Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom

UCLA Basketball great and renowned author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama.

One of the greatest honors an American citizen can receive is the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom. Yesterday, one of UCLA’s own was selected to receive that honor as Bruin and Los Angeles Lakers Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been named as one of 21 people to receive the award from President Barack Obama.

The list was announced on Wednesday in a statement by the White House.

President Obama named a variety of individuals for their “meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors”. The list includes sports greats such as Michael Jordan and Vin Scully.

Abdul-Jabbar is not only one of the greatest basketball players to play the game, he has also been a defender of social equality. In the statement, Abdul-Jabbar was recognized as “an outspoken advocate for social justice”.

Congrats to @kaj33 who is to be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom (nation’s highest civilian honor). https://t.co/5gC9VG2H0f pic.twitter.com/986MF10OKH

— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) November 16, 2016

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