Rio de Janeiro, Jan 28 (IANS) On a mission from the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar visited Brazilian basketball club Flamengo’s athletic facilities.

Record holder of the most career points scored in the NBA, Abdul-Jabbar was recently named a cultural ambassador by the United States. In one of his first international missions, the icon came to Brazil to specifically scope out the conditions of Flamengo’s basketball facilities, Xinhua reported.

Both the men’s and women’s US national basketball teams will use Flamengo’s headquarters for practice and preparation during the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

While in Rio de Janeiro, Adbul-Jabbar reiterated the importance of education, saying that young athletes must always prioritize their studies, making them a smarter person on and off the court.