NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had surgery Saturday after falling and breaking his hip, according to his longtime business partner.
“He is recovering just fine,” Deborah Morales told CNN on Sunday afternoon.
Abdul-Jabbar, 76, was hospitalized Friday, Morales previously said. The former Los Angeles Lakers star was attending a concert Friday night when he fell, according to Morales.
“We are all deeply appreciative of all the support for Kareem, especially from the Los Angeles Fire Department who assisted Kareem on site and the amazing medical team and doctors at UCLA Hospital who are taking great care of Kareem now,” Morales said in an earlier statement.
The statement did not say what concert Abdul-Jabbar was attending when he was hurt.
Abdul-Jabbar began his NBA career in 1969 with the Milwaukee Bucks, but is best remembered as a critical player with the Los Angeles Lakers during their dominant “Showtime” era in the 1980s. He led Los Angeles to five NBA championships.
A 7-foot-2 goggles-wearing center, Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA all-time scoring record until being surpassed by LeBron James in February. Abdul-Jabbar, a six-time NBA MVP, had held the record for 39 years.
A social activist and writer, Abdul-Jabbar revealed in 2020 that he had prostate cancer. In 2009, he said he was diagnosed the previous year with chronic myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood.
