Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. grew up in the Dyckman Street projects of Inwood, Upper Manhattan, after moving there at age three in 1950. By age nine, he was already tall enough to dunk a basketball with ease. He attended Power Memorial Academy, a private all-boys Catholic high school where he wore jersey number 33 as tribute to New York Giants fullback Mel Triplett. Under coach Jack Donohue, his teams won three straight New York City Catholic championships and achieved a remarkable 71-game winning streak. The team finished with an overall record of 79 wins and just two losses during his tenure. Alcindor scored 2,067 total points, setting a New York City high school record that stood for decades. His nickname became "The Tower from Power" due to his imposing height and scoring ability. During his senior year, tensions rose between him and Coach Donohue when the coach called him a racial slur. This incident occurred while Alcindor wrote for the Harlem Youth Action Project newspaper. The Harlem riot of 1964 followed shortly after, triggered by the fatal shooting of James Powell by a police officer. That event sparked his interest in racial politics and shaped his emerging identity as a Black activist.
Alcindor chose to attend UCLA after being recruited by assistant coach Jerry Norman despite offers from many other schools. Southern segregated teams were willing to break the color line to acquire him, but he declined those opportunities. He was the most sought-after prospect since Wilt Chamberlain arrived on campus. Freshmen were ineligible to play varsity until 1972, so he played on the freshman squad during his first year. On the 27th of November 1965, he made his first public performance at Pauley Pavilion before 12,051 fans. The freshman team won 75-60 against the varsity squad, with Alcindor scoring 31 points and grabbing 21 rebounds. Sports Illustrated described him as "The New Superstar" after he scored 56 points in his varsity debut game. That score remains an NCAA record for a player's first game. He averaged 29 points and 15.5 rebounds per game while leading UCLA to an undefeated 30-0 record. The dunk was banned in college basketball following his dominance, earning it the nickname "the Alcindor Rule." It stayed in effect until the 1976-77 season. His three-year record stood at 88 wins and only two losses. One loss came against Houston when he suffered an eye injury, and another against USC which employed a stall tactic. During his junior year, he scratched his left cornea on the 12th of January 1968, during a game against California. This injury caused him to wear protective goggles throughout much of his professional career.
Alcindor entered the NBA through the 1969 draft where he was selected first overall by the one-season-old Milwaukee Bucks franchise. The Globetrotters offered him $1 million to play professionally, but he declined that offer. Sam Gilbert negotiated his contract alongside Ralph Shapiro without charging a fee. The Bucks had won a coin toss with Phoenix Suns for the first pick. After accepting Milwaukee's $1.4 million offer, the Nets countered with a guaranteed $3.25 million bid which he also rejected. He stated that bidding wars degraded people involved and made him feel like a flesh peddler. In his rookie season, he ranked second in league scoring at 28.8 points per game and third in rebounding at 14.5 rebounds per game. He earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors for the 1969-70 campaign. On the 21st of February 1970, he scored 51 points in a 140-127 victory over the SuperSonics. During playoff series-clinching games against Philadelphia 76ers, he recorded 46 points and 25 rebounds. This performance made him only the second rookie ever to score at least 40 points and 25 rebounds in a playoff game. He set an NBA rookie record with ten or more games of 20+ points during those playoffs. The following season, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard Oscar Robertson. Milwaukee finished with the best record in the league at 66 victories including a then-record twenty straight wins. Alcindor won his first NBA Most Valuable Player Award while leading the league in total points with 2,596. The team swept Baltimore Bullets four games to zero in the 1971 NBA Finals. He posted 27 points, twelve rebounds, and seven assists in Game Four before earning Finals MVP honors.
