“My father had to go to work when he was 9 or 10 years old” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar revealed his dad’s work ethic helped him become a legend

Way before Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became basketball royalty, before the championships, MVP awards and the most unstoppable shot the sport had ever seen, he was simply a young boy watching his father tirelessly go to work.

For many athletes, greatness begins with a coach, a mentor or a defining moment on the court. For Kareem, his foundation was built at home and he only had his dad as his first and lone role model.

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Abdul-Jabbar’s father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., grew up during one of the most difficult periods in American history. He was one of the many children forced into adult responsibilities by the Great Depression.

When once asked what kind of work ethic he had while learning the game and preparing to become a pro athlete, Lew Jr. did not point to any basketball drills or legendary coaches. Instead, he reflected on the man who shaped his understanding of discipline and responsibility inside the four walls of their house.

“I learned a lot in terms of understanding my work ethic … from my father,” Kareem told Knowledge at Wharton. “My father had to go to work when he was 9 or 10 years old during the Depression. He delivered ice into people’s homes when they used to have little things called iceboxes. Very few people remember that, but that’s what my father did. And he had to help support his family.”

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“Then after World War II, he was a musician and he didn’t really get an opportunity to play music for a living, so he became a police officer and supported our family on his salary as a police officer,” he continued. “But he always felt that he had a duty and a responsibility and he always fulfilled that and I absorbed it.”

Kareem’s dad raised a legend without saying a word

The values Abdul-Jabbar soaked up from his father became very evident as he progressed in his athletic career. The mental toughness that his father showed him became a defining characteristic of his basketball journey.

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At Power Memorial Academy in New York, Kareem transformed into the nation’s most dominant high school player. The same thing could be said when he attended UCLA. He led the Bruins to three national championships and revolutionized college basketball. As most hoops fans have witnessed, Kareem went on to have one of the most accomplished careers in sports history when he finally made it to the NBA.

After his playing days, Abdul-Jabbar did not slack and stop working, just like his dad. He became an author, historian, activist and cultural commentator.