Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who spent six seasons in Milwaukee and was a keystone of the Bucks 1971 NBA Championship team, was one of 21 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Wednesday afternoon at the White House.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is given to individuals “who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
In a statement from the White House, President Obama said:
"The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation's highest civilian honor - it's a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better.