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.”
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#UCLABasketball #GoBruins #kareemabduljabbar

[@tedpeters896]

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

[@jerrystewart7594]

He's is a pillar of strength and oozing with integrity

[@brentluckhart6238]

Integrity was from Wooden. You did not listen to Lew,

[@lawoftheuniverse8089]

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

[@richardshain7128]

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.

[@TampaFanatic1]

Man, this guy and Bill Walton are two very knowledgeable men!

[@edwinjones1000]

Wooden always picked the smartest players with the most integrity. I don't remember ANY of his players doing stupid stuff like the players of today.

[@GaryFox11000]

Fantastic basketball players & even better gentlemen !

[@richardthelionheart5594]

The school attracted quality people. U had to go to class! Something very few schools can say about their athletes.

[@fredzaccheo9165]

Ok I am getting emotional. Two great men, Kareem and John. What a stark contrast to some recent leaders.

[@Amick44]

"People of authority" would probably be a better description. Those you speak of aren't "leaders."

[@wilrobles9824]

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

[@patrickr9606]

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

[@edwardcapobianco2975]

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

[@richardthelionheart5594]

A gathering of Eagles. THE GOAT COACH and THE GOAT BASKETBALL PLAYER

[@wpl8275]

It's sad that he believes Coach Wooden wouldn't be a successful college coach in today's world because he wanted his players to graduate. He believed academics came first. He was a person of high integrity.

[@Amick44]

Colleges and coaches don't even fake it anymore. One and done is par for the course these days.

[@radar0412]

Yeah, Wooden may not have been able to adapt. Or he'd have to run a weak program somewhere.

[@jasonjackson5696]

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.

[@forestgump8357]

Incredibly humble man, considering his accomplishments. Wooden was the same way.

[@UCLAAnderson]

Couldn't agree more! We were so fortunate to have Kareem join us for to share his experiences with Coach during the Wooden Awards! So glad to hear you enjoyed his remarks.

[@richardthelionheart5594]

But very stand offish in his college days. Understandable in that age when the star college jock shouldn't be spoken to and his justifiable from his life experience.

[@Amick44]

@@richardthelionheart5594 he was. I'd rather have that than fools dancing and pointing and pumping their chests all game long.

[@brookmiller1986]

This speech speaks of the character in both of you! Love you Kareem, thanks for the memories you’ve left me!

[@ARIZJOE]

People forget what an amazing, super athletic 7'3" player Kareem was. And his intellect was bigger.

[@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.

[@edwinjones1000]

When I enrolled at Indiana State, I heard the same stories. Even though Wooden was winning, ISU let him go because they didn't like his " style " of basketball. HMMMMM

[@davanmani556]

@@edwinjones1000 lot of those kids that he cut had connections to the Klan. The basketball supporters had connections to the Klan. His style of coaching had racial connotations that he wouldn’t be back down.

[@edwinjones1000]

@@davanmani556 Yes. I graduated from Indiana State. I heard it they didn't " like his style of basketball" which was a dog whistle for Streetball that only blacks played.

[@richardthelionheart5594]

@@davanmani556 So true. ppl forget Indiana was the birthplace of the Klan.

[@jyy9624]

We all need more John Woodens and Kareems

[@edfell3]

John Wooden and Kareem are both huge hero's of mine. They both have character and class which is so needed in our world today. A highlight of my life would be to have dinner with Kareem and exchange bits of story and wisdom. I sit in gratitude that there are a few good men still in our world.

[@webman1956]

Kareem was a joy to watch growing up. I watched him from UCLA to the Bucks and then to the Lakers and was always in awe of his talent. That being said, I think I am more in awe of the person he is than he ever was as a basketball player.

[@UCLAAnderson]

Thanks for sharing! It was such an honor to have him join us to give a tribute to Coach! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the video.

[@richardthelionheart5594]

@@UCLAAnderson The vid was just pure superstar.

[@cianreyes8820]

Kareem has class!

[@jimsowder446]

Always respected them both.

[@brentwooden7995]

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

[@johnevans5434]

The greatest player I ever saw Kareem is pure class!

[@richardthelionheart5594]

Michael Jordan? Russel? Chamberlain? L James? all garbage, so to speak compared to Kareem.

[@davidwhite3181]

The greatest basketball player and coach.

[@gaspot007]

Ditto!

[@johnwright3815]

Kareem- one of my favorite human beings.

[@kathyruuska7941]

John Wooden did a fine job mentoring this fella.

[@murphtahoe1]

John Wooden and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the epitome of class!

