This April 1, 2014, file photo shows former Los Angeles Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at an NBA basketball ball game in Los Angeles. Abdul-Jabbar briefly returned to the hospital two weeks after undergoing quadruple coronary bypass surgery, but his business manager said Wednesday, April 29, 2015, it was just a precaution and the NBA’s career scoring leader is doing fine. AP
LOS ANGELES, United States — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar briefly returned to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday, two weeks after the 68-year-old NBA career scoring leader had quadruple coronary bypass surgery.
“This morning, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was experiencing some dizziness following his April 16 quadruple bypass surgery,” the hospital said in a statement. “He contacted his physicians who told him to come to the emergency department at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. He was evaluated by his surgeon and cardiologist. After a battery of tests, they found no complications.
“Abdul-Jabbar was discharged from the emergency department and is back home continuing his recovery. His surgeon, Dr. Richard Shemin, said it is not uncommon for patients to experience some symptoms that require ruling out serious problems following major heart surgery. Shemin added that Abdul-Jabbar did the right thing by coming in to see his doctors.”
Sky hook shot
Earlier Wednesday — before the episode — Abdul-Jabbar tweeted that he was “doing fine & feeling better every day.”
Abdul-Jabbar scored 38,387 points during a 20-year career with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers that ended in 1989. He was known for his trademark sky hook shot.
Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA MVP and a record 19-time All-Star. He was twice voted MVP of the NBA Finals. The Hall of Famer led the Bucks to their lone title in 1971 and helped the Lakers win five championships during the franchise’s “Showtime” era.
Born Lewis Alcindor Jr. in New York, he adopted the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971.
He played on three consecutive national title teams at UCLA under coach John Wooden, and was named the tournament MVP each time.