LOS ANGELES (AP) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is glad he went public about being treated for a rare form of leukemia because it has given him a chance to reconnect with people.

The NBA's career scoring leader said Sunday that since his recent announcement he has been stopped by people in public who wish him well and encourage him.

"The response has been really intense," he said. "I didn't expect it to play out this way, but it's been wonderful. I've got people's prayers and their support and they ask what they can do. People just want to connect and it's been beautiful."