[@richardthelionheart5594]

GIVE IT UP

[@thelonefirman]

Speaks volumes about how good his was as a coach and a teacher to his players

[@jamesmatthews1010]

Very thoughtful, insightful and touching comments by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Well said.

[@UCLAAnderson]

It was an absolute honor to have Kareem join us to pay tribute to Coach. Thank you for your kind words.

[@dougwalsh9282]

In the summer of my sophomore year '70 in a Southern California high school, I had the great privilege of attending John Wooden's invitational summer basketball camp with all of his assistants and the, then, state champion high school coach (Pacific Palisades High). Coach Wooden started the camp with a dissertation on how we should put on our socks and basketball shoes. He first ordered us to take off our shoes and socks. Then directed us about how to put them back on and why it was important to create the foundation of our feet to avoid blisters and injury. He related the need of the feet to offense and defense in the game of basketball. He obviously wanted to break down the egos of all of us so that we would be willing to accept the fundamentals that we would be introduced to over the next week. I am convinced this was the exact base of his championships, since all of his teams had to go through the same process.

[@mclovinryanstein8829]

John Wooden was an exceptional man. Kareem was a good hoops player.

[@garymorgan3742]

What a wonderful tribute to Coach Wooden from perhaps the most respected person to ever play the game of basketball.

[@yankee2666]

A big 'perhaps'.

[@thomasryan5736]

I was taking a Greyhound bus from Manhattan to Toronto. We stopped in Harlem to pick up people. Looking out the window I saw the Power Memorial High School basketball team including Lew Alcindor, who was famous as a teenager in NYC. I knew him by sight. And he was big.

[@ababner317]

Class act who followed another class act. All respect.

[@friedchickenridebarton1567]

The world is blessed by these 2 humans

[@gioiafrancesco]

When you hear Kareem talk, you think "God, this could really be a better world." You feel it is true, not an utopia. GOAT in every sense.

[@brupic8968]

this is a man who really was a student athlete unlike most in the revenue producing sports

[@warrensteele820]

Always a fans of Kareem.

[@ivellbullock7503]

Me too.

[@sarfrazashraf5912]

Kareem Abdul Jabbar Allah bless you for your kindness, ameen. From Pakistan/Danmark Peace🌸

[@jeffrey3498]

Well said by Kareem.

[@photoboyonsi]

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

[@gregserna963]

The Captain!!! The G.O.A.T.‼️ NOBODY BETTER‼️ He is a Gentleman & a Scholar, I was privileged to see him with Magic in Showtime of the 80's I'm sure John Wooden gave him some very good Wisdom, I'm also sure Kareem listened to his Coach, 2 very Big legends of basketball. ✌💙🙏

[@richardthelionheart5594]

# W/ a tear in my eye

[@robertsaldivar893]

The greatest on and off the court

[@Robe7783]

As a high school football coach, I attend a weekly student/athlete luncheon put on by the SB Athletic Roundtable. Gary Cunningham attends the luncheons and has for years since is UCSB AD career. I one time pointed him out to my players and told them that he had been an assistant coach under Coach Wooden. They were unaware of this but I told them how Coach Cunningham had been with coach Wooden for 10 years and 8 of those years they won national Championships!! Plus he was the HC at UCLA for 2 years. They then realized College basketball HISTORY was sitting feet from them!!

[@johnnyv.5142]

Back then freshman couldn't play on UCLA's varsity, who were national champions. So when the freshman team, led by Kareem (then Lew Alcindor) played the varsity in their annual campus showdown, Kareem's freshman team pounded the National Champs in a easy one sided victory. True story.

[@stever1791]

They were not National champs . Texas Western won the NCAA Title in 1966

[@audreyalexander194]

I pray that they all learn there lesson a man can speak for himself.

[@jingqi9106]

John Wooden is the greatest college coach ever. Kareem is the greatest college player ever and part of the reason for that is Coach Wooden.

[@scottmoyer1357]

Beautifully spoken.

[@emerdog6688]

I highly recommend both Kareem's and Bill Walton's books about Wooden.

[@user-hb4ry8ty7w]

Magnificent ❤

[@richardthelionheart5594]

He was everything they said but never cited !!!! he was the FIRST 1st team, 3 time All America. The Indiana Rubber Man

[@victormagana3972]

Back in the 90's my brother got me his book, They Call me Coach, he had it sign by coach Wooden, by brother asked him, how can one be successful, he gave him a simple answer. Be true to yourself and your convictions. Have a good moral compass. treat people with respect. you'll have success in your life. when he told me that. I followed that while serving in the Air Force and my life with that simple answer. it's true, I did have a successful career in the Air Force and my life. John Wooden is a special person. Wish we had more like him. He's a great man.

