As the 49ers brace for the 2023 NFL season, they received an inspiring message from a sports icon.
Basketball legend and NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar swung by practice Monday in Santa Clara and dropped some knowledge with the players and staff.
"That's always a warning because when people favor you, you kind of relax. You got to put in the work that you've been doing the whole time," Abdul-Jabbar began. "That's the reason that they drafted you and got you here. So I just want to tell you that talent is a wonderful thing, but you got to put the hard work in to get the fruit from it.
"So do that and I'll get some really good seats for the Super Bowl and hopefully you guys will be on top."
After delivering his inspirational speech, Abdul-Jabbar had private conversations with players and coaches and took photos with them.
"It's an honor to meet you," quarterback Brock Purdy can be heard telling him.
San Francisco 49ers
Abdul-Jabbar played 20 seasons over the course of his highly decorated NBA career, including six league MVP awards, 19 All-Star selections and six championships. The 7-foot-2 center broke the NBA's all-time scoring record in 1984 and held it until it was broken in 2023 by Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
While he's known for his accomplishments on the hardwood, his words have inspired many through his writing and activism work.
So if Abdul-Jabbar is taking time out of his busy life to share some knowledge with you, you better listen.
And for the 49ers' sake, they sure hope he's right and the next time they see each other, it will be at Super Bowl LVIII.