UCLA Health is issuing this statement at the request of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was admitted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center this week with cardiovascular disease, and he underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery on April 16. The operation was performed by Dr. Richard Shemin, UCLA’s chief of cardiac surgery.

Shemin said the surgery was successful and he expects Abdul-Jabbar to make a full recovery.

At this time, Abdul-Jabbar would like to thank his surgical team and the medical staff at UCLA, his alma mater, for the excellent care he has received. He is looking forward to getting back to his normal activities soon.

He asks that you keep him in your thoughts and, most importantly, cherish and live each day to its fullest.

For those wanting to send well wishes, he thanks you in advance and asks that you support those in your own community who may be suffering from various health issues.

There will be no media interviews or additional information from Abdul-Jabbar, his physician or his spokesperson. However, news media planning stand-ups at the hospital must park news vans in the southbound lane of Westwood Boulevard, south of Westwood Plaza, between Le Conte Avenue and Med Plaza Circle (in the far right lane).