By Julia Busiek, UC Newsroom
University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., has awarded the UC Presidential Medal to hoops legend, best-selling author, philanthropist and UCLA alum Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The university’s highest honor, the award recognizes Mr. Abdul-Jabbar’s transformative advocacy for education, health and social justice, his steadfast support of his alma mater and his efforts to inspire student-athletes on and off the court.
Abdul-Jabbar soars over Stanford’s defense in 1967. He’d go on to lead the Bruins to three straight NCAA championships. (Photo: New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer / Wikimedia Commons)
Athletic excellence
“I remember when Kareem started out at UCLA,” said President Drake, speaking at a ceremony honoring Mr. Abdul-Jabbar on September 19 in Los Angeles. “He was already a legend, and many of us were excited to see if he would live up to the hype. Well, he did.”
In his first appearance as a Bruin in 1966, Abdul-Jabbar broke the university’s record for points scored in a single game. He went on to lead the squad to three consecutive NCAA titles before embarking on an earth-shattering 20-year career in the NBA. He’s a six-time NBA champion and the league’s first and only six-time MVP, and he held the scoring record for nearly 40 years.
“Many of us remember and appreciate Mr. Abdul-Jabbar’s unparalleled skill on the basketball court,” President Drake said. “But his success in life and his influence really transcended the sport.”
From left, UCLA basketball coach John Wooden with four freshman All-American recruits: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lynn Shackleford, Kenny Heitz, and Lucius Allen. (Photo: Los Angeles Times)
Writing, advocacy and leadership
Mr. Abdul-Jabbar graduated from UCLA in 1969 with a degree in history and he returned to the field following his retirement from the NBA. He’s an award-winning columnist and author of over a dozen books, many of which delve into achievements and contributions of people of color in U.S. history. His 2017 book about his relationship with UCLA’s head basketball coach John Wooden, “Coach Wooden and Me,” was a New York Times bestseller.
“My UC experience gave me a career in basketball, but it also gave me a second career as a writer of articles, books and scripts. I wouldn’t have had the confidence — or the skills — to pursue writing if not for the encouragement of my professors,” said Mr. Abdul-Jabbar in remarks at the event celebrating the UC Presidential Medal. “Coach John Wooden taught me the fundamentals of basketball, but all my other professors taught me how to reason, how to follow my curiosity, and how to articulate my thoughts and passions.”
It was the dedication of his UCLA professors, Mr. Abdul-Jabbar said, that inspired him to become an advocate for educational equality, creating the Skyhook Foundation — named after his signature offensive maneuver — to create opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math for youth in underserved communities.
Kareem’s signature shot, the skyhook, propelled him to the top of the NBA’s all-time scoring list, a spot he held for nearly 40 years before LeBron James set a new record in 2023. The skyhook also provided naming inspiration for the educational foundation Mr. Abdul-Jabbar established to create opportunities for kids in science, math, engineering and technology. (Photo: NBA)
Mr. Abdul-Jabbar’s writing, advocacy and leadership have earned him many accolades, including the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Throughout, Mr. Abdul-Jabbar has consistently supported his alma mater, with a particular focus on disease prevention.
During the pandemic, he donated 900 pairs of safety goggles to frontline medical workers. In partnership with UCLA Health, he’s launched initiatives to improve health and prevent disease. He has also served as UCLA Health fundraising team captain, drumming up support for a cure for blood cancers. And in 2023, he joined the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Board of Advisors, with the goal of improving health care for marginalized people in the Los Angeles area.
Inspiring UC students and young people the world over
Altogether, President Drake said, Mr. Abdul-Jabbar’s life and work have “illuminated new pathways for others. He has been an icon and a role model, inspiring countless young Black men to excel both in academics and athletics, to live by their values, and to contribute to their communities.”
“If you’re going to stand on shoulders,” President Drake continued, “you should pick someone who is seven feet tall.”