NBA legend and hall of famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announced yesterday that he has leukemia, but the basketball phenom says his prognosis looks good.

Abdul-Jabbar, the man behind the sky hook, revealed that he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in December but said he expects to manage the disease through medication and regular contact with his physicians.

"It's something that can be managed," he said to the New York Times. "You can continue to live a productive life without changing your lifestyle that much. It does not have to be a death sentence."

Because his blood and bone marrow cancer is chronic, it is not considered aggressive.

Abdul-Jabbar has been busy within the year since his diagnosis by coaching with the Los Angeles Lakers, completing a documentary about the all-black Harlem Rens teams and writing a children's book -- his seventh book -- which will be published in 2011.

Jabbar, who is the father of five grown children, remains optomistic.

"I'm going to be able to do the things that I love to do," he continues. "Deal with my children, write, coach. I can still live a meaningful life and manage this disease."