Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Set for CBS SUNDAY MORNING this Weekend

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a former superstar for the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks, thinks worrying about his career statistics seems petty and admits he could have handled fame better, he says in an interview with Lee Cowan for CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD to be broadcast June 9, 2013 (9:00 AM, ET) on the CBS Television Network.

Abdul-Jabbar, who racked up 38,387 points during a 20-year-career, tells Cowan he was lucky to play as long as he did. "I think worrying about stats is like being petty, you know? Totally unnecessary," he tells Cowan.

On the court, he was unstoppable. Off the court, however, Abdul-Jabbar had a reputation of being aloof. He tells Cowan he was cautious because he was concerned about giving away anything that would be embarrassing. As a result, he avoided the press and usually fans.

"The spotlight is tough. And it caused some burnout," he tells Cowan. "I didn't... handle it in the best way." Abdul-Jabbar says he was overwhelmed by the fame that came with being an NBA star. "That's not for ordinary people. You know, there's a sense of balance, and you know, when you're in a position like mine, that gets obliterated."

In an extended interview, Abdul-Jabbar talks with Cowan about his basketball career, his life off the court, his battle with leukemia and being able to throw a 95 mile-per-hour fastball as an eighth-grade Little League player.

These days Abdul-Jabbar is a celebrated author of books highlighting the historical and cultural contributions of African Americans. He's also motivational speaker trying to get students to understand that there are important ways to be successful outside of being a celebrity.

"They all think they have to be LeBron James or Jay-Z or Denzel Washington," he tells Cowan. "They got to get beyond that, you know."

Cowan's interview with Abdul-Jabbar will be broadcast Sunday, June 9, 2013. CBS SUNDAY MORNING is broadcast Sundays (9:00 AM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. Rand Morrison is the executive producer.

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