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Champion: A Graphic Novel
In this stunningly illustrated graphic novel, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s life as a social justice advocate comes to life through the story of a high school student whose promising basketball career is in jeopardy.
Monk Travers is the star basketball player on his high school team. Confident about his future as an NBA player, he doesn’t see the point in caring much about school, let alone his community. But his world is about to change—big time!
After getting caught graffitiing his team’s rival school, Monk comes to the awful realization that his actions have put his place on the team—and his future—in jeopardy. He’s taken by surprise when his coach offers him an unorthodox way to atone: completing a report on the life of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Monk is ecstatic. He knows all Kareem’s records and stats. He smugly announces that the project will be a snap, but his excitement is short-lived when Coach tells him that the project is not about Kareem’s basketball career—it’s about his life as an advocate for change.
As Monk grudgingly begins his research, he discovers a history of struggles, conflicts, frustrations, and violence that he’d never been aware of, awakening a passion for social justice that rivals Kareem’s own.
Authored by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar himself, alongside longtime collaborator Raymond Obstfeld, and vividly illustrated by artist Ed Laroche, Champion highlights and celebrates Kareem’s work for good like never before, inspiring fans of all ages.
Monk Travers is the star basketball player on his high school team. Confident about his future as an NBA player, he doesn’t see the point in caring much about school, let alone his community. But his world is about to change—big time!
After getting caught graffitiing his team’s rival school, Monk comes to the awful realization that his actions have put his place on the team—and his future—in jeopardy. He’s taken by surprise when his coach offers him an unorthodox way to atone: completing a report on the life of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Monk is ecstatic. He knows all Kareem’s records and stats. He smugly announces that the project will be a snap, but his excitement is short-lived when Coach tells him that the project is not about Kareem’s basketball career—it’s about his life as an advocate for change.
As Monk grudgingly begins his research, he discovers a history of struggles, conflicts, frustrations, and violence that he’d never been aware of, awakening a passion for social justice that rivals Kareem’s own.
Authored by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar himself, alongside longtime collaborator Raymond Obstfeld, and vividly illustrated by artist Ed Laroche, Champion highlights and celebrates Kareem’s work for good like never before, inspiring fans of all ages.
128 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2025
4 people are currently reading
2434 people want to read
About the author
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
54 books643 followersAs a center for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1975 to 1989, American basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, originally Lew Alcindor, led the all-time scores in history of national basketball association in 1984.
This former professional player current serves as assistant coach. Typically referred to as Lew Alcindor in his younger days, he changed his name when he converted to Islam.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareem_...
This former professional player current serves as assistant coach. Typically referred to as Lew Alcindor in his younger days, he changed his name when he converted to Islam.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareem_...
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 23, 2025
Thank you to Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press via Netgalley for my advanced reader copy!
This story follows a teenaged aspiring NBA player Monk who is assigned by his coach to make a project focused on Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The catch is, instead of highlighting Jabbar’s basketball career, Monk must showcase his social justice accomplishments.
I didn’t know much about Jabbar when I picked up this book but the story had me sucked in from the first page. The action is beautifully drawn and the commentary with dialogue makes the reader feel connected with the characters from the jump. With a dash of magical realism, the graphical novel gives a fresh take on the importance of knowing history and practicing activism.
This story follows a teenaged aspiring NBA player Monk who is assigned by his coach to make a project focused on Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The catch is, instead of highlighting Jabbar’s basketball career, Monk must showcase his social justice accomplishments.
I didn’t know much about Jabbar when I picked up this book but the story had me sucked in from the first page. The action is beautifully drawn and the commentary with dialogue makes the reader feel connected with the characters from the jump. With a dash of magical realism, the graphical novel gives a fresh take on the importance of knowing history and practicing activism.
May 5, 2025
ARC Review
This graphic novel gives an honest look at Kareem’s life, not just the basketball greatness, but the journey of becoming. I learned enough from this book that sent me down a rabbit hole, of soliciting my boyfriend for further research help.
It lowkey gave My Friend Martin vibes … yall remember that movie? The way the main character would have dreams or flashes in time? That’s what this felt like, with Kareem reflecting on the pivotal moments that shaped his choices as both an athlete and a man.
There’s also a clear message here: don’t limit yourself. Your passions, beliefs, and talents can (and should) coexist. Kareem shows that you can be more than just one thing—and that’s a lesson we all need from time to time.
