You cant win unless you learn how to lose. — Kareem Abdul

I think someone should explain to the child that it’s OK to make mistakes. That’s how we learn. When we compete, we make mistakes.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

We can learn from mistakes of others, whether they’re kings or our parents. When we do learn those lessons, we’re better equipped to make our own dreams come true.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

The saying, ‘Those that don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it’ doesn’t just apply to politicians and world leaders, it applies to all of us on a daily basis.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

The transition was difficult. It’s hard to stop something that you’ve enjoyed and that has been very rewarding.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Don’t hope. Hope is for people who aren’t prepared. — Kareem Abdul

Coaching] is a difficult job which everyone who owns a TV thinks they can do better at.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

After practice, I would have to go back to the dorm and take a nap.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

I think people that are, you know, voting in the blind are doing a disservice to America by not being better informed.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Practices were tough.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

The constant expansion has diluted the talent. Other than that, it’s still the same game.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

I didn’t really seek attention. I just wanted to play the game well and go home.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Video games just can’t compare with the variety and intensity of reading.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Michael Jordan and Magic and myself, all learned how to play the game in college programs that emphasized the team.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Fundamental preparation is always effective. Work on those parts of your game that are fundamentally weak.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

The 3–point shot has created a situation in the game akin to ‘Lotto’ fever.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

The game has basically not changed since I ended my career.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team. — Kareem Abdul

When we went up against teams that were better, I just hoped that we could steal the victories.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

I’ve kept in touch with many of my former teammates: Bob Marcucci was our team manager and we bonded over our passion for baseball.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

A team will always appreciate a great individual if he’s willing to sacrifice for the group.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

As brilliant an individual that Michael Jordan was, he was not successful until he got with a good team unit.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Kobe’s an incredibly talented athlete, and there are many more like him among today’s players.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

If I hadn’t become a professional basketball player, I would have become a history teacher. There’s so much to learn from history.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

A lot of young players don’t really know much about the history of the game and a lot of them are missing out on what the game is all about, especially the whole concept of sportsmanship and teamwork.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

It’s hard for young players to see the big picture. They just see three or four years down the road.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Few players have cast a spell across the game like Yao Ming, before or since.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

I think the NBA players have to be held accountable in a reasonable way, just like any other professionals.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Great players are willing to give up their own personal achievement for the achievement of the group. It enhances everybody.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

What I learned in my time isn’t necessarily being taught now, and I’d like to help impart that knowledge to a new generation of players.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

When the line started to blur between the fans and the players, sometimes things can get ugly.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

He doesn’t necessarily have to learn the sky hook. He just has to learn how to be an effective post player. I think I can help him do that.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

A lot of players think the game is all about individual performances when it’s really all about a team game.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

There’s a ball. There’s a hoop. You put the ball through the hoop. That’s success.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

You got guys now declaring they’re ready to play pro ball in their second or third year of high school. It’s crazy! They’re missing so much.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

I can do something else besides stuff a ball through a hoop. My biggest resource is my mind.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

I want to do as little as possible when I finish playing ball–just spend a lot more time with my family.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

When I was at UCLA, the Harlem Globetrotters offered me a million dollars to come play for them. I turned it down because my education was just as important as playing ball.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

During 1866 and 1922, Native Americans and black soldiers often intermingled in the American west, on the frontier.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Ok, I’ll put it like this: I doubt if we will see another All–American basketball athlete who is a Rhodes Scholar.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

High school dropouts are forfeiting their opportunity to pursue the American Dream.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

I felt that a number of people might have questioned my loyalty, but I continue to be a patriotic American.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

I think race has been a burden for black Americans. Being Muslim has also been a challenge because so many people do not understand Islam.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

For me, the bold jazz of John Coltrane and Miles Davis reflected the bold attitude in African–Americans finding their political identity and voice.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

Common decency demands that [NCAA athletes] should be paid, but the only way it will happen is the same way workers got paid throughout American history, through a strong union.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

In a typical history book, black Americans are mentioned in the context of slavery or civil rights. There’s so much more to the story.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar

I think black Americans expect too much from individual black Americans in terms of changing the status quo.–Kareem Abdul — Jabbar