Coach Wooden and Me

In 1965, 18-year old Lew Alcindor, who would later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left New York City to play basketball for Coach John Wooden at UCLA. It was the beginning of what was to become a 50-year long relationship that ended with Kareem sitting at his 99-year old coach's bedside on a June evening in 2010, holding his hand, just before he died. This is the story of their enduring friendship, both on and off the court.

On the court, Jabbar led UCLA to three national champions, and was named the Outstanding Player in the NCAA for each of those years-a feat that has yet to be matched in college basketball. Wooden coached UCLA for 27 seasons and won more NCAA championships than any other coach in history.

Off the court, they transcended their athletic achievements to gain even wider recognition and tremendous national respect. They came together at the height of the civil rights era, and Coach Wooden made sure that every player on his team got the same opportunity and was treated equally. Even when Kareem controversially adopted the Muslim faith, and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wooden was there to support him.

Abdul-Jabbar will intimately reveal the lessons Coach Wooden taught-- from putting your socks on right, to the philosophies in his famous "Pyramid of Success,"--and how they shaped his life, and more generally take you back to the basics of what a coach should be.

Part memoir, and part inspirational, this book is filled with untold stories about the famous pair; private correspondence; exclusive interviews with other teammates and coaches, friends, and even family, on Coach Wooden's impact; and much more.

“"This latest masterpiece by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is even better than all the rest... I'm captivated, enthralled, educated, and entertained as The King's words roll off the page even smoother than his skyhook did off his fingertips."-- Bill Walton”

"Anyone inclined to dismiss John Wooden and Abdul-Jabbar's relationship as merely coach and player... will rethink that miscalculation after reading this compact, engaging memoir."--Publisher's Weekly "A pleasant expression of deep appreciation for a man who changed the author's life by enriching it."--Kirkus "Abdul-Jabbar and Wooden shared a priceless friendship, and this sensitive, sharply written account brings it to full, vivid life."--Booklist (starred review) "This latest masterpiece by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is even better than all the rest... I'm captivated, enthralled, educated, and entertained as The King's words roll off the page even smoother than his skyhook did off his fingertips."--Bill Walton "I always knew my Daddy felt this way about Kareem, but I never knew Kareem ever felt this way about my Dad."--Nan Wooden, Coach Wooden's Daughter "This stunning eulogy will appeal to readers far beyond the confines of sports. Highly recommended."--Library Journal

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Since retiring, he has been an actor, a basketball coach, and the author of six books for adults and three for children, many of them New York Times bestsellers. Abdul-Jabbar is also a columnist for TIME magazine, writing on a wide range of subjects including race, politics, age, and pop culture, and his essays and columns have also appeared in the Washington Post, in the Los Angeles Times and on Esquire.com, among other publications. In 2012, he was selected as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador. He lives in Southern California.

In 1965, 18-year old Lew Alcindor, who would later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left New York City to play basketball for Coach John Wooden at UCLA. It was the beginning of what was to become a 50-year long relationship that ended with Kareem sitting at his 99-year old coach's bedside on a June evening in 2010, holding his hand, just before he died. This is the story of their enduring friendship, both on and off the court. On the court, Jabbar led UCLA to three national champions, and was named the Outstanding Player in the NCAA for each of those years-a feat that has yet to be matched in college basketball. Wooden coached UCLA for 27 seasons and won more NCAA championships than any other coach in history. Off the court, they transcended their athletic achievements to gain even wider recognition and tremendous national respect. They came together at the height of the civil rights era, and Coach Wooden made sure that every player on his team got the same opportunity and was treated equally. Even when Kareem controversially adopted the Muslim faith, and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wooden was there to support him. Abdul-Jabbar will intimately reveal the lessons Coach Wooden taught-- from putting your socks on right, to the philosophies in his famous "Pyramid of Success,"--and how they shaped his life, and more generally take you back to the basics of what a coach should be. Part memoir, and part inspirational, this book is filled with untold stories about the famous pair; private correspondence; exclusive interviews with other teammates and coaches, friends, and even family, on Coach Wooden's impact; and much more.

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