Favorite quote - The more things you can say “I love” about, the bigger and brighter your world is.
This graphic novel gives an honest look at Kareem’s life, not just the basketball greatness, but the journey of becoming. I learned enough from this book that sent me down a rabbit hole, of soliciting my boyfriend for further research help.
It lowkey gave My Friend Martin vibes … yall remember that movie? The way the main character would have dreams or flashes in time? That’s what this felt like, with Kareem reflecting on the pivotal moments that shaped his choices as both an athlete and a man.
There’s also a clear message here: don’t limit yourself. Your passions, beliefs, and talents can (and should) coexist. Kareem shows that you can be more than just one thing—and that’s a lesson we all need from time to time.
Favorite quote - The more things you can say “I love” about, the bigger and brighter your world is.
May 6, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss plus
When Monk makes the poor decision to add graffitti to a rival school's mascot sign, he is caught. His coach and parents decide to implement some restorative justice, so he and his teammates have to clean up the paint (which is at least chalk based), and Monk has to write a report on basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The report can't be about his basketball playing, however, which confuses Monk. He seeks some help from people in his life, like Lark, who is on the girls' basketball team, and Sissy, who hires him to work in her store. All of the people in his life are a little concerned that he is laser focused on basketball, and no longer seems to have interest in art, even though he's very good. As he starts to delve into research on Abdul-Jabbar, he learns a lot about the Civil Rights movement, and the sports legend appears to him and has conversations. He even takes Monk back to different places and points in history so that he can understand how difficult the struggle was, and how Abdul-Jabbar was involved in a lot of things, not just basketball. Monk meets many road blocks; his notes and files on his computer disappear, his work hours are cut, and he angers Lark by not coming to her game. When he finally finishes his research, he decides to present it in a unique way, and with the help of his teammates, creates a mural about Abdul-Jabbar's life on the side of Sissy's store.
Strengths: I wasn't to buy this graphic novel for this quote from the coach alone (from the E ARC): "Reality check: There are over 18,000 NCAA players, of which only about 4,000 are eligible for the NBA draft. Of those, only 60 will get drafted." Of course, Monk replies that he will be one of the 60. There are so many of my students who think that they have a chance to play professional ball, even though they aren't particularly talented, so maybe they will take away the message that it's important to have other plans for careers. My students are also ridiculously fond of LeBron James and ONLY want to read books about him, so this might tempt them to investigate another basketball player who has a wider impact than sports. This had an older, more serious illustration style to it that I enjoyed, and that will appeal to middle school and high school readers.
Weaknesses: This was fairly text dense, and I'm afraid that some of my readers might give up early on.
What I really think: I'm always interested in more sports graphic novels; the Jake Maddox ones are quite short but very popular. Champion is a little more complex and a good choice for readers who liked Soria and Williams' Who is the Man in the Air: Michael Jordan or Smith, Barnes, and Anyabwile's Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist or Justice. Don't forget that Abdul-Jabbar also wrote the Sasquatch in the Paint series. Sadly, I didn't find out about book three until it was no longer available!
When Monk makes the poor decision to add graffitti to a rival school's mascot sign, he is caught. His coach and parents decide to implement some restorative justice, so he and his teammates have to clean up the paint (which is at least chalk based), and Monk has to write a report on basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The report can't be about his basketball playing, however, which confuses Monk. He seeks some help from people in his life, like Lark, who is on the girls' basketball team, and Sissy, who hires him to work in her store. All of the people in his life are a little concerned that he is laser focused on basketball, and no longer seems to have interest in art, even though he's very good. As he starts to delve into research on Abdul-Jabbar, he learns a lot about the Civil Rights movement, and the sports legend appears to him and has conversations. He even takes Monk back to different places and points in history so that he can understand how difficult the struggle was, and how Abdul-Jabbar was involved in a lot of things, not just basketball. Monk meets many road blocks; his notes and files on his computer disappear, his work hours are cut, and he angers Lark by not coming to her game. When he finally finishes his research, he decides to present it in a unique way, and with the help of his teammates, creates a mural about Abdul-Jabbar's life on the side of Sissy's store.
Strengths: I wasn't to buy this graphic novel for this quote from the coach alone (from the E ARC): "Reality check: There are over 18,000 NCAA players, of which only about 4,000 are eligible for the NBA draft. Of those, only 60 will get drafted." Of course, Monk replies that he will be one of the 60. There are so many of my students who think that they have a chance to play professional ball, even though they aren't particularly talented, so maybe they will take away the message that it's important to have other plans for careers. My students are also ridiculously fond of LeBron James and ONLY want to read books about him, so this might tempt them to investigate another basketball player who has a wider impact than sports. This had an older, more serious illustration style to it that I enjoyed, and that will appeal to middle school and high school readers.
