Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Statue Unveiled in Los Angeles

Nothing says legend like having your greatness immortalized.

Former NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar pulled the curtain off his own statue last Friday at the Staples Center. Rocking his Los Angeles Laker gear and signature skyhook, the nearly 16-foot-tall statue found its rightful place alongside those of fellow Laker greats Magic Johnson and Jerry West.

"I'm glad we got here before the pigeons got to it," Abdul-Jabbar quipped.

The 65-year-old pro-baller, who holds the holds the NBA scoring record of 38,387 points, expressed his gratitude during a ceremony attended by many NBA vets including Johnson, West, Pat Riley and Elgin Baylor. Even Lakers superfan Jack Nicholson showed his support.

"Having lived my life and had the experiences I've had, I can understand now what a man like Lou Gehrig means when he considers himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth," Abdul-Jabbar said.