[@wouldntyalike2know941]

Kareem was an amazing basketball player. What is different about him is he may be a more amazing person. I have following his discerning expressions for years and though, I at times disagree, I'm always stretched by his thinking. To the degree Wooden and UCLA contributed to whom Abdul-Jabbar is today, both did their job well. As a midwestern conservative small town white guy who has nothing in common with Abdul-Jabbar, he has stretched my mind via his platform and I'm the better for it.

[@JordanLittlejohn-jl4lj]

Kareem Abdul- Jabbar was one of the top players in the NBA and I would pick him to start my NBA team.

[@markholle3450]

I was always struck by Kareem’s respect for Coach Woodin. For most of his live Kareem has been very vocal and critical of many. Rightfully so. But the integrity of one man, caused this giant of a man to pause and realize that all was not wrong with this world. This is a lesson we need to relearn today. Look to the individual and not the color of the skin when picking heroes.

[@josephphoenix1376]

Great Talk given by a great ballplayer but and even better Person... I was blessed to meet Coach Wooden at Kutchers Basketball Camp in the early 70.s! We knew we were in the presence of GREATNESS!✨🌟💫😄

[@danknox9986]

I really enjoyed that. Thank you for posting.

[@UCLAAnderson]

Thanks for tuning in! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[@Exotic3000]

Nice. Thanks for posting!

[@timothy2336]

Didn't care for Kareem too much when he was a player because I was a Wilt Chamberlain fan and later a Dave Cowen and Boston Celtic fan. But, Kareem was a fantastic player. More importantly, Kareem is as classy a guy as you will ever come across. Bottom line is that I deeply respect and admire Kareem as a player and as a man. Thank you Kareem for all the memories.

[@adrianojames5828]

I grew up in southern California when UCLA , year after year were national champs year after year . Back then the NCAA could not for the life of me quit screwing up the game , because of Lew Alcindor, the dunk was outlawed and I hated it . Then it was ok , then it wasn't, it was ridiculous . Anyway , I never knew what sort of relationship Coach Wooden and Lew had , but hearing it from "the horses mouth" so to speak is refreshing that there was a mutual love and respect between the two of them

[@ciriloreyes3184]

Amazing speech thank u

[@Bmarker299]

Excellent Speech

[@kristinhabing878]

I love this so much

[@RicardoRoams]

total class act

[@salvadorealiberto]

Wow, John Wooden had a lot of tall friends.

[@pbasswil]

Kareem, an all-time great member of the basketball community - and that's quite apart from his phenomenal skill with a ball.

[@gerrymetzler8814]

Very nice.

[@chrisburp]

Nice speech

[@richardthelionheart5594]

Birds of a feather .... A GATHERING OF EAGLES THE GOAT COACH and THE GOAT BASKETBALL PLAYER

[@damelalana]

“The truest test of a person’s character is what he or she does when no one is watching.” - John Wooden aka ‘The Wizard of Westwood’ Xx

[@stevefranckhauser7989]

IMO a better person than player and I consider him the be The Greatest Player of all time.

[@jamesmcginlay5763]

💜

[@mickeywood3012]

It's so interesting listening to Kareem talk about Coach through the years. This is part of the Democratic Process, this is something that Phenomenology teaches us. This is why Phenomenology is so important that "We, the People" really should work to understand. In many ways, Phenomenology is the Democratic Process.

[@amaitra]

Guess - he is the perfect pupil for the Coach!

[@austingainesburrow678]

1:50 So Coach worked on a Saturday 😊👍..

[@TheMaheshLawate]

Integrity

[@kentrockhold6095]

Booby Knight said he had no respect for John Wooden. Now I know why. John Wooden had character and integrity. Something that Booby has no idea about.

[@jamesvickers9476]

Knight claims UCLA had boosters who paid top recruits to come to the school for decades building their dynasty....if true at least Wooden wasn't a dickhead like Knight was...

[@andrewfarrell2051]

13 NCAA 13 Time NCAA champion 10 Strait Note how they conducted themselves on the sidelines during a game . Now which coach would you rather have coach and teach your son.I rest my case.."

[@ericpledge1]

@@andrewfarrell2051 No, Wooden won 10 titles, won 7 straight.

[@andrewfarrell2051]

My point was the character and make up of the two men..with those numbers exact counts really don't make a difference do they ? Lol

[@earlcabbel5523]

Kent Rockhold Coach Wooden was a legend and a person of integrity and honor and for Bob Knight to have no respect for him let’s us know everything about him who eventually many us for my generation knew what an embarrassment he was to college athletics.