Weaknesses: This was fairly text dense, and I'm afraid that some of my readers might give up early on.
What I really think: I'm always interested in more sports graphic novels; the Jake Maddox ones are quite short but very popular. Champion is a little more complex and a good choice for readers who liked Soria and Williams' Who is the Man in the Air: Michael Jordan or Smith, Barnes, and Anyabwile's Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist or Justice. Don't forget that Abdul-Jabbar also wrote the Sasquatch in the Paint series. Sadly, I didn't find out about book three until it was no longer available!
December 2, 2025
This book is about a teenager named Monk who is completely focused on becoming an NBA Player. He gave up on his other talents and dreams, like artwork and music. After getting into some trouble at school, his coach decided to bench him and have him do a project on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Monk is excited because he knows everything about Kareems’ basketball career. His excitement soon fades when he is told he will have to do the project highlighting Kareems’ other life achievements.
Like Monk, I knew that Kareem was an exceptional player but that was about all. I learned in this book that this man is also an incredible human being who was an activist for social injustice in this world, a writer of multiple works, a recipient of medals and awards outside of his basketball career, and so much more. I’ve heard of other people mentioned in this book, like Muhammad Ali, Emmett Till, and a few others. However there was quite a few I never heard of and like Monk I will be doing my research to learn more about them.
This was the first graphic novel I’ve ever read and I absolutely loved it. I loved the beautiful detailed graphics that captured the storyline, I loved the story and seeing the character grow like Monk did, but more importantly I loved the message this book told. Just like Kareem we can be so much more than just one thing. All of those parts of us can exist together, you never have to give up on your passions just because you may want one thing more than the others, but most importantly always stand up and fight. Fight for the things that matter in this world.
I won this book in a giveaway and I would like to thank Crown Publishing Group and Penguin Random House for sending me this great novel.
Like Monk, I knew that Kareem was an exceptional player but that was about all. I learned in this book that this man is also an incredible human being who was an activist for social injustice in this world, a writer of multiple works, a recipient of medals and awards outside of his basketball career, and so much more. I’ve heard of other people mentioned in this book, like Muhammad Ali, Emmett Till, and a few others. However there was quite a few I never heard of and like Monk I will be doing my research to learn more about them.
This was the first graphic novel I’ve ever read and I absolutely loved it. I loved the beautiful detailed graphics that captured the storyline, I loved the story and seeing the character grow like Monk did, but more importantly I loved the message this book told. Just like Kareem we can be so much more than just one thing. All of those parts of us can exist together, you never have to give up on your passions just because you may want one thing more than the others, but most importantly always stand up and fight. Fight for the things that matter in this world.
I won this book in a giveaway and I would like to thank Crown Publishing Group and Penguin Random House for sending me this great novel.
July 13, 2025
This is a graphic novel that will appeal to many high schoolers and middle schoolers. Despite the graphic novel medium, this is a very dense text with a lot of information. Invested readers will learn a lot, though some struggling readers may have a hard time as Monk gets into his research. I love the simultaneous love of basketball and reminder that athletes are more than their sport. Monk’s coach is such a strong mentor, and I’m sure many student athletes reading will connect with that important dynamic.
I look forward to adding this to my classroom library- I can picture many 8th graders who will be interested and ready to put in the work to read it and to learn alongside Monk.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I look forward to adding this to my classroom library- I can picture many 8th graders who will be interested and ready to put in the work to read it and to learn alongside Monk.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
November 1, 2025
Monk Travers is a star basketball player of his high school, who has aspirations of becoming a professional NBA player. So obsessed is he with his dream, that he becomes lackadaisical about his other responsibilities. In response, his village concocts a plan to help him broaden his horizons, including a presentation on one of his favorite players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He readily accepts, and them finds out that the presentation should revolve around everything except basketball. After a few mishaps, he settles down and takes the assignment seriously.
This book was targeted to young readers, but I found it both intriguing and informative. I realized there was so much that I didn’t know about this man.
I would highly recommend this book to young readers and their parents.
This book was targeted to young readers, but I found it both intriguing and informative. I realized there was so much that I didn’t know about this man.
