Once, a young Lew Alcindor awkwardly was introduced to Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell at Alcindor’s high school gym, neither knowing how close the two would become both via their iconic NBA careers and their shared drive to fight for civil rights.
Many decades later, the man once known as Alcindor — now far better known as Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — made an appearance on the PBS “Amanpour and Company” show to talk about his lifelong friend’s inspirational life after passing away at age 88 this past weekend.
Watch the clip embedded below to hear a civil rights activist of legendary status in his own right describe how Russell blazed that path for others.
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