[@stever1791]

What did Lew think about Edgar Lacy leaving the team in 1968 after the loss to Elvin Hayes and the Houston Cougars ? I know Edgar helped UCLA recruit Lew and I know they were friends.

[@brentluckhart6238]

I appreciate the name Lewis Alcindor.

[@texasflood1295]

We have clearance, Clarence.

[@jerrystewart7594]

Kareem is an excellent orator, and is viewed fas extremely intelligent man.

[@Treachery93]

Kareem Abdul Jabber is The GOAT! Not cry baby Labron James, Michael Jordan (arguably the 2nd GOAT) or Kobe. Jabbar has scored most points in NBA history. That's what make him The Goat. Plain & Simple.

[@Amick44]

Huh? So Karl Malone is the next greatest?

[@edwinjones1000]

I am an Indiana State alum. The story is correct. Wooden was finally let go by Indiana State because they didn't like his "style " of basketball.

[@michaelwheeler3782]

That's right, Wooden knew how to win. What has Indiana state ever done

[@edwinjones1000]

@@michaelwheeler3782 Nothing. ISU didn't even know how to build on the winning program Larry Bird left to them. Some things never change

[@rogermartin798]

Get rid of Mike Pence

[@cbptrumpet]

I've read many books about Wooden and have never heard that Indiana State "let him go." He coached there two seasons (1946-48), finishing 17-8 and 27-7. His second Indiana State team lost in the NAIA championship game to Louisville, the only finals championship game a Wooden team ever lost. He was immediately recruited by both the University of Minnesota and UCLA to be their head coach beginning in 1948, and was offered the job by each school.

[@edwinjones1000]

@@cbptrumpet Not surprised you never heard about it because the decision was race based. This is the big secret. Conservative ISU did not like his style of play because he preferred black players in an up-tempo style.

[@fdrisgreat]

Sam Gilbert, one man booster club, gave me a ton of cash back in the day to come to UCLA.

[@sunrajah]

who could not "like" this recollection of a great man and great coach?!!? racists maybe .......

[@christopherdonahue6594]

A very moving tribute!

[@jag136]

I am surprised that the NBA does not pay for NIL and being the "training league" for the NBA.

[@josephforte7589]

You need to change it back to what is was as a base.

[@makeit-takeit6707]

A lot of a people in those days got all over this man when he converted to Islam and changed his anglo slave name to Abdul Kareem Jabbar. Cassius Clay, did the same as he was given the name Muhammad Ali, which inspired the young Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor. Especially when the white establishment came down hard on him for refusing to travel 10,000 miles to Vietnam and kill brown people for the American government and stripped him of his heavyweight title and his passport. Some things change, but somehow always remains the same.

[@jeffbanfieldsflwr3537]

Who the hell is doing dishes during the speech.

[@Robert-wo4xp]

Lol

[@audreyalexander194]

He neverwanted to be married to the the ugly side of life my greedy family members all that hated me cause i was an adult at my age maturity as i grew older this man love his job keeping kids at risk out of trouble they didn't like me for the eay i was rasing my children.

[@larrylindgren9484]

A coach in today College basketball would have gotten fired before he started winning. There would have never been a John Wooden. I believe if memory services Wooden had a terrible losing record the first 3 years at UCLA.

[@cbptrumpet]

Your memory is faulty. Wooden's record during his first three years at UCLA was 22-7, 24-7, and 19-10, with three first-place finishes. The worst record his teams ever had in his 29 years as a college head coach was 14-12 in 1959-60.

[@stever1791]

I agree with you r comment. In fact, Wooden never won that much ( Not a terrible record ) - Until Sam Gilbert showed up to recruit and give handouts $$$$ to Walt Hazzard, Edgar Lacy and the rest of the great Players at UCLA. then Wooden started to win Big

[@paulwarren796]

ONE CAN SEE , THAT ALTHOUGH BILL WALTON HAS AN INCOMPARABLE UP AND POSITIVE WAY OF LIVING , LEW ALCINDER HAD A MORE FRIGHTENING LIFE WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF WORRIES .

[@brucefranklin1317]

Kareems grown inside... he had pain as a kid with anger and race... he saw uglyness regarding race...

[@brucedavis3816]

They never talk about Sam Gilbert!!!

[@nonrepublicrat]

not much to say. but you are welcome to whine about him as much as you want.

[@danacoleman4007]

or about Phineas Flynn

[@brucedavis3816]

@@nonrepublicrat exactly what Wooden said!!!!

