Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to speak at Harvard’s Class Day celebration next month
Basketball great, activist, and author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will address graduating seniors next month at Harvard University’s Class Day — an annual celebration held before commencement — the college announced Tuesday.
“It’s a privilege to share this moment with the Class of 2025 and to celebrate all that lies ahead,” Abdul-Jabbar said in the announcement. “I hope my words will encourage them to keep learning, keep growing, and keep showing up — for themselves and for others.”
Each year, Harvard’s Class Day includes a series of speakers, awards, and a keynote address, which will be delivered by Abdul-Jabbar. The event will be held May 28 at 2 p.m. at Harvard’s Tercentenary Theatre.
Advertisement:
Past Class Day speakers include former Vice President Al Gore, a Harvard graduate, and comedian Amy Poehler, a Burlington native.
An all-time NBA great, Abdul-Jabbar had a 20-season career for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player a record six times.
He is an award-winning author and former Time columnist, adding to discussions of sports, race, religion, and Black history.
In 2016, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor — for his work promoting social justice and “[standing] up for his Muslim faith,” former president Barack Obama said at a White House ceremony.
Advertisement:
“He’s a champion in every sense of the word — celebrated both for his extraordinary achievements on the court and his lasting efforts to build a more just and compassionate world,” Uzma Issa, a Harvard student and first marshal of the 2025 Class Committee, said in the announcement.
With his trademark skyhook, Abdul-Jabbar became the league’s all-time leading scorer in 1984 and held the record until LeBron James surpassed him in 2023.
He also founded The Skyhook Foundation, which brings science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education to underserved communities in Los Angeles.
“Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has spent a lifetime speaking out against injustice and using his platform to educate and inspire,” said Srija Vem, a Harvard student and second marshal of the 2025 Class Committee. “As we prepare to take our next steps in life, his legacy reminds us that we all have the opportunity — and the responsibility — to use our voices, our intellect, and our talents in service of something greater.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com