Photo: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar keeps it casual as he links arms with rapper Jay-Z at Fanatics fest
This weekend, Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar linked up with famed rapper and business mogul Jay-Z at Fanatics Fest NYC. The event took place at the Javits Center, with festivities beginning on Aug. 16, and lasting through Aug. 18. The event was the first of its kind and brought out some of the biggest names in sports, both past and present.
The event included a number of high-profile stars from the NFL, NHL, and the UFC, in addition to pop culture figures such as Stephen A. Smith, Druski, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z.
Of course, in addition, a number of NBA players both past and present were in attendance such as Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, and Julius Irving to name just a few.
At one point, Abdul-Jabbar was seen arriving at the event, leading to an impromptu link-up between the NBA legend and Jay-Z, which was captured on video.
The two exchanged pleasantries while shaking hands before then posing for a photo in front of the 40/40 Club sign. Abdul-Jabbar was notably seen using a cane at the event after falling and breaking his hip in December while attending a show.
Check out the photo of the two below:
Looking back at Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's recent fall back in December leading to cane use at Fanatics fest
As previously mentioned, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was seen using a cane at Fanatics Fest this weekend. While the Hall of Famer is 77 years old, up until his fall in December, the NBA legend had managed to remain far more limber in his age than many of his peers.
During his career, Abdul-Jabbar was notably a practitioner of Yoga, something that he continued well into retirement. Back in 2008, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote about the importance of Yoga in staying fit and flexible beyond 50 years of age.
Because of that, Abdul-Jabbar seemed to be far younger than his birth certificate would suggest, with the six-time NBA champion moving far better than many of his peers who competed in the NBA at the same time as him.
Back in December, however, while attending The Manhattan Transfer's final concert, Abdul-Jabbar tripped and fell. Local fire department and emergency assistance crews on-site transferred Kareem Abul-Jabbar to UCLA Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken hip.
Jabbar wound up needing a hip replacement, which he wrote about on his free Substack:
"I’d like to say I fell while trying to save a child from plunging over a balcony, but I just tripped. Hard for me to accept that a once world-class athlete just stumbled. But age is the great equalizer and humbles us all.
"Now, I’m a world-class patient in a bed convalescing from a hip replacement like 450,000 other Americans every year. ... I will be taking a week or so off over the holidays to fully recuperate and spend time with my family. When I return, it will be with a shiny new hip."
While the fall took place eight months ago, it appears as though Abdul-Jabbar is playing it safe from now on, and is using a cane, as seen at Fanatics Fest.