[@Amick44]

Probably behind closed doors.

[@stever1791]

Sam Gilbert Paid so many players to stay and to enroll at UCLA for Basketball . Hazzzard, Lacy , Alcindor, Allen, Rowe , McCarter , Washington & Johnson to name a few.

[@MichaelTeniente]

Listening to this speech, you have understand why he never became an NBA coach. I mean is the stumbling of speech at the beginning neccessary? It's as if the stumbling is part of planned presentation.

[@garyphelps9123]

jf someone paid atheletes dont youi think wooden would have stopped it he had everything to lose nothing to gain they were already winning every year you dont know name names

[@billhair9552]

Coah Wooden would have fit in- perfectly in this atmosphere- he started paying players

[@michaelwheeler3782]

Check your facts

[@billhair9552]

@@michaelwheeler3782 Michael- its a known fact that UCLA paid players. Bill Walton said- truth be told- UCLA would lose those championships- and be on probation for 99years.

[@billhair9552]

@@michaelwheeler3782 OK I have checked my facts. Fact 1- UCLA was placed on Probation for cheating.

[@wymple09]

@@michaelwheeler3782 The only knock I ever heard about Wooden was that he knew players were grifting, and turned a blind eye. My opinion is he thought it was systemic across the NCAA, and it was, so he wasn't going to change things anyway. As far as Jabbar, he's never been a well liked person. I don't know if it was his ego, or abrasiveness. I was a huge UCLA BB fan, because of John Wooden.

[@stever1791]

@@wymple09 100% correct

[@jcrhea001]

50 year friendahip? That means they would of met in 1960.

[@LeeRoggy]

2017 - 50 = 1967

[@jcrhea001]

@@LeeRoggy Wooden died in 2010.

[@LeeRoggy]

Stop with the silly semantics. Jabbar enrolled in 1966 and was obviously recruited long before that since he was a known phenomenon since he was 6'8" as an 8th grader. And like so many of Wooden;s players he still holds Wooden's memory close to his heart. The definition of a critic: they know the price of everything but the value of nothing . . just like those who try to correct a legend reminiscing about another legend they loved.

[@jcrhea001]

@@LeeRoggy why are you so sensitive? I was just pointing out the indescrepeny there was no ill intent. Kareem was one of my favorite players. Do you even know if they met when Kareem was in 8th grade? Also Kareem enrolled in 1965. Either way you're acting like a baby.

[@LeeRoggy]

@@jcrhea001 The fact that you felt you needed to correct the number of years shows you have no clue about what's important and what isn't. Calling someone a baby just reinforces the thought. Have a nice rest of your life, you'll find it goes smoother if you aren't so damned worried about such little things. I doubt John Wooden (who I did have the pleasure of meeting and talking to) would have bothered worrying about Kareem's statement either.

[@audreyalexander194]

My ex he couldn't steal this man money from the youth programs he set up for children i don't know what's wrong with terry and his music people he helped along the way why it was so much confusion and jealously.

[@randysandberg5615]

Too bad Kareem was so aloof during his playing days. That hurt him once he retired. He wanted badly to coach in the NBA and nobody, even the Lakers, would take a second look at him.

[@teresa-oj9rq]

It wasn't because Kareem was aloof. It's because he had courage to speak up Not just dribble. The leagues loss imo

[@randysandberg5615]

@@teresa-oj9rq You may be right.

[@148woodrow]

Wooden had his business people buy athletes. That is why Knight did not like him. Players were paid for and that is illegal. Just look at how many of Wooden's players did not succeed in life, then compare to Knight. Knight was out of control but his players really did well later in all areas of life. I think Jabbar is an outstanding person with great inner peace, I admire him for that. But the coach like many coaches in that time bought players. The university did not put out the cash, it was the alumini and it was illegal.

[@Jordan-xf9rw]

everyone does that..

[@rogermartin798]

Players came to UCLA because of Wooden

[@christschool]

Kareem, how much did Sam Gilbert pay you and your teammates to play at UCLA?

[@michaelwheeler3782]

Bobby Knight was the epitome of clueless

[@ivellbullock7503]

@@michaelwheeler3782 Exactly clueless.

[@donaldhoffman285]

Jabbar, a man of intelligence and truth. I’m a 70 year old white man that bleeds different colors for a team in the Midwest but I vote for Kareem every time he is nominated for any type of award in any category. A great ambassador for our country in any situation. Glad he was too honest to enter politics. Thanks Kareem

[@rogermartin798]

Bobby knight was a POS