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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had quadruple coronary bypass heart surgery on Thursday, shortly after being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. The NBA legend, whose operation occurred on his 68th birthday, is expected to make a full recovery.
The surgery was performed at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. According to a press release from the institution, “At this time, Abdul-Jabbar would like to thank his surgical team and the medical staff at UCLA, his alma mater, for the excellent care he has received. He is looking forward to getting back to his normal activities soon.” The operation was done by Dr. Richard Shemin, who said the procedure was “successful.”
In the hospital’s statement, Abdul-Jabbar “asks that you keep him in your thoughts and, most importantly, cherish and live each day to its fullest. For those wanting to send well wishes, he thanks you in advance and asks that you support those in your own community who may be suffering from various health issues.”
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, Abdul-Jabbar was a six-time league Most Valuable Player and six-time champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. Gossip Cop wishes him a full and speedy recovery from his health scare.