During summer 1968, Alcindor took the shahada twice and converted from Catholicism to Sunni Islam. He adopted the Arabic name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar though he did not begin using it publicly until 1971. On the 3rd of June 1971, he held a press conference at the State Department announcing his new Muslim name meaning "noble one, servant of the Almighty." He boycotted the 1968 Summer Olympics to protest unequal treatment of African Americans within the United States. In 1974, he led the Bucks to their fourth consecutive Midwest Division title and won his third MVP Award in four years. Robertson retired in September 1974 after failing to agree on a contract extension. On October 3, Abdul-Jabbar privately requested a trade to either New York Knicks or Washington Bullets with Lakers as his third choice. Two days later during a preseason game against Celtics in Buffalo, he caught a fingernail in his left eye from Don Nelson. The injury caused him to punch the backboard stanchion breaking two bones in his right hand. He missed the first sixteen games while Milwaukee finished 3-13 without him. Sportscaster Marv Albert reported on the 13th of March 1975 that Abdul-Jabbar wanted to play elsewhere. Los Angeles Lakers acquired him along with reserve center Walt Wesley for Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers, Junior Bridgeman, and cash. His average was thirty points per game despite Milwaukee finishing last place at 38 wins and 44 losses.
The Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the first overall pick of the 1979 NBA draft after acquiring it from New Orleans Jazz in 1976. Johnson's addition paved way for Showtime dynasty appearing in finals eight times winning five championships. Abdul-Jabbar won his record sixth MVP award during 1979-80 season alongside Johnson. In 1980 finals he averaged 33.4 points across five games before spraining ankle in Game Five. He returned to finish contest scoring forty points leading team to victory though missing Game Six when Lakers clinched title. Johnson earned Finals MVP after recording 42 points fifteen rebounds and seven assists in finale. The Lakers won another championship in 1981-82 but suffered migraines averaging just eighteen points against Philadelphia. Malone outrebounded Abdul-Jabbar seventy-two to thirty in 1983 series where 76ers swept Lakers four games zero. Before 1983-84 season Abdul-Jabbar signed two-year three million dollar contract without deferral. He fell ill with viral hepatitis rendering him weak for one month after returning to training camp. On April fifth 1984 at Thomas & Mack Center he broke Chamberlain's career point record scoring from on his patent skyhook over Mark Eaton. The game drew eighteen thousand three hundred eighty-nine fans making it Jazz largest home crowd since moving from New Orleans. For first time since 1980-81 season he led Lakers in both scoring twenty-one point five and rebounding seven point three during entire season. Team advanced to 1984 NBA Finals losing to Boston Celtics.
Abdul-Jabbar played seventeen seasons breaking previous NBA record of sixteen held by Dolph Schayes John Havlicek Paul Silas and Elvin Hayes. On November twelfth 1985 he signed one-year extension maintaining option to retire after 1985-86 season. Prior to 1986-87 season he gained weight reaching close to two hundred forty pounds competing against growing number of seven-footers. Lakers won championship over Boston in 1987 then defeated Detroit Pistons four games zero in 1988 finals. In Game Six Abdul-Jabbar made only three of fourteen shots converting two free throws with fourteen seconds remaining extending series to seven games. After winning season finale where he scored four points grabbed three rebounds the forty-one-year-old announced return for one more season before retiring. His points rebounds and minutes dropped significantly during nineteenth season though reports suggested retirement after contest. During his "retirement tour" he received standing ovations home and away plus gifts ranging from yacht saying Captain Skyhook to framed jerseys and Persian rug. At Forum against Seattle every Laker wore his trademark goggles during final regular season game. Lakers lost to Pistons four games sweep in 1989 finals marking end of career. He retired holding records for most career games played fifteen hundred sixty and most minutes played fifty-seven thousand four hundred forty-six. He also held all-time record for most field goals made fifteen thousand eight hundred thirty-seven and most points thirty-eight thousand three hundred eighty-seven.
