Doing, Rhythms, Your, Math

Fundamental preparation is always effective. Work on those parts of your game that are fundamentally weak.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Game, Always, Effective, Parts

My choosing Islam was not a political statement; it was a spiritual statement.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Political, Islam, Statement, Political Statement

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.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Parent, Think, Still, Evolution

My most memorable moment came in 1985 as we beat the Boston Celtics.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Boston, Most, Came, Memorable

I'm not exaggerating when I say that the 761st was Patton's best tank unit and nobody knew about it.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Say, Knew, About, Tank

If not shown appreciation, it gets to you.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

You, Shown, Gets, Appreciation

I hope to be involved in a successful movie script.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Hope, Movie, Involved, Script

As a parent, I have a job as a role model to my children, and by extension, to other young people.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Parent, Other, Extension, Model

I expect more people from China and Asia to end up in the NBA.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

China, Expect, More People, Asia

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

More, Need, More People, Court

You can't win if you don't play as a unit.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Win, Play, You, Unit

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

Sports, Development, Being, Intellectual

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

Want, Possible, More, Finish

I think the NBA players have to be held accountable in a reasonable way, just like any other professionals.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Think, Other, Accountable, NBA

I pitched and I played the outfield.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Played, Outfield

I've never been a person to share my private life, but I can help save lives.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Been, Private, Lives, Private Life

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

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

School, High, Pursue, American Dream

The game has basically not changed since I ended my career.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Game, Career, Basically, Ended

Islam is about finding your own space.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Own, Islam, About, Finding

You have to be able to center yourself, to let all of your emotions go... Don't ever forget that you play with your soul as well as your body.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Soul, Play, Emotions, Your Body

I felt that a number of people might have questioned my loyalty, but I continue to be a patriotic American.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Number, Might, Patriotic, Questioned

Center is a very tough position to play.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Play, Center, Very, Position

I tell kids to pursue their basketball dreams, but I tell them to not let that be their only dream.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Dream, Tell, Pursue, Basketball

Well, I'm a professional.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Well, Professional

I feel like I've always been a full-time historian, but nobody knows it.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Always, Been, Full-Time, Historian

I didn't really seek attention. I just wanted to play the game well and go home.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Game, Play, Go, Go Home

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

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Victories, Steal, Hoped, Teams

When the line started to blur between the fans and the players, sometimes things can get ugly.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Sometimes, Line, Players, Ugly

Even when there are adverse circumstances, I try to do my job. And I usually do.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Job, Try, Even, Circumstances

One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Man, Cannot, Crucial, Ingredient

I have to say I have an incredible musical education because of my father.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Education, Father, Musical, Incredible

I'm not going to disappear.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Going, Disappear

I enjoy seeing new places.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

New, Seeing, New Places, Places

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

Questions, Used, Same, Reporters

Yoga is just good for you.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Good, You, Just, Yoga

I think I did very well against everyone who tried to defend me.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Think, Tried, Very, Defend

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

Teacher, Been, Would, Real Job

If not for the success that medicine has made, I might be part of a much different story right now.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Made, Might, Part, Medicine

My health is fine.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Health, Fine

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

Die, Forward, Rich, Youth

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