Abdul-Jabbar’s foundation gives shoes, backpacks

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gives a high five to a student at UCLA Community School Nov. 17. About 100 fourth, fifth and sixth graders received free Adidas shoes and backpacks as part of the program.

Photo by Lorenzo Gomez

By Stephen Oduntan

Contributing Writer

KOREATOWN — The buzz started with whispers. More than a 100 fourth-, fifth- and sixth- graders sat cross-legged on the gym floor at UCLA Community School, glancing toward a side door as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s small entourage appeared.

The students already knew the NBA legend was coming, yet the air still tightened with anticipation — a reminder that some legacies stretch well beyond the years a player spends on the court.

When Abdul-Jabbar entered the gym, the students erupted into appl

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