Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Illness Story Reveals the Toughest Battles of His Life

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is easily remembered as the tall man who soared across a basketball court, hoisting his renowned skyhook far above opponents who had little chance of stopping it. The image is iconic: the ball floating toward the rim, fans rising in anticipation, and goggles reflecting arena lights. The man who made that iconic shot has spent a significant portion of his later years dealing with several health issues that would shake even the toughest athlete, but many people are unaware of this.

Abdul-Jabbar is currently in his late seventies, and the list of ailments he has experienced resembles a medical file spanning multiple decades. The odd thing about his story, though, is that he hardly ever discusses these circumstances in a negative light. His tone is composed, almost analytical, as though he’s talking about a different opponent in a long season.

He experienced his first significant health shock in 2008 after receiving a diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer. The news struck him at the time with a kind of subdued terror. He later acknowledged that the worst-case scenario was the first thing that came to mind. Years before, a close friend had died of leukemia, and for a brief moment, it appeared that the same fate might befall him.

It’s difficult not to picture the moment he received the diagnosis. Abdul-Jabbar had already accomplished almost everything in basketball by that time, including six NBA titles, six MVP honors, and a scoring record that stood for almost forty years. However, in a doctor’s office where the word “cancer” suddenly hung in the air, none of those accomplishments mattered.

Thankfully, advances in medical science had altered the narrative. Chronic myeloid leukemia was once a rapidly fatal disease, but thanks to significant advancements in treatment, it is now frequently treatable with medication. Abdul-Jabbar started taking medication every day, which helped manage the cancer and allowed him to lead an active life.

The medical conflicts did not end there, however.

He disclosed years later that about ten years prior, he had also received a prostate cancer diagnosis. During a routine medical screening—one of those quiet examinations that many people put off or overlook—the discovery was made. In Abdul-Jabbar’s case, the cancer was successfully treated because it was discovered early.

It seems clear from listening to him talk about these experiences now that he sees illness as closely related to awareness and accountability. Abdul-Jabbar has frequently noted that he was able to obtain first-rate medical care because of his celebrity status. Many others lack that benefit, especially in underprivileged areas. He seems to have become an advocate as a result of that insight, urging people to take cancer screenings seriously, particularly Black men.

Then another health problem surfaced in 2021. Abdul-Jabbar started to have odd symptoms, such as exhaustion, lightheadedness, and sporadic dyspnea. He initially wrote them off as typical aging symptoms. He had been playing professional basketball for decades, after all. It seemed normal to feel a little tired.

However, the symptoms persisted.

He reportedly had trouble standing up without feeling dizzy one evening after seeing a Los Angeles Dodgers game. Eventually, that incident resulted in a hospital stay and the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, or AFib for short. The illness raises the risk of stroke and results in an irregular heartbeat.

The diagnosis must have been distressing for someone who previously depended on flawless endurance and physical coordination. AFib rarely makes a big show of itself; instead, it subtly changes the heart’s rhythm, occasionally producing symptoms that come and go without warning.

Abdul-Jabbar changed his way of life, adhering to a rigorous medical schedule and keeping a closer eye on his health than previously. Since then, he has discussed AFib in public, warning against ignoring symptoms like abrupt fatigue or an irregular heartbeat.

It’s intriguing how his experience reflects a larger trend among retired athletes. Once-private health issues are now being discussed more publicly by several former athletes. For many years, athletes were expected to be strong, resilient, and to keep their weaknesses to themselves. That mindset is gradually changing.

After a fall in late 2023, Abdul-Jabbar broke his hip, causing yet another health scare. Fans were once again reminded that even legendary athletes are susceptible to the aging process when the injury necessitated hospitalization and recuperation.

There is a sense of perspective that didn’t always define Abdul-Jabbar’s public persona during his career when one watches him now, tall but moving more cautiously than when he was playing. As a player, he occasionally came across as aloof or reserved, which fans and reporters misinterpreted.

He now frequently speaks with a patient in a contemplative tone.

It’s difficult to ignore how his public persona has been influenced by his own battles with illness. Instead of avoiding the limelight, he has utilized his experiences to draw attention to more significant problems, such as healthcare inequalities, the value of early diagnosis, and the fact that even the healthiest bodies need care.

Oddly, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s illness story seems to carry on his basketball legacy. He became well-known for the skyhook because it was accurate, well-practiced, and almost impossible to stop. He appears to adopt a similar mentality when dealing with illness: steady, methodical, and unflinching.

The adversary has evolved. But the method appears familiar.