NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was hospitalized over the weekend after falling and breaking his hip while at a concert, his representative said.
The 76-year-old needed surgery after the accidental incident occurred at the unspecified event Friday, Abdul-Jabbar's longtime business partner, Deborah Morales, wrote in a statement on his X account.
"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 on X.
Medical Statement from Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s longtime Business Partner, Deborah Morales
“Last night while attending a concert , Kareem had an accidental fall and broke his hip. He will have surgery today. We are all deeply appreciative of all the support for Kareem,…
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) December 16, 2023
Morales said the Hall of Famer would have the surgery Saturday but hasn't shared an update since the initial statement.
Abdul-Jabbar is widely recognized as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Standing at 7'2", the former center played 20 NBA seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, becoming the NBA's Most Valuable Player a record six times and an NBA All-Star 19 times, tying with fellow Laker LeBron James. Abdul-Jabbar also held the league's career scoring record from 1984 until James broke it in 2023.
He retired in 1989 at the age of 42 and has since had a hand in coaching, acting, writing, political affairs and more.
In 2009, Abdul-Jabbar shared he had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a blood and bone marrow cancer. He also revealed in 2020 he had been battling prostate cancer for more than a decade.
He underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery in 2015 after being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and has also aimed to raise awareness about atrial fibrillation, with which he was diagnosed in 2023.