I would highly recommend this book to young readers and their parents.
May 8, 2025
The art knocked me off my feet. But the rest was rather lackluster. Obviously, the information presented is important, but I'm not sure the weak plot is the right vehicle to deliver it to its intended audience. It also feels self-aggrandizing (which isn't surprising from the guy who wrote like 5 memoirs). Regardless, I think there is an audience for this (basketball nerds); and I think this is a good way to get that audience to learn about civil rights. I just felt it falls into the trap that so many historical YA graphic novels fall into: they don't deliver in a captivating enough way that I feel will grab a teen's attention.
August 23, 2025
Champion is a fascinating graphic novel that blends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s story with pivotal moments in history. I learned a lot from it, and I appreciated how the narrative brought attention to events and figures that aren’t always widely discussed. That said, I did have some issues with the presentation. The dream sequences felt more like hallucinations, and I wasn’t sure they fit the overall tone of the story. I also think the illustrator missed an opportunity to use the black borders consistently to signal flashbacks or dreamlike passages, which might have made those sections clearer. Even with those drawbacks, the book was engaging and informative, and I’m glad I read it.
October 17, 2025
Not exactly what I expected, and I think the same will apply to most young readers who pick this up. This isn't a straightforward bio of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, nor does it particularly care about his basketball career. Instead, the story of how Abdul-Jabbar developed his own social consciousness is used to help a modern teen explore who he is outside of sports. That modern teen is very much the focus of this book, with maybe a quarter actually focusing on Abdul-Jabbar. I didn't mind this, because the modern story is a good one to tell, and there's plenty of realistic and funny dialog to ground it.
July 14, 2025
I absolutely adore sports graphic novels, especially when some of my favorite stars are involved with the making of them! Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has always been one of my favorite NBA players and this book really just puts him over the top. This is a book I know many of my basketball loving middle schoolers will adore. Monk is a character I believe all my students will relate to as they are finding their own paths in social justice and finding their own ways in the world. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this advance copy!
November 27, 2025
Hi! I just finished reading your story, and I loved how clean and immersive your worldbuilding is. I could picture the whole thing like a webtoon.
I’m a commission-based comic/webtoon artist, so if you’re ever curious about what your story could look like visually, I’d love to chat.
You can take a look at my work anytime on Instagram ( eve_verse_) or Discord (bennett_lol ).
If you reach out on my socials, please include a screenshot of this conversation so I can recognize you among the many messages I receive.
I’m a commission-based comic/webtoon artist, so if you’re ever curious about what your story could look like visually, I’d love to chat.
You can take a look at my work anytime on Instagram ( eve_verse_) or Discord (bennett_lol ).
If you reach out on my socials, please include a screenshot of this conversation so I can recognize you among the many messages I receive.
September 15, 2025
I liked the premise of this book about a high school kid who only dreams of the NBA but gets a wake up call and learns about social justice. The biggest problem with this graphic novel is the jumpy narrative. Without any transitions- in text nor in illustrations-we jump from past to present, reality and inner monologue. There isn’t a lot of new information here if you’ve already read the superior memoir “Becoming Kareem” which is much more engaging.
October 9, 2025
Almost a 3-star book. Its heart is certainly in the right place but the framing device, and most of the book is the framing device, is sometimes good but at other times I just wanted the creators to get on with it. That is why 3-stars. The book was demoted to 2 when I got to the end. There is a ridiculous conspiracy that I did not believe for a moment. That derailed the book for me.
October 23, 2025
Monk, a high school basketball player, graffitis a rival high school, and has to write a biography about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's life outside of basketball. This was more an information dump on the author's early life, but the mystery of who was sabotaging Monk's essay was strange if predictable. The art was standard, but the inking and coloring was okay.
May 3, 2025
Thank you netgalley for this ARC. I wanted to know more about kareem just because ive heard the name over the years but wasn't too familiar so i decided to read this one and i will say it was informative on history and stuff and also shows us about kareem and his life and stuff i also liked that it had another story in the book as well basically the main lead doing a project on kareem and also navigating his life as well i thought it was cool. I do think this will be a great graphic novel for middle schoolers!
October 20, 2025
This graphic novel blends sports fiction with biography, following a high-school basketball star assigned to research Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar’s activism rather than his game. The bold themes and strong visuals are commendable.
September 12, 2025
4.5 stars
September 13, 2025
inspiring story of a legend on and off the court!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews