Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was hospitalized in Los Angeles on Friday night time after breaking his hip whereas attending a live performance, his consultant has confirmed.
Deborah Morales, Abdul-Jabbar’s rep, stated in an announcement on social media that the harm resulted from a fall.
“Final night time, whereas attending a live performance, Kareem had an unintentional fall and broke his hip,” she stated. “He can have surgical procedure in the present day. We’re all deeply appreciative of all of the help for Kareem, particularly from the Los Angeles Fireplace Division who assisted Kareem on website and the superb medical staff and medical doctors at UCLA Hospital who’re taking nice care of Kareem now.”
TMZ was the primary to report the information.
The 7-foot-2 Jabbar, is a Corridor of Famer who received six NBA titles, 5 of them as a member of the LA Lakers. Since his retirement in 1989, he has change into recognized for his work as an activist and author. He additionally has had his share of well being points, together with a bout with prostate most cancers, leukemia and coronary heart bypass surgical procedure.
It was not instantly recognized the live performance Abdul-Jabbar was attending, or the venue the place it was held.
Earlier this yr, Abdul-Jabbar was in attendance when the Lakers’ LeBron James surpassed his all-time NBA scoring document.
He has written 15 books, amongst them Coach Wood and Me: Our 50-12 months Friendship On and Off the Court docket, and Changing into Kareem: Rising Up On and Off the Court docket. President Obama awarded Abdul-Jabbar the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Throughout his enjoying days, the UCLA grad gained extra fame within the traditional spoof Airplane! He portrayed flight crew member Roger Murdock, who memorably pushes again on a child’s suggestion that he doesn’t play exhausting sufficient. (Murcock, in a surreal contact, is later carted out of the cockpit clad within the actor’s signature No. 33 Lakers uniform.)