Abdul-Jabbar made film debut in Bruce Lee's 1972 movie Game of Death playing alongside martial artist legend. In 1980 he portrayed co-pilot Roger Murdock in Airplane! spoofing appearance of football star Elroy Crazylegs Hirsch as airplane pilot. A scene featured little boy inviting cockpit looking at Abdul-Jabbar remarking he was actually Abdul-Jabbar not Roger Murdock. Staying character Abdul-Jabbar stated merely being airline co-pilot while boy insisted believing him greatest despite father claiming didn't work hard enough on defense. Character snapped breaking character grabbing boy snarling heard crap ever since UCLA busting buns every night instructing tell old man drag Bill Walton Bob Lanier up down court forty-eight minutes. Later Murdock lost consciousness collapsing controls wearing goggles yellow Lakers shorts. In 2014 Abdul-Jabbar Robert Hays reprised roles promoting Wisconsin tourism parody commercial. Numerous other television appearances included Full House Living Single Amen Everybody Loves Raymond Martin Diff'rent Strokes Fresh Prince Bel-Air Scrubs 21 Jump Street Emergency Man Atlantis New Girl. He played genie lamp episode Tales Darkside Archangel Basketball Slam Dunk Ernest brief non-speaking cameo BASEketball. Co-executive produced 1994 TV film Vernon Johns Story appeared Colbert Report 2006 skit HipHopKetball II ReJazzebration Remix '06 stage manager sent mission find Nazi gold 2008. Voiced himself Simpsons Love Is Many Strangled Thing 2011 recurring role Guys Kids NBC series 2012-2013. Appeared music video Goodbye Linkin Park featuring Pusha T Stormzy playing warlord emperor dunk contest saving life Chester Bennington.
Abdul-Jabbar won six MVP awards remaining NBA career scoring record until February seventh 2023 when LeBron James surpassed him. He attended game passing ball James during in-game ceremony after record broken holding mark nearly thirty-nine years longest span league history. Skyhook considered one most unstoppable shots ever winning six championships two Finals MVP awards voted fifteen All-NBA eleven All-Defensive Teams nineteen All-Star teams record stood until James surpassed it 2024. Named NBA 35th 50th 75th Anniversary Teams averaging twenty-four point six points eleven point two rebounds three point six assists two point six blocks per game career. Three straight seasons averaged at least thirty points sixteen rebounds six times averaged at least twenty-seven points fourteen point five rebounds same season. Ranked third all-time rebounder seventeen thousand four hundred forty blocks third registered blocks three thousand one hundred eighty nine impressive because statistic recorded fourth year career 1974. One five players leading NBA rebounding blocks same season combined dominance peak longevity sustained excellence later years. Pioneer using yoga NBA credited Bruce Lee teaching discipline spirituality martial arts greatly responsible playing competitively twenty years few injuries. Played ninety-five percent team's regular-season games including eighty or more games eleven of twenty seasons. Five times played all eighty-two games earning first-team All-NBA selections fifteen years apart Finals MVPs fourteen seasons each other. Regarded best centers ever greatest players NBA history voted best center ESPN ahead Wilt Chamberlain 2007 ranked fourth Slams Top Hundred Players All-Time 2018 number three ESPN list top seventy-four NBA players all time 2020 best center Bill Russell Chamberlain. League experts legends frequently mentioned considering greatest player all time Riley said 1985 why judge anymore man broken records won championships endured tremendous criticism responsibility toast him greatest player ever.
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Common questions
Who was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before he changed his name?
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. grew up in the Dyckman Street projects of Inwood, Upper Manhattan after moving there at age three in 1950. He attended Power Memorial Academy where he wore jersey number 33 as tribute to New York Giants fullback Mel Triplett.
When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar convert to Islam and adopt his new name?
During summer 1968 Alcindor took the shahada twice and converted from Catholicism to Sunni Islam. He adopted the Arabic name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar though he did not begin using it publicly until 1971 when he held a press conference on the 3rd of June 1971 at the State Department.
What records did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hold during his NBA career?
He retired holding records for most career games played fifteen hundred sixty and most minutes played fifty-seven thousand four hundred forty-six. He also held all-time record for most field goals made fifteen thousand eight hundred thirty-seven and most points thirty-eight thousand three hundred eighty-seven until LeBron James surpassed him on the 7th of February 2023.
How many MVP awards did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar win and what was his scoring average?
Abdul-Jabbar won six MVP awards remaining NBA career scoring record until February seventh 2023 when LeBron James surpassed him. His career averages were twenty-four point six points eleven point two rebounds three point six assists and two point six blocks per game.
Which movies featured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in acting roles?
Abdul-Jabbar made film debut in Bruce Lee's 1972 movie Game of Death playing alongside martial artist legend. In 1980 he portrayed co-pilot Roger Murdock in Airplane! spoofing appearance of football star Elroy Crazylegs Hirsch as airplane pilot.