The Humbling Effects of Aging: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Reflects on Hip Replacement Surgery
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's inspiring reflection on his hip replacement surgery reveals the transformative power of age as a humbling force, emphasizing humor and optimism in his health update
In his recent Substack post, basketball Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shared an uplifting and light-hearted update on his health following his hip replacement surgery. "You may have heard that Humpty Kareem had a great fall. Its true," he wrote.
I attended The Manhattan Transfer's final public concert at Disney Hall, prepared to read a letter from Kamala Harris and share my admiration for the group. However, I fell and had to be taken to UCLA Hospital with a broken hip.
I wish I could say I fell while trying to save a child from falling over a balcony, but I simply tripped. It's difficult for me to accept that a former world-class athlete simply stumbled.
Age is the great equalizer, humbling us all. Currently, I am amongst the 450,000 Americans undergoing hip replacement surgery, now a world-class patient convalescing in a hospital bed. Abdul-Jabbar, 76, broke his hip and was hospitalized on Friday. He plans to take a week off during the holidays to recover and spend time with family. Additionally, he shared a photo of himself smiling in a hospital bed, wrapped in a Los Angeles Dodgers blanket.
Abdul-Jabbar sent his regards to The Manhattan Transfer from his hospital bed, stating, "All my best to you. Me and my new hip will be dancing to your tunes again. Well, gently swaying."
Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA all-time scoring record until being surpassed by LeBron James earlier this year.
Ric Tapia/Getty Images
Abdul-Jabbar had an impressive college career at UCLA, winning three national championships under coach John Wooden. He started his NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969 and won the franchise's first title in the 1970-71 season. However, he is best known for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers during the "Showtime" era, leading the team to five NBA championships.
At 7-foot-2, Abdul-Jabbar wore goggles and held the NBA all-time scoring record until LeBron James surpassed him in February. He was a six-time NBA MVP and held the record for 39 years.
Abdul-Jabbar, a social activist and writer, disclosed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Additionally, in 2009, he had revealed that he had been diagnosed the previous year with chronic myeloid leukemia, a form of blood cancer.
