Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Keynote Speaker: Highest-Scoring NBA Player in History & Cancer Survivor

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Biography

Recognized the world over as one of the greatest basketball players who ever played the game, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a committed social activist and award-winning writer.

As a player, Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA’s all-time leading scorer for 39 years until his record was broken in 2023 by fellow Laker great Lebron James. A Hall of Famer, he is a six-time NBA champion and the league’s only six-time MVP. TIME magazine dubbed Abdul-Jabbar “History’s Greatest Player” and ESPN and The Pac 12 named him the #1 Collegiate Athlete of the 21st Century.

Beyond the court, Abdul-Jabbar has become a respected figure in journalism, contributing regularly to newspapers and magazines worldwide. His insightful columns delve into socially relevant and politically controversial topics. Recognized as Columnist of the Year eight times by the Southern California Journalism Awards, Abdul-Jabbar offers his perspectives as a nationally recognized speaker who regularly appears on the lecture circuit.

Abdul-Jabbar has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest honor for civilians. He is the recipient of The Ford Medal of Freedom, The Rosa Parks Award, The Double Helix Medal and Harvard University’s W.E.B. Dubois Medal of Courage. Abdul-Jabbar holds eight honorary doctorate degrees and is a U.S. Cultural Ambassador, a title specifically created for and bestowed upon him by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

A New York Times best-selling author of 17 books, he delves into the overlooked history of African Americans, exploring topics from the Harlem Renaissance to forgotten Black inventors, and is the co-author of the children's Mycroft Holmes trilogy, starring Sherlock Holmes' lesser well-known but far more talented older brother. He currently has several book and film projects in development.

An award-winning documentary producer and a two-time Emmy-nominated narrator, Abdul-Jabbar was featured in HBO’s most watched sports documentary of all time, "Kareem: Minority of One," and was a writer/producer on season five of "Veronica Mars." He has appeared in hundreds of iconic and memorable television shows and movies, such as "Airplane," "The Big Bang Theory," "Sesame Street," "Jeopardy," "The Simpsons," and "Billions," among others.

Ensuring his legacy, in 2015 the Basketball Hall of Fame created the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar College Center of the Year Award to honor the top college basketball center each year. Additionally, in 2021, the NBA created the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award to honor the next generation of athletes who lift up their communities.

Abdul-Jabbar serves as the Chairman of his Skyhook Foundation, whose mission is to “Give Kids a Shot That Can’t be Blocked” by bringing educational STEM opportunities to underserved communities. He is also the California STEM Ambassador and serves on the Advisory Board for UCLA Health. At 76 years old, he likes to say: “Only my jersey is retired.”

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and other top speakers and celebrities.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Speaking Topics

Surviving Cancer

In November 2009, Abdul-Jabbar was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, a rare form of blood and bone marrow cancer that creates an inordinate amount of white blood cells. He immediately thought he had a very limited time to live. However, with treatment, his long-term prognosis proved favorable, and in February 2011, doctors declared the retired NBA star free of cancer. To combat his illness, he worked closely with his doctors to develop a healthy regimen. Once very shy, Abdul-Jabbar now raises awareness about the disease and is a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company Novartis. In this inspiring presentation, he speaks about his experience and the lessons he learned, as well as how he adapted and overcame what might have been a death sentence.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Videos

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on His Battle with Cancer | GMA
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at DNC 2016
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talks race and politics

How do I book Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speak about?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Basketball, Diversity & Inclusion, Civil Rights, Empowerment, Work-Life Balance, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Athlete, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Healthcare, Aging, Sports, Education, Educational Motivational, STEM Education, Social Activism, Non-Profit, Cancer, Culture, Cancer Survivors, College, Commencement, Black Heritage, Business, Health and STEM.

Where does Kareem Abdul-Jabbar travel from?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Basketball, Diversity & Inclusion and Civil Rights. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Daymond John and Simone Biles. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/10/2024.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Speaking Topics

  • Surviving Cancer

    In November 2009, Abdul-Jabbar was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, a rare form of blood and bone marrow cancer that creates an inordinate amount of white blood cells. He immediately thought he had a very limited time to live. However, with treatment, his long-term prognosis proved favorable, and in February 2011, doctors declared the retired NBA star free of cancer. To combat his illness, he worked closely with his doctors to develop a healthy regimen. Once very shy, Abdul-Jabbar now raises awareness about the disease and is a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company Novartis. In this inspiring presentation, he speaks about his experience and the lessons he learned, as well as how he adapted and overcame what might have been a death sentence.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Videos

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on His Battle with Cancer | GMA
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at DNC 2016
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talks race and politics

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar News

  • How do I book Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speak about?

  • Where does Kareem Abdul-Jabbar travel from?

    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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