Abdul-Jabbar was known asLew Alcindor when he played atPower Memorial, a private Catholic high school in New York City, where he led their team to 71 consecutive wins. He playedcollege basketball for theUCLA Bruins, winning three consecutive national championships under head coachJohn Wooden. Alcindor was a record three-timemost outstanding player of theNCAA tournament. Drafted with thefirst overall pick by the one-season-old Milwaukee Bucks franchise in the1969 NBA draft, he spent six seasons with the team. After leading the Bucks to their first NBA championship at age 24 in 1971, he took theMuslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Using his trademarkskyhook shot, he established himself as one of the league's top scorers. In 1975, he was traded to the Lakers, with whom he played the final 14 seasons of his career, during which time the team won five NBA championships. Abdul-Jabbar's contributions were a key component in theShowtime era of Lakers basketball. Over his 20-year NBA career, his teams reached the playoffs 18 times and got past the first round 14 times; his teams reached theNBA Finals ten times.[1][6]
At the time of his retirement at age 42 in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA's regular season career leader inpoints (38,387),games played (1,560),minutes (57,446),field goals made (15,837), field goal attempts (28,307),blocked shots (3,189), defensiverebounds (9,394), andpersonal fouls (4,657). He remains the all-time leader in minutes played and field goals made. He ranks second in career points and field goal attempts, and is third all-time in both total rebounds (17,440) and blocked shots.[7]ESPN named him the greatest center of all time in 2007,[8] the greatest player in college basketball history in 2008,[9] and the second best player in NBA history (behindMichael Jordan) in 2016.[10] Abdul-Jabbar has also been an actor, a basketball coach, a best-selling author, and amartial artist, having trained inJeet Kune Do underBruce Lee and appeared in his filmGame of Death (1972).[11] In 2012, Abdul-Jabbar was selected by Secretary of StateHillary Clinton to be a U.S. global culturalambassador.[12] In 2016, PresidentBarack Obama awarded him thePresidential Medal of Freedom.[13]
Early life
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was born inHarlem,New York City,[14] the only child of Cora Lillian, a department store price checker, and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a transit police officer and jazz musician.[15] Cora was born inNorth Carolina but came to Harlem as part of theGreat Migration. Ferdinand Sr. was the child of immigrants fromTrinidad; his uncle was the Black activist and medical pioneer Dr.John Alcindor.[16][17][18] Alcindor grew up in theDyckman Street projects in theInwood neighborhood ofUpper Manhattan, which he moved to at the age of 3 in 1950.[19] At birth, Alcindor weighed 12 lb 11 oz (5.75 kg) and was22+1⁄2 inches (57 cm) long.[20][21] Always very tall for his age,[20] he was already 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) by the age of nine.[22] Alcindor was often depressed as a teenager because of the stares and comments about his height.[20] By the eighth grade (age 13–14), he had grown to 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and could alreadydunk a basketball.[22][23]
Alcindor attendedPower Memorial Academy, a private all-boys Catholichigh school, where he was one of the few Blacks.[24] He led coachJack Donohue's teams to three straight New York City Catholic championships, a 71–game winning streak, and a 79–2 overall record.[25] This earned him "The Tower from Power" nickname.[24] His 2,067 total points were a New York City high school record.[26] The team won the national high school boys basketball championship when Alcindor was in 10th and 11th grade and was runner-up his senior year.[24] He had a strained relationship in his final year with Donohue after the coach called him anigger.[27]
Alcindor wrote for the Harlem Youth Action Project newspaper. TheHarlem riot of 1964, which was prompted by the fatal shooting of 15-year old black boy James Powell by a New York police officer, triggered Alcindor's interest in racial politics. "Right then and there, I knew who I was, who I had to be. I was going to be black rage personified, Black Power in the flesh", he said.[28][29]
College career
Alcindor with the reverse two-hand dunk againstStanford
Alcindor was not able to play professionally in theNBA out of high school. At the time, the league only accepted players beginning with the year that they could have hypothetically graduated from college.[30][31] His other options to play basketball professionally would have been to join theHarlem Globetrotters or play overseas. However, Alcindor's goal was to attend college.[31]Recruited by hundreds of schools, he was the most sought-after prospect sinceWilt Chamberlain.Southern teams that weresegregated were willing to break thecolor line to acquire Alcindor.[29] He chose to attend theUniversity of California, Los Angeles,[31] after being recruited byBruins assistant coachJerry Norman.[32]
By now 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) tall, Alcindor was relegated to the freshman team in his first year with the Bruins,[33][34] as freshman were ineligible to playvarsity until 1972.[35] The freshman squad includedLucius Allen,Kenny Heitz, andLynn Shackelford, who were fellow high-schoolAll-Americans.[36] On November 27, 1965, Alcindor made his first public performance in UCLA's annual varsity–freshman exhibition game, attended by 12,051 fans in the inaugural game at the Bruins' newPauley Pavilion.[34][37][38] The1965–66 varsity team was the two-time defending national champions and the top-ranked team in preseason polls.[34][39] The freshman team won 75–60 behind Alcindor's 31 points and 21rebounds.[37][20] It was the first time a freshman team had beaten the UCLA varsity squad.[20] The varsity had lostGail Goodrich andKeith Erickson from the championship squad to graduation, and starting guardFreddie Goss was out sick.[37][40] After the game,UPI wrote: "UCLA's Bruins open defense of their national basketball title this week, but right now they're only the second best team on campus."[40][41] The freshman team was 21–0 that year, dominating againstjunior college and other freshman teams,[39] as Alcindor averaged 33 points and 21 rebounds per game.[42]
Alcindor made his varsity debut as a sophomore in 1966 and received national coverage.Sports Illustrated described him as "The New Superstar" after he scored 56 points in his first game, which is still anNCAA record for a player in their debut.[43][20][26] He scored 61 later in the season.[42] Averaging 29 points and 15.5 rebounds per game, he led UCLA to an undefeated 30–0 record and a national championship,[42][44] their third title in four years and first of seven consecutive.[29][42] After the season, the dunk was banned in college basketball in an attempt to curtail his dominance;[25][44] critics dubbed it the "Alcindor Rule".[25][29] It was not rescinded until the 1976–77 season.[45] Alcindor was the main contributor to the team's three-year record of 88 wins and only two losses: one to theUniversity of Houston in which Alcindor had an eye injury, and the other to crosstown rivalUSC who played a "stall game";[34][46] there was noshot clock in that era, allowing the Trojans to hold the ball as long as it wanted before attempting to score. They limited Alcindor to only four shots and 10 points.[47]
During his junior year, Alcindor suffered a scratched leftcornea on January 12, 1968, in a game againstCalifornia (UC Berkeley) when he was struck by Tom Henderson in a rebound battle.[52] He missed the next two games againstStanford andPortland.[25] His cornea would again be scratched during his pro career, which subsequently caused him to weargoggles for eye protection.[53] On January 20, the Bruins faced coachGuy Lewis'sHouston Cougars in the first-ever nationally televised regular-season college basketball game, with 52,693 in attendance at theAstrodome. In a contest billed as the "Game of the Century", Cougar forwardElvin Hayes scored 39 points and had 15 rebounds, while Alcindor, suffering from his eye injury, was held to just 15 points as Houston won 71–69, ending UCLA's 47-game winning streak.[54][55] Hayes and Alcindor had a rematch in the semifinals ofthe NCAA tournament, where UCLA, with a healthy Alcindor, defeated Houston 101–69 en route to the national championship. UCLA limited Hayes, who was averaging 37.7 points per game, to only ten points. Wooden credited his assistant Norman for devising the diamond-and-one defense that contained Hayes.[56][57]Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on the game and used the headline: "Lew's Revenge: The Rout of Houston."[58] As asenior in1968–69, Alcindor led the Bruins to their third consecutive national title.[29]
Alcindor performs ceremonialnet cutting atFreedom Hall in Louisville in 1969 after a 20-point win overPurdue andRick Mount in unprecedented third-straight national title en route to seven consecutive national championships for UCLA.
During the summer of 1968, Alcindor took theshahada twice and converted toSunni Islam fromCatholicism. He adopted the Arabic name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, though he did not begin using it publicly until 1971.[59] He boycotted the1968 Summer Olympics, deciding not to try out for theU.S. Olympic basketball team, who went on to win the gold medal.[60] Alcindor was protesting the unequal treatment ofAfrican Americans in the United States,[27][29] stating that he was "trying to point out to the world the futility of winning the gold medal for this country and then coming back to live under oppression".[61]
As the NBA did not allow college underclassmen to make an earlyNBA draft declaration, Alcindor completed his studies and earned aBachelor of Arts with a major in history in 1969. In his free time, he practiced martial arts. He studiedaikido in New York between his sophomore and junior year before learningJeet Kune Do underBruce Lee in Los Angeles.[62][63]
Most field goals in a single game: 26 (vs. Washington State, February 25, 1967)
He is represented in the top ten in a number of other school records, including season and career rebounds, second only toBill Walton.[65]
Professional career
Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
Rookie of the Year (1969–1970)
Alcindor displaying the skyhook overWes Unseld of theBaltimore Bullets. The shot was almost impossible to block.
The Globetrotters offered Alcindor $1 million to play for them, but he declined and waspicked first overall in the1969 NBA draft by theMilwaukee Bucks, who were in only their second season of existence. The Bucks had won a coin toss with thePhoenix Suns for the first pick. He was also chosen first overall in the 1969American Basketball Association draft by theNew York Nets.[66] The Nets believed that they had the upper hand in securing Alcindor's services because he was from New York; however, when Alcindor told both the Bucks and the Nets that he would accept only one offer from each team, he rejected the Nets' bid as too low. Sam Gilbert negotiated the contract along with Los Angeles businessman Ralph Shapiro at no charge.[51][67] After Alcindor chose the Milwaukee Bucks' offer of $1.4 million, the Nets offered a guaranteed $3.25 million. Alcindor declined the offer, saying: "A bidding war degrades the people involved. It would make me feel like a flesh peddler, and I don't want to think like that."[68]
Alcindor's presence enabled theBucks to claim second place in the NBA's Eastern Division with a 56–26 record (improved from 27–55 the previous year). On February 21, 1970, he scored 51 points in a 140–127 win over the SuperSonics.[69] Alcindor was an instant star, ranking second in the league in scoring (28.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (14.5 rpg), for which he was awarded the title ofNBA Rookie of the Year.[25] In the series-clinching game against thePhiladelphia 76ers, he recorded 46 points and 25 rebounds.[70] He was the second rookie to score at least 40 points and 25 rebounds in a playoff game, the first beingWilt Chamberlain.[71] He also set an NBA rookie record with 10 or more games of 20+ points scored during the playoffs, tied byJayson Tatum in 2018.[72]
First championship, MVP, and Finals MVP (1970–1971)
During the offseason, Alcindor and Robertson joined Bucks head coachLarry Costello on a three-week basketball tour of Africa on behalf of theState Department. In a press conference at the State Department on June 3, 1971, he stated that going forward he wanted to be called by his Muslim name, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, its translation roughly "noble one, servant of the Almighty [i.e., servant ofGod]".[76][77]
Abdul-Jabbar lines up a free throw. He started wearing goggles in order to avoid damage to his corneas.
Abdul-Jabbar remained a dominant force for the Bucks. The following year, he repeated as scoring champion (34.8 ppg and 2,822 total points)[26] and became the first player to be named the NBA Most Valuable Player twice in his first three years.[78] In 1974, Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to their fourth consecutiveMidwest Division title,[79] and he won his third MVP Award in four years.[80] He was among the top five NBA players in scoring (27.0 ppg, third), rebounding (14.5 rpg, fourth),blocked shots (283, second), andfield goal percentage (.539, second).[79] Milwaukee advanced to the1974 finals, losing to theBoston Celtics in seven games.[81]
Robertson, who became a free agent in the offseason, retired in September 1974 after he was unable to agree on a contract with the Bucks.[82][83] On October 3, Abdul-Jabbar privately requested a trade to theNew York Knicks, with his second choice being theWashington Bullets (now the Wizards) and his third, theLos Angeles Lakers.[84] He had never spoken negatively of the city ofMilwaukee or its fans, but he said that being in the Midwest did not fit his cultural needs.[84][85][86] Two days later in a pre-season game before the1974–75 season against the Celtics inBuffalo, New York, Abdul-Jabbar caught a fingernail in his left eye fromDon Nelson and suffered acorneal abrasion; this angered him enough to punch thebackboard stanchion, breaking two bones in his right hand.[84][87][88] He missed the first 16 games of the season, during which the Bucks were 3–13, and returned in late November wearing protective goggles.[88] On March 13, 1975, sportscasterMarv Albert reported that Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade to either New York or Los Angeles, preferably to the Knicks.[84][89] The following day after a loss in Milwaukee to the Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar confirmed to reporters his desire to play in another city.[90] He averaged 30.0 points during the season, but Milwaukee finished in last place in the division at 38–44.[91]
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989)
Fourth and fifth MVP awards (1975–1977)
Bill Sharman and Jack Kent Cooke at a press conference announcing the signing of Abdul-Jabbar
In 1975, the Lakers acquired Abdul-Jabbar and reserve centerWalt Wesley from the Bucks for centerElmore Smith, guardBrian Winters, blue-chip rookiesDave Meyers andJunior Bridgeman, and cash.[84][91] In the1975–76 season, his first with the Lakers, he had a dominating season, averaging 27.7 points per game and leading the league in rebounding (16.9), blocked shots (4.12), and total minutes played (3,379).[92][93] His 1,111 defensive rebounds remains the NBA single-season record (defensive rebounds were not recorded prior to the1973–74 season).[94] He earned his fourth MVP award, becoming the first winner in Lakers' franchise history,[95] but missed the post-season for the second straight year as the Lakers finished 40–42.[96]
After acquiring a cast of no-name free agents, the Lakers were projected to finished near the bottom of thePacific Division in1976–77. Abdul-Jabbar helped lead the team to the best record (53–29) in the NBA, and he won his fifth MVP award, tyingBill Russell's record. Abdul-Jabbar led the league in field goal percentage (.579), was third in scoring (26.2), and was second in rebounds (13.3) and blocked shots (3.18).[97] In the playoffs, the Lakers beat theGolden State Warriors in theWestern Conference semifinals, setting up a confrontation with thePortland Trail Blazers. The result was a memorable matchup, pitting Abdul-Jabbar against a young, injury-freeBill Walton. Although Abdul-Jabbar dominated the series statistically, Walton and the Trail Blazers (who were experiencing their first-ever run in the playoffs) swept the Lakers, behind Walton's skillful passing and timely plays.[98][99]
Playoff disappointments (1977–1979)
Two minutes into the opening game of the1977–78 season, Abdul-Jabbar broke his right hand punching Milwaukee'sKent Benson in retaliation to the rookie's elbow to his stomach. Benson suffered a black right eye and required two stitches.[100][101][102] According to Benson, Abdul-Jabbar initiated the elbowing, but there were no witnesses and it was not captured on replays.[100][102] Abdul-Jabbar, who broke the same bone in 1975 after he punched the backboard support,[101] was out for almost two months and missed 20 games.[102][103] He was fined a then-league record $5,000 but was not suspended.[101][103] Benson missed one game but was not punished by the league.[102][104] The Lakers were 8–13 when Abdul-Jabbar returned.[105] He was not named to the1978 NBA All-Star Game, the only time in his 20-year career he was not selected to an All-Star Game.[106] Chicago'sArtis Gilmore and Detroit'sBob Lanier were chosen as reserves for the West, with Walton startingat center.[107] Amid criticism from the media over his performance, Abdul-Jabbar had 39 points, 20 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in a win over thePhiladelphia 76ers the day the All-Star rosters were announced.[108] He added 37 points and 30 rebounds in a victory over theNew Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn) in the final game before theAll-Star break.[109]
Abdul-Jabbar's play remained strong during the next two seasons, being named to the All-NBA Second Team twice, the All-Defense First Team once, and the All-Defense Second Team once.[7] The Lakers, however, continued to be stymied in the playoffs, being eliminated by theSeattle SuperSonics in both1978 (first round) and1979 (semifinals).[110]
Last MVP award and championship success (1979–1985)
The Lakers selectedMagic Johnson with the first overall pick of1979 NBA draft. They had acquired the pick from theNew Orleans Jazz (later Utah) in 1976, when league rules required that they compensate Los Angeles for their signing of free agentGail Goodrich.[111] The addition of Johnson paved the way for the Lakers'Showtime dynasty of the 1980s, appearing in the finals eight times and winning five NBA championships.[112] While less dominant than in his younger years, Abdul-Jabbar reinforced his status as one of the greatest basketball players ever,[112] adding an additional four All-NBA First Team selections and two All-Defense First Team honors.[7] He won his record sixth MVP award in his first season with Johnson in1979–80.[112][113] In the1980 finals, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 33.4 points in five games, spraining his ankle in Game 5, but returning to finish the contest with 40 points and leading the team to a win. He missed Game 6, when the Lakers clinched the title, and Johnson was named the Finals MVP after recording 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists in the finale.[114][115][116]
Abdul-Jabbar continued to average 20 or more points per game in the following six seasons.[112] The Lakers won another championship in1981–82, but he sufferedmigraines inthe finals, averaging just 18 points per game against Philadelphia.[116][117] In 14 playoff games, he finished with a 20.4 point average, the lowest of his career at the time.[116] The Lakers advanced to the1983 NBA Finals in a rematch against the 76ers, who had acquiredMoses Malone to shore up their center position after Abdul-Jabbar had outplayed their big-man duo ofDarryl Dawkins andCaldwell Jones in the previous finals.[117] The 76ers swept the Lakers 4–0, and Malone was named the Finals MVP after outrebounding Abdul-Jabbar 72–30 in the series.[118] Malone had 27 offensive rebounds, which nearly equaled Abdul-Jabbar's total rebounds (30).[119]
Before the1983–84 season, Abdul-Jabbar signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Lakers, with none of the amount deferred.[120] He fell ill withviral hepatitis during training camp, which rendered him weak for a month after returning. He scored 10 points at Golden State on December 22, 1983, dropping his season average to 17.7, almost 10 points below his career average. His scoring picked up afterChristmas.[121] On theroad against Utah on April 5, 1984, Abdul-Jabbar broke Chamberlain's record formost career points in the NBA. He received a pass from Johnson and scored from 15 feet (4.6 m) on his patent skyhook over the 7-foot-4-inch (2.24 m) shot-blocking specialistMark Eaton.[42][122][123] The game was played at theThomas & Mack Center, one of 11home games for the Jazz in theLas Vegas Valley that season. The contest drew 18,389 fans, the Jazz's largest home crowd since moving fromNew Orleans before the 1979–80 season.[123] For the first time since the1980–81 season,[124] Abdul-Jabbar led the Lakers in both scoring (21.5) and rebounding (7.3) during the season.[125] Playing consistently better than he had over the past few years,[126] he was named to the All-NBA First Team for the ninth time in his career, and he was voted to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team, the final all-defensive selection of his career.[7][126] The team advanced to the1984 NBA Finals but lost to Boston.[126]
The1984–85 season was expected to be Abdul-Jabbar's final season, as he had maintained since breaking Chamberlain's record that he would be retiring.[126][127] Teams began honoring him in his final appearance in their home arena,[127][128] but the Lakers instructed them not to use the wordretirement in their ceremony.[126][127] He had left open the possibility of changing his mind, but did not want to accept retirement gifts and play again, asDave Cowens had done.[127][129] On December 5, 1984, Abdul-Jabbar agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract extension with the Lakers, with none of the money deferred.[130] He won his second Finals MVP in1985,[112] when he became the oldest to win the award at 38 years and 54 days old.[131] He averaged 25.7 points, 9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 blocks in the series against the Celtics.[132] He was initially outplayed in Game 1, scoring 12 points with three rebounds against 30-year-old Boston centerRobert Parish, who had 18 points and eight rebounds in a 148–114 win over the Lakers, dubbed the "Memorial Day Massacre".[131] At the team's film session the following day, Abdul-Jabbar—who normally sat near the back—was seated in the front row, and accepted all of head coachPat Riley's criticism. Before Game 2, Abdul-Jabbar asked if his father could ride on the team bus to the game. Typically a hard-liner on rules, Riley agreed to make an exception. Abdul-Jabbar bounced back with 30 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks in a 109–102 victory. In the Lakers’ four wins, he averaged 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.0 blocks.[133] The title ended the Celtics' streak of eight consecutive championships against the Lakers.[112]
Final playing years and sixth ring (1985–1989)
Abdul-Jabbar played in his 17th season in1985–86, breaking the previousNBA record for seasons played of 16, held byDolph Schayes,John Havlicek,Paul Silas, andElvin Hayes.[134][135][136] On November 12, 1985, he signed to a one-year extension of his contract at the same $2 million salary, while maintaining the option to retire after the 1985–86 season.[137] Prior to the1986–87 season, he gained 13 pounds (5.9 kg), reaching close to 270 pounds (120 kg), to compete against the growing number of 7-footers (2.1 m) in the league.[138] The Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals in each of his final three seasons, starting with a championship over Boston in1987.[1] Afterwards, he signed a two-year contract with the Lakers.[139]
Riley guaranteed that the Lakers would be the first NBA team to win consecutive titles since the1968–69 Celtics, and they defeated theDetroit Pistons for the championship in1988.[1][140] Abdul-Jabbar made only 3 of 14 shots in Game 6 of the finals, but he converted two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to extend the series to seven games.[141] After winning the season finale, in which he had only four points and three rebounds, the 41-year-old center announced in the locker room that he would return for one more season before retiring.[141][142] His points, rebounds, and minutes had dropped in his 19th season,[142][143][144] and there were reports prior to the game that he was retiring after the contest.[141][145] On his "retirement tour" he received standing ovations at games, both home and away, and gifts ranging from a yacht that said "Captain Skyhook" to framed jerseys from his career to a Persian rug.[146] At theForum against Seattle in his final regular season game,[146] every Laker came onto the court wearing Abdul-Jabbar's trademark goggles.[147] The Lakers lost to the Pistons in a four-game sweep in the1989 finals.[148]
At the time of his retirement, Abdul-Jabbar held the record formost career games played in the NBA.[149] He was also the all-time record holder for most minutes played (57,446), most field goals made (15,837), most points (38,387), and most 1,000-point seasons (19).[42]
Coaching career
In 1995, Abdul-Jabbar began expressing an interest in coaching and imparting knowledge from his playing days.[150][151] His opportunities were limited despite the success he enjoyed during his playing days. During his playing years, Abdul-Jabbar had developed a reputation for being introverted and sullen. He was often unfriendly with the media.[150][151][152] His sensitivity and shyness created a perception of him being aloof and surly.[150][153] At the time, his mentality was that he either did not have the time or did not owe anything to anyone.[154]Magic Johnson recalled as a kid being brushed off after asking him for an autograph. Abdul-Jabbar might freeze out a reporter if they touched him, and he once refused to stop reading the newspaper while giving an interview.[152]
Abdul-Jabbar had spent most of his career with a reserved attitude towards media attention (since he did not have to deal with it as a star at UCLA) before he softened up near the end of his career. Abdul-Jabbar said: "I didn't understand that I also had affected people that way and that's what it was all about. I always saw it like they were trying to pry. I was way too suspicious and I paid a price for it."[155] However, he believes it was his reputation as a "difficult person", alongside his attempts at trying to break into coaching while nearing the age of fifty, that affected his chances of becoming a head coach within the NBA or NCAA.[156]
On offense, Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant low-post threat. In contrast to other low-post specialists likeWilt Chamberlain orShaquille O'Neal, he was a slender giant, standing 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) tall while weighing around 240 to 250 lb (110 to 115 kg), although he bulked to 270 lb (120 kg) in 1986;[138][164] in his early years, he used that frame for agility and speed while in later years he utilized a bigger frame for trying to guard under the basket.[138] Abdul-Jabbar was famous for his ambidextrousskyhook shot. It contributed to his .559 career field goal percentage, which ranked eighth in NBA history at the time of his retirement,[a] and reputation as a feared clutch shooter.[167] He shot above 50% in every season but his last.[168]
Abdul-Jabbar maintained a dominant presence on defense. He was selected to theNBA All-Defensive Team eleven times.[1] He frustrated opponents with his superior shot-blocking ability and denied an average of 2.6 shots a game. He was not an aggressive rebounder, relying more on his size as a 7-footer instead of positioning.[169][170] After the pounding he endured early in his career, his rebounding average fell to between six or eight a game in his latter years.[1] As a teammate, Abdul-Jabbar exuded natural leadership and was affectionately called "Cap",[7] or "Captain", by his colleagues.[171] He had an even temperament, which Riley said made him coachable.[172]
A strict fitness regime made Abdul-Jabbar one of the most durable players of all time.[173] He began a year-around conditioning program at age 26.[174] While in Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar started doingyoga in 1976 to improve his flexibility, and was notable for his physical fitness regimen.[175] He said: "There is no way I could have played as long as I did without yoga."[176] Because of his metabolism, he had difficulty putting on weight. Prior to the 1979–80 season, he gained 10 pounds (4.5 kg) from 240 to 250 pounds (110 kg) after switching fromfree weights toNautilus equipment. He also switched that offseason fromtai chi to yoga.[177] To reduce wear during his later years, Riley did not have him inbound the ball on made baskets, and had him wait at the opposite end of the court on free throws.[178] In what he described as playing a "smarter game" to conserve energy, Abdul-Jabbar sometimes would be the last player to set up on offense by several seconds after staying behind on defense to see if the Lakers scored on afast break.[174][179] In 1981, he responded to criticism that he did not hustle: "You have to understand I have to play 42 to 45 minutes a night, and it's like mowing a huge estate lawn. If you rush out and run around furiously, it's self-defeating. You'll be worn out just at the point when you're most needed."[180] Abdul-Jabbar finished his career with then-NBA records of 20 seasons and 1,560 games played,[181] later broken by former Celtics centerRobert Parish.[182]
Abdul-Jabbar began wearing his trademark goggles after getting poked in the eye during preseason in 1974. He continued wearing them for years until abandoning them in the 1979 playoffs. He resumed wearing goggles in October 1980 after being accidentally poked in the right eye byHouston'sRudy Tomjanovich.[183] After years of being jabbed in the eyes, Abdul-Jabbar developedcorneal erosion syndrome, occasionally experiencing pain when his eyes dry up. He missed three games in December 1986 due to the condition.[184]
Skyhook
Abdul-Jabbar was well known for his trademark skyhook, ahook shot in which he raised the ball and released it at the highest point of his arm's arching motion. He could shoot the skyhook from up to 16 feet (4.9 m). With his long arms and great height, he released the ball so high that it was difficult for a defender to block without committing agoaltending violation.[185][186] His body being between the defender and the ball made it further difficult to block,[185] as did extending his non-shooting arm to fend off opponents.[168] He was stronger shooting the skyhook with his right hand than he was with his left, which he developed in his later years.[168]
According to Abdul-Jabbar, he learned the move in fifth grade after practicing with the ambidextriousMikan Drill and soon learned to value it, as it was "the only shot I could use that didn't get smashed back in my face".[154] He also watchedCliff Hagan shoot the hook with theSt. Louis Hawks.[168] To prevent his hook from being blocked from behind, he was advised by Wooden to do away with the typical sweeping motion of a hook shot, instead keeping the ball close to his body and shooting with a straighter motion. Abdul-Jabbar's hook shot improved in his junior year at UCLA, after the dunk was banned. In his final college years, he often released the ball several feet above therim.[187]
Legacy
Abdul-Jabbar won a record six MVP awards.[1][10] His 38,387 career points remained theNBA's career scoring record until February 7, 2023, when he was surpassed byLeBron James of the Lakers in Los Angeles.[188] Abdul-Jabbar attended the game, and passed the game ball to James during the in-game ceremony after the record was broken.[189] Abdul-Jabbar held the scoring mark for nearly 39 years, the longest span in league history.[190] His skyhook is considered one of the most unstoppable shots ever.[164] He won six NBA championships and two Finals MVP awards, was voted to 15 All-NBA and 11 All-Defensive Teams, and was selected to 19 All-Star teams,[191] a record which stood until it was surpassed by James in 2024.[192] Abdul-Jabbar was named to theNBA's 35th,50th, and75th anniversary teams.[193] He averaged 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game in his career,[191] including three straight seasons where he averaged at least 30 points and 16 rebounds, and six times he averaged at least 27 points and 14.5 rebounds in the same season.[194] He is ranked as the NBA's third leading all-time rebounder (17,440).[195] He is the third all-time in registered blocks (3,189),[196] which is impressive because thisbasketball statistic was not recorded until the fourth year of his career (1974).[197] He is one of five players who have led the NBA in rebounding and blocks in the same season.[b]
Abdul-Jabbar combined dominance during his career peak with the longevity and sustained excellence of his later years.[10] A pioneer in using yoga in the NBA,[164] he also creditedBruce Lee with teaching him "the discipline and spirituality of martial arts, which was greatly responsible for me being able to play competitively in the NBA for 20 years with very few injuries".[200] Abdul-Jabbar played in 95 percent of his team's regular-season games during his career,[113] including 80 or more games in 11 of his 20 seasons. Five times he played in all 82 games.[164] After claiming his sixth and final MVP in 1980, he continued to average above 20 points in the following six seasons,[1] including 23 points per game in his 17th season at age 38.[201] He earned first-team All-NBA selections that were 15 years apart and Finals MVPs 14 seasons from each other.[202]
Among the most graceful basketball players ever,[113] Abdul-Jabbar is regarded as one of the best centers ever and one of the greatest players in NBA history;[8] he was voted the best center of all time byESPN ahead ofWilt Chamberlain in 2007,[203] and rankedNo. 4 inSlam's "Top 100 Players Of All-Time" in 2018,[204] and No. 3 in ESPN's list of the top 74 NBA players of all time in 2020, the best center ever ahead ofBill Russell and Chamberlain.[205] League experts and basketball legends frequently mentioned him when considering the greatest player of all time.[201][206] Riley said in 1985: "Why judge anymore? When a man has broken records, won championships, endured tremendous criticism and responsibility, why judge? Let's toast him as the greatest player ever."[1][178] In 2023, as James was on the verge of breaking the NBA career scoring record, Abdul-Jabbar remained as Riley's choice as the greatest: "We don't win championships without the greatest player in the history of the game, who had the greatest weapon in the history of the game. The skyhook was unstoppable. Last minute of the game, it's going to one guy". As president of theMiami Heat, Riley had won two NBA titles with James on their roster.[207]Isiah Thomas remarked: "If they say the numbers don't lie, then Kareem is the greatest ever to play the game."[3] In 2013,Julius Erving said: "In terms of players all-time, Kareem is still the number one guy. He's the guy you gotta start your franchise with."[5] In 2015, ESPN named Abdul-Jabbar the best center in NBA history,[201] and ranked him No. 2 behindMichael Jordan among the greatest NBA players ever.[10] While Jordan's shots were enthralling and considered unfathomable, Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook appeared automatic, and he himself called the shot "unsexy".[1][10] In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar's only recognizedrookie card became themost expensive basketball card ever sold (the record has since been surpassed) when it went for $501,900 at auction.[208] In 2022, he was ranked No. 3 (first in his position) in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[209] and No. 3 (behind Jordan and James) in a similar list byThe Athletic.[210]
Abdul-Jabbar was also the first ever NBA player to sign asneaker endorsement deal withAdidas in 1978. He went on to become the first ever player overall with a signature shoe shortly after.[211][212] In 2014, theUCLA Bruins wore "The Blueprint" Crazy 8 against Colorado on Feb. 13, and the shoes were sold online and at an Adidas store inNew Orleans—during NBA All-Star weekend—starting on Feb. 14.[213]
In 1980, Abdul-Jabbar played co-pilot Roger Murdock inAirplane![25] He has a scene in which a little boy looks at him and remarks that he is in fact Abdul-Jabbar,[240] spoofing the appearance of football starElroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch as an airplane pilot in the 1957 drama that served as the inspiration forAirplane!,Zero Hour![241] Staying in character, Abdul-Jabbar states that he is merely Roger Murdock, an airline co-pilot; the boy continues to insist that Abdul-Jabbar is "the greatest", but that according to his father he does not "work hard on defense" and that he does not "really try, except during the playoffs".[240] This causes Abdul-Jabbar's character to snap and break character: "The hell I don't!" He then grabs the boy and snarls that he has "been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA" and been "busting my buns every night!" He instructs the boy: "Tell your old man to drag[Bill] Walton and[Bob] Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes."[240][242] When Murdock loses consciousness later in the film, he collapses at the controls wearing Abdul-Jabbar's goggles and yellow Lakers' shorts.[240] In 2014, Abdul-Jabbar andAirplane! co-starRobert Hays (character Ted Striker) reprised theirAirplane! roles in a parody commercial promoting Wisconsin tourism.[243]
Abdul-Jabbar appeared in the television version ofStephen King'sThe Stand, played the Archangel of Basketball inSlam Dunk Ernest, and had a brief non-speaking cameo appearance inBASEketball.[247] Abdul-Jabbar was also the co-executive producer of the 1994 TV filmThe Vernon Johns Story.[248] He has also made appearances onThe Colbert Report in a 2006 skit called "HipHopKetball II: The ReJazzebration Remix '06",[249] and in 2008 as astage manager who is sent out on a mission to findNazi gold.[250] Abdul-Jabbar also voiced himself in a 2011 episode ofThe Simpsons titled "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing".[251] He had a recurring role as himself on theNBC seriesGuys with Kids, which aired from 2012 to 2013.[247] OnAl Jazeera English he expressed his desire to be remembered not just as a player, but also as somebody who used their mind and made other contributions.[252]
Abdul-Jabbar appeared in the music video for "Good Goodbye", a 2017 song by rock bandLinkin Park featuring rappersPusha T andStormzy. In the video, Abdul-Jabbar plays the role of a warlord or emperor of a dunk contest where Linkin Park lead singerChester Bennington has to dunk on several people in order to save his own life. In an interview about the video, Bennington said that he believes Abdul-Jabbar is the "greatest [basketball] player of all-time".[253]
In February 2019, he appeared in season 12 episode 16 ofThe Big Bang Theory, "The D&D Vortex".[254] In 2021, Abdul-Jabbar made a guest appearance as himself in a season 2 episode ofDave. The episode he appeared in was also named after him.[255] Abdul-Jabbar makes a cameo appearance as himself in the 2022Netflix filmGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.[256] In 2023, Abdul-Jabbar appeared as himself in season 7, episode 3 of the Showtime seriesBillions.[257]
On February 10, 2011, Abdul-Jabbar debuted his filmOn the Shoulders of Giants, documenting the tumultuous journey of the famed yet often-overlookedNew York Renaissance professional basketball team, atScience Park High School inNewark, New Jersey. The event was simulcast live throughout the school, city, and state.[261] In 2015, he appeared inKareem: Minority of One, anHBO documentary on his life.[262] In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar was the executive producer and narrator of theHistory channel specialBlack Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution.[263] He was nominated for anEmmy Award for his narration.[264]
Reality television
Abdul-Jabbar participated in the 2013ABC reality seriesSplash, a celebrity diving competition.[265] In April 2018, Abdul-Jabbar competed in the all-athlete season ofseason 26 ofDancing with the Stars and partnered with professional dancerLindsay Arnold.[266]
Writing and activism
Book signing, 2007
In 1967, Abdul-Jabbar was the only college athlete to attend theCleveland Summit, a meeting of prominent black athletes who convened in support ofMuhammad Ali's refusal to fight in the Vietnam War.[60]
Abdul-Jabbar became a best-selling author and cultural critic.[267][268] He published several books, mostly onAfrican-American history.[269] His first book, his autobiographyGiant Steps, was written in 1983 with co-authorPeter Knobler. The book's title is an homage to jazz greatJohn Coltrane, referring to his albumGiant Steps. Others includeOn the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance,[270] co-written withRaymond Obstfeld, andBrothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the761st Tank Battalion, World War II's Forgotten Heroes, co-written withAnthony Walton, which is a history of the first black armored unit to fight in World War II.[271]
A regular contributor to discussions about issues of race and religion, among other topics, in national magazines and on television, Abdul-Jabbar has written a regular column forTime. He appeared onMeet the Press on January 25, 2015, to talk about a column saying that Islam should not be blamed for the actions of violent extremists, just as Christianity has not been blamed for the actions of violent extremists who profess Christianity.[275][276] When asked about being Muslim, he said: "I don't have any misgiving about my faith. I'm very concerned about the people who claim to be Muslims that are murdering people and creating all this mayhem in the world. That is not what Islam is about, and that should not be what people think of when they think about Muslims. But it's up to all of us to do something about all of it."[277]
In November 2014, Abdul-Jabbar published an essay inJacobin calling for just compensation forcollege athletes, writing that "in the name of fairness, we must bring an end to the indentured servitude of college athletes and start paying them what they are worth."[278] Commenting onDonald Trump's 2017 travel ban, he condemned it, saying: "The absence of reason and compassion is the very definition of pure evil because it is a rejection of our sacred values, distilled from millennia of struggle."[279]
In 2017, Abdul-Jabber spoke at an event markingRamadan organized by the Israeli consulSam Grundwerg at the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles, stressing the importance of Muslim-Jewish relations and cross-cultural exchange.[280]
In June 2021, he published an essay inJacobin on the negative impact onpublic health of those refusing to receive theCOVID-19 vaccine, criticizingKyrie Irving, among others.[281] Abdul-Jabbar began publishing an online newsletter in 2021.[282]
In January 2012, United States Secretary of StateHillary Clinton announced that Abdul-Jabbar had accepted a position as a culturalambassador for the United States.[283] During the announcement press conference, Abdul-Jabbar commented on the historical legacy of African-Americans as representatives of U.S. culture: "I remember whenLouis Armstrong first did it back forPresident Kennedy, one of my heroes. So it's nice to be following in his footsteps."[284] As part of this role, Abdul-Jabbar traveled toBrazil to promote education for local youths.[285]
President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition
Abdul-Jabbar (below, far right) and other former NBA players visit the New YorkNBA Store in January 2005
Abdul-Jabbar met Habiba Abdul-Jabbar (born Janice Brown) at a Lakers game during his senior year at UCLA.[288] They married in 1971,[289] and together had three children: daughters Habiba and Sultana and son Kareem Jr., who played basketball atWestern Kentucky after attendingValparaiso.[290][291] Abdul-Jabbar and Janice divorced in 1978. He has another son, Amir, with Cheryl Pistono. Another son, Adam, made an appearance on the TV sitcomFull House with him.[292]
In 1983, Abdul-Jabbar's house burned down. Many of his belongings, including his belovedjazz LP collection of about 3,000 albums, were destroyed.[293] Many Lakers fans sent and brought him albums, which he found uplifting.[155]
In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar performed a tribute to friend Muhammad Ali along withChance the Rapper.[294]
Religion and name
Alcindor grew up in theCatholic Church, but abandoned the faith when he left his home in New York for UCLA.[295] At age 24 in 1971, he converted to Islam and legally became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which means "noble one, servant of the Almighty".[296] He was named byHamaas Abdul Khaalis.[296][297] Abdul-Jabbar purchased and donated7700 16th Street NW, a house in Washington, D.C., for Khaalis to use as the Hanafi Madh-Hab Center; a few years later, the location would become the place of the1973 Hanafi Muslim massacre. Eventually, Kareem "found that [he] disagreed with some of Hamaas' teachings about the Quran, and [they] parted ways." In 1973, Abdul-Jabbar embarked on a pilgrimage toLibya andSaudi Arabia with the goal of learning enoughArabic for self-study of the Quran, and he "emerged from this pilgrimage with [his] beliefs clarified and [his] faith renewed".[296] Abdul-Jabbar was also heavily influenced byMalcolm X, a leader of theNation of Islam.[296] Abdul-Jabbar was invited to join the group, but he declined.[296][298]
Abdul-Jabbar has spoken about the thinking that was behind his name change when he converted to Islam.[299] He stated that he was "latching on to something that was part of my heritage, because many of the slaves who were brought here were Muslims. My family was brought to America by a French planter named Alcindor, who came here fromTrinidad in the 18th century. My people wereYoruba, and their culture survivedslavery ... My father found out about that when I was a kid, and it gave me all I needed to know that, hey, I was somebody, even if nobody else knew about it. When I was a kid, no one would believe anything positive that you could say about black people. And that's a terrible burden on black people, because they don't have an accurate idea of their history, which has been either suppressed or distorted."[300] His name change further eroded his public image in the United States, mostly in white areas.[301]
In 1998, Abdul-Jabbar reached a settlement after he suedMiami Dolphins running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar (nowAbdul-Karim al-Jabbar, born Sharmon Shah) because he felt Karim was profiting off the name he made famous by having the Abdul-Jabbar moniker and number 33 on his Dolphins jersey. As a result, the younger Abdul-Jabbar had to change his jersey nameplate to "Abdul" while playing for the Dolphins.[302] The football player had also been an athlete at UCLA.[303]
Health problems
Abdul-Jabbar suffers frommigraines,[304] and his use ofcannabis to reduce the symptoms has had legal ramifications.[305] In November 2009, Abdul-Jabbar announced that he was suffering from a form ofleukemia,Philadelphia chromosome-positivechronic myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The disease was diagnosed in December 2008, but Abdul-Jabbar said his condition could be managed by taking oral medication daily, seeing his specialist every other month, and having his blood analyzed regularly. He expressed in a 2009 press conference that he did not believe the illness would stop him from leading a normal life.[306][307] Abdul-Jabbar is a spokesman forNovartis, the company that producesGleevec, his cancer medication.[308]
In February 2011, Abdul-Jabbar announced via Twitter that his leukemia was gone and he was "100% cancer free".[309] A few days later, he clarified his misstatement: "You're never really cancer-free and I should have known that. My cancer right now is at an absolute minimum."[308] In April 2015, Abdul-Jabbar was admitted to hospital when he was diagnosed withcardiovascular disease. Later that week, on his 68th birthday, he underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery at theUCLA Medical Center.[310]
In 2020 Abdul-Jabbar revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer eleven years earlier.[311]
In February 2023, he spoke out about hisatrial fibrillation diagnosis. He partnered withBristol Myers Squibb andPfizer's "No Time to Wait"[312] to raise awareness of the symptoms of the irregular and rapid heart rhythm condition which increase the risk ofstroke.[313] In December 2023, he was hospitalized after he fell and broke his hip while attending a concert.[314]
^abcdUCLA played the 1966–67 and 1967–68 seasons in theAthletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) conference, which expanded and was renamed to the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) by the 1968–69 season.[219]
^abcAfter expansion, the Pac-8 is now known as thePac-12.[225]
^David Hoibert, ed. (2007)."Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem".The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (15 ed.). Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Incorporated. p. 21.ISBN978-159339-292-5.OCLC25228234. RetrievedOctober 20, 2022 – via Archive.org.Alcindor played for Power Memorial Academy (at 6 feet 8 inches) on the varsity for four years, and his total of 2,067 points set a New York City high school record.
^abcFlorence, Mal (November 28, 1965)."Who's No. 1? UCLA Frosh Too Hot for Varsity, 75–60".Los Angeles Times. Sec. D, pp. 1,10. RetrievedJune 14, 2021 – viaNewspapers.com.Lew Alcindor strode onto the Pauley Pavilion court Saturday night and captured the town, completely demoralizing the UCLA varsity basketball team in the process
^Prugh, Jeff (January 14, 1968). "Bruins win again without Alcindor. Big Lew Sidelined By Eye Injury Suffered in Game against Bears".Los Angeles Times.
^"Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar flew home from Dallas".United Press International. December 20, 1986.Archived from the original on January 27, 2020.Jabbar, who wears goggles to protect his eyes during play, is suffering from recurring corneal erosion syndrome in his right eye. He returned to Los Angeles following an eye examination in Dallas early Saturday. Doctors explained that because Jabbar was poked in the eye so many times in the days before he wore goggles, scar tissue had formed on the cornea.
^"Black Journal; 60; Kareem".American Archive. American Archive of Public Broadcasting. May 2, 1972. Archived fromthe original on February 24, 2021. RetrievedJune 15, 2020.
^"Lakers Now".Los Angeles Times. January 27, 2006. Archived fromthe original on February 2, 2006. RetrievedAugust 10, 2006.
^sports and yoga Posted by: dionne on 10-Jan-11 (January 13, 2011)."Kareem Abdul-Jabbar does Bikram Yoga". Bikramyogavernon.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. RetrievedAugust 10, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Stein, Marc (September 14, 2021)."One-on-one with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar".The Stein Line. RetrievedJanuary 12, 2025.The 74-year-old stopped playing five years before this fiftysomething started covering the NBA full-time, so I've never interviewed him at length until now, but we had a chat over email over the weekend about his writing (and some pressing NBA topics) after he made another publishing splash last Friday by launching his own Substack.
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