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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

January 13, 2023

For the American football player formerly known as Karim Abdul-Jabbar, see Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (/kəˈriːm æbˈduːl dʒəˈbɑːr/ kə-REEM ab-DOOL jə-BAR; born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.; April 16, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA Team member, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. He was a member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, and was twice voted NBA Finals MVP. He was named to three NBA anniversary teams (35th, 50th, and 75th).[1] Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time,[2][3][4] he was called the greatest basketball player of all time by Pat Riley, Isiah Thomas, and Julius Erving.[5][6][7]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Abdul-Jabbar in 2014
Personal information
Born (1947-04-16) April 16, 1947 (age 75)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Listed height7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolPower Memorial
(New York City, New York)
CollegeUCLA (1966–1969)
NBA draft1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing career1969–1989
PositionCenter
Number33
Coaching career1998–2011
Career history
As player:
1969–1975Milwaukee Bucks
1975–1989Los Angeles Lakers
As coach:
1998–1999Alchesay HS (assistant)
2000Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
2002Oklahoma Storm
2005–2011Los Angeles Lakers (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

As head coach:

  • USBL champion (2002)

As assistant coach:

Career NBA statistics
Points38,387 (24.6 ppg)
Rebounds17,440 (11.2 rpg)
Assists5,660 (3.6 apg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006

Abdul-Jabbar was known as Lew Alcindor (/luː ælˈsɪndər/ LOO al-SIN-dər) when he played at parochial high school Power Memorial in New York City, where he led their team to 71 consecutive wins. He was recruited by Jerry Norman, the assistant coach at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA),[8] where he played for coach John Wooden on three consecutive national championship teams.[9] He was a record three-time MVP of the NCAA Tournament. Drafted with the first overall pick by the one-season-old Bucks franchise in the 1969 NBA draft, Alcindor spent six seasons in Milwaukee. After leading the Bucks to its first NBA championship at age 24 in 1971, he took the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Using his trademark skyhook 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 in which they won five additional NBA championships. Abdul-Jabbar's contributions were a key component in the Showtime era of Lakers basketball. Over his 20-year NBA career, his teams succeeded in making the playoffs 18 times and got past the first round 14 times; his teams reached the NBA Finals on ten occasions.[1][10]

At the time of his retirement at age 42 in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA's all-time leader in points (38,387), games played (1,560), minutes (57,446), field goals made (15,837), field goal attempts (28,307), blocked shots (3,189), defensive rebounds (9,394), career wins (1,074), and personal fouls (4,657). He remains the all-time leader in points scored, field goals made, and career wins. He is ranked third all-time in both rebounds and blocked shots.[11] ESPN named him the greatest center of all time in 2007,[2] the greatest player in college basketball history in 2008,[12] and the second best player in NBA history (behind Michael Jordan) in 2016.[4] Abdul-Jabbar has also been an actor, a basketball coach, a best-selling author,[13][14] and a martial artist, having trained in Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee and appeared in his film Game of Death (1972).[15] In 2012, Abdul-Jabbar was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be a U.S. global cultural ambassador.[16] In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.[17]

Early life

Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was born in Harlem, New York City, the only child of Cora Lillian, a department store price checker, and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a transit police officer and jazz musician.[18][19] He grew up in the Dyckman Street projects in the Inwood neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, which he moved to at the age of 3 in 1950.[20] At birth, Alcindor weighed 12 lb 11 oz (5.75 kg) and was 22+1⁄2 inches (57 cm) long.[21][22] He was always very tall for his age.[21] By age nine, he was already 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall.[23] Alcindor was often depressed as a teenager because of the stares and comments about his height.[21] By the eighth grade (age 13–14), he had grown to 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and could already slam dunk a basketball.[23][24]

Alcindor began his record-breaking basketball accomplishments when he was in high school, where he led coach Jack Donohue's Power Memorial Academy team 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.[26] His 2,067 total points were a New York City high school record.[27] 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.[26] He had a strained relationship in his final year with Donohue after the coach called him a nigger.[28]

College career

 
Alcindor with the reverse two-hand dunk against Stanford

Alcindor was not able to play professionally in the NBA out of high school. At the time, the league only accepted players beginning with the year that they could have hypothetically graduated from college. His other options to play pro ball would were to join the Harlem Globetrotters or play overseas. However, his goal was to attend college, and he chose the University of California, Los Angeles.[29]

By now 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) tall, Alcindor was relegated to the freshman team in his first year with the Bruins,[30][31] as freshman were ineligible to play varsity until 1972.[32] The freshman squad included Lucius Allen, Kenny Heitz, and Lynn Shackelford, who were fellow high-school All-Americans.[33] 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' new Pauley Pavilion.[31][34][35] The 1965–66 varsity team was the two-time defending national champions and the top-ranked team in preseason polls.[31][36] The freshman team won 75–60 behind Alcindor's 31 points and 21 rebounds.[34][21] It was the first time a freshman team had beaten the UCLA varsity squad.[21] The varsity had lost Gail Goodrich and Keith Erickson from the championship squad to graduation, and starting guard Freddie Goss was out sick.[34][37] 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."[37][38] The freshman team was 21–0 that year, dominating against junior college and other freshman teams.[36]

 
Alcindor versus USC

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 broke the UCLA single-game record held by Gail Goodrich.[21][27][39] He averaged 29 points per game during the season and led UCLA to an undefeated 30–0 record and a national championship.[40] After the season, the dunk was banned in college basketball in an attempt to curtail his dominance.[25][40] The rule was not rescinded until the 1976–77 season.[41] Alcindor was the main contributor to the team's three-year record of 88 wins and only two losses: one to the University of Houston in which Alcindor had an eye injury, and the other to crosstown rival USC who played a "stall game";[31][42] there was no shot 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.[43]

During his college career, Alcindor was a three-time national player of the year (1967–1969), a three-time unanimous first-team All-American (1967–1969), played on three NCAA basketball champion teams (1967, 1968, and 1969), was honored as the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Tournament three times, and became the first-ever Naismith College Player of the Year in 1969.[44][45] He was the only player to win the Helms Foundation Player of the Year award three times.[46] He had considered transferring to Michigan because of unfulfilled recruiting promises. UCLA player Willie Naulls introduced Alcindor and teammate Lucius Allen to athletic booster Sam Gilbert, who convinced the pair to remain at UCLA.[47]

During his junior year, Alcindor suffered a scratched left cornea on January 12, 1968, in a game against Cal when he was struck by Tom Henderson in a rebound battle.[48] He would miss the next two games against Stanford and Portland.[25] His cornea would again be scratched during his pro career, which subsequently caused him to wear goggles for eye protection.[49] On January 20, the Bruins faced coach Guy Lewis's Houston Cougars in the first-ever nationally televised regular-season college basketball game, with 52,693 in attendance at the Astrodome. In a contest billed as the "Game of the Century", Cougar forward Elvin 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.[50][51] Hayes and Alcindor had a rematch in the semifinals of the 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, Jerry Norman, for devising the diamond-and-one defense that contained Hayes.[52][53] Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on the game and used the headline: "Lew's Revenge: The Rout of Houston."[54]

 
Alcindor performs ceremonial net cutting at Freedom Hall in Louisville in 1969 after a 20-point win over Purdue and Rick Mount in unprecedented third-straight national title en route to seven consecutive national championships for UCLA.

During the summer of 1968, Alcindor took the shahada twice and converted to Sunni Islam from Catholicism. He adopted the Arabic name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, though he did not begin using it publicly until 1971.[55] He boycotted the 1968 Summer Olympics, deciding not to try out for U.S. Olympic basketball team, who went on to easily win the gold medal. Alcindor was protesting the unequal treatment of African Americans in the United States,[28][56] 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."[57]

As the NBA did not allow college underclassmen to make an early NBA draft declaration, Alcindor completed his studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history in 1969. In his free time, he practiced martial arts. He studied aikido in New York between his sophomore and junior year before learning Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee in Los Angeles.[58][59]

School records

As of the 2019–20 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team season,[60] he still holds or shares a number of individual records at UCLA:[61]

  • Highest career scoring average: 26.4
  • Most career field goals: 943 — tied with Don MacLean
  • Most points in a season: 870 (1967)
  • Highest season scoring average: 29.0 (1967)
  • Most field goals in a season: 346 (1967) — also the second most at 303 (1969) and the third most at 294 (1968)
  • Most free throw attempts in a season: 274 (1967)
  • Most points in a single game: 61
  • 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 to Bill Walton.[61]

Professional career

Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)

Rookie of the Year (1969–1970)

 
Alcindor displaying the skyhook over Wes Unseld of the Baltimore Bullets. The shot was almost impossible to block.

The Globetrotters offered Alcindor $1 million to play for them, but he declined and was picked first overall in the 1969 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, who were in only their second season of existence. The Bucks had won a coin toss with the Phoenix Suns for the first pick. He was also chosen first overall in the 1969 American Basketball Association draft by the New York Nets.[62] 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.[47][63] 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."[64]

Alcindor's presence enabled the Bucks 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.[65] 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 of NBA Rookie of the Year.[25] In the series-clinching game against the Philadelphia 76ers, he recorded 46 points and 25 rebounds.[66] He was the second rookie to score at least 40 points and 25 rebounds in a playoff game, the first being Wilt Chamberlain.[67] He also set an NBA rookie record with 10 or more games of 20+ points scored during the playoffs, tied by Jayson Tatum in 2018.[68]

First championship, MVP, and Finals MVP (1970–1971)

The next season, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard Oscar Robertson. Milwaukee went on to record the best record in the league with 66 victories in the 1970–71 season,[25] including a then-record 20 straight wins.[69] Alcindor was awarded his first of six NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, along with his first scoring title (31.7 ppg).[25] He also led the league in total points, with 2,596.[27] The Bucks won the NBA title, sweeping the Baltimore Bullets 4–0 in the 1971 NBA Finals. Alcindor posted 27 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in Game 4,[70] and he was named the Finals MVP after averaging 27 points per game on 60.5% shooting in the series.[71]

MVP recognition and trade request (1971–1975)

During the offseason, Alcindor and Robertson joined Bucks head coach Larry Costello on a three-week basketball tour of Africa on behalf of the State 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 of Allah]".[72][73]

 
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)[27] and became the first player to be named the NBA Most Valuable Player twice in his first three years.[74] In 1974, Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to their fourth consecutive Midwest Division title,[75] and he won his third MVP Award in four years.[76] He was among the top five NBA players in scoring (27.0 ppg, third), rebounding (14.5 rpg, fourth), blocked shots (283, second), and field goal percentage (.539, second).[75] Milwaukee advanced to the 1974 finals, losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games.[77]

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.[78][79] On October 3, Abdul-Jabbar privately requested a trade to the New York Knicks, with his second choice being the Washington Bullets (now the Wizards) and his third, the Los Angeles Lakers.[80] He had never spoken negatively of the city of Milwaukee or its fans, but he said that being in the Midwest did not fit his cultural needs.[80][81][82] Two days later in a pre-season game before the 1974–75 season against the Celtics in Buffalo, New York, Abdul-Jabbar caught a fingernail in his left eye from Don Nelson and suffered a corneal abrasion; this angered him enough to punch the backboard stanchion, breaking two bones in his right hand.[80][83][84] He missed the first 16 games of the season, during which the Bucks were 3–13, and returned in late November wearing protective goggles.[84] On March 13, 1975, sportscaster Marv Albert reported that Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade to either New York or Los Angeles, preferably to the Knicks.[80][85] The following day after a loss in Milwaukee to the Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar confirmed to reporters his desire to play in another city.[86] He averaged 30.0 points during the season, but Milwaukee finished in last place in the division at 38–44.[87]

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 center Walt Wesley from the Bucks for center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters, blue-chip rookies Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman, and cash.[80][87] In the 1975–76 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).[88][89] His 1,111 defensive rebounds remains the NBA single-season record (defensive rebounds were not recorded prior to the 1973–74 season).[90] He earned his fourth MVP award, becoming the first winner in Lakers' franchise history,[91] but missed the post-season for the second straight year as the Lakers finished 40–42.[92]

 
Abdul-Jabbar receiving a pass from Magic Johnson during the 1985 NBA Finals

After acquiring a cast of no-name free agents, the Lakers were projected to finished near the bottom of the Pacific Division in 1976–77. Abdul-Jabbar helped lead the team to the best record (53–29) in the NBA, and he won his fifth MVP award, tying Bill