I didn’t expect the response to be this intense,says Abdul-Jabbar

Their reaction has taken the 62-year-old six-time NBA most valuable player by surprise. Abdul-Jabbar was known for being introverted and sullen during his 20-year playing career,often refusing to talk to the media. As a result,he has been a low-profile presence since retiring in 1989 despite his stellar basketball accomplishments.

Positive outlook

Abdul-Jabbar said he’s in good spirits about his future because the chronic myeloid leukemia is in remission. He was diagnosed last December. “I’m not dealing with a death sentence and that’s one thing that was very important for me to communicate with everyone,that this condition can be managed,” he said.

Several of his former team mates and opponents from his NBA days have reached out to him and Abdul-Jabbar said he is appreciative. Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Abdul-Jabbar had confided his condition to him before the public announcement. “We’re obviously empathetic toward what he’s going through,” Jackson said.

He plans on continuing his job as a special assistant coach with the NBA champion Lakers,working on a documentary based on his last book,On the Shoulders of Giants,about the Harlem renaissance,and keeping in touch with his five children ranging in age from 18 to 37.

Abdul-Jabbar said he hasn’t closed the door on being a head coach in the NBA,a job that has eluded him for years. “I really need to deal with what I’m dealing with now and I really can’t pursue it,” he said. “I got a full plate right now.”

‘He will overcome it’

New Orleans Hornetts coach Byron Scott,with whom Abdul-Jabbar won three NBA titles,said he was stunned by his revelation but equally confident that his friend would overcome his illness. “‘I was totally shocked,and probably even more shocked that he had been dealing with it for the past 11 months,” said Scott,who played for the Lakers for 11 seasons.

“But it surprised me that he’s dealt with it for a year,and just now is kind of coming out and letting everybody know it’s something he can live with and something that he’s going to continue to fight,“ Scott said. “But I wish I had known about it and had been able to talk to him about it.”

Scott said Abdul-Jabbar’s resilience was as legendary as his basketball prowess,leaving Scott little doubt his friend could beat the disease. “He’s gone through so much is his life,“ said Scott,“that this is just another obstacle. I think like most of them that have been in his way,he’s been able to conquer them.”