Happy birthday! Kareem Abdul-Jabbar turns 78 today

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is celebrating his 78th birthday today. As a number of online tributes attest, he is one of the most acclaimed basketball players of his generation.

Popular basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has always liked to keep a bit of himself hidden from view. At 78th birthday, he remains a man of many facets.

Abdul-Jabbar, a cultural icon

Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. in New York on April 16, 1947, his career spans an arc over many different eras and tastes in American history. Abdul-Jabbar's not just a great basketball player, he's an inspiration, an icon and a successful business man. At this point in his career, there seems to be little Kareem hasn't done.

And we've got a feeling the next 12 months are going to be even bigger and better for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as he promises more to come. After all, he's only 78.

Happy Birthday, Kareem, you're the best!

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