Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says racism still part of American culture

Kareem Abdul- Jabbar, the basketball legend, has reportedly said that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's racist remarks about blacks is proof that racism is still prevalent in America.

Abdul-Jabbar said that his research on the subject showed that more whites believe in ghosts than believe in racism.

He added that it's something that's still part of the American culture and people hold on to some of these ideas and practices just out of habit and saying that, 'Well, that's the way it always was,' but things have to change.

Referring to charges of racial discrimination filed against Sterling in recent years, Abdul- Jabbar said Sterling's recorded remarks certainly should not have been a surprise to anybody who was paying any attention to Sterling over any period of time.

The former Laker, who was inducted into the Hall of Famer and is considered among the greatest players of all time, said that while Sterling may fight against his lifetime ban from the NBA, he believes the league has solid ground for his removal, ABC News reported.

Abdul-Jabbar said that if past performance is any indication, he's going to fight it and take whatever legal recourse he has to avoid the sanctions.

He added that the way things are going now; they have a very good chance of keeping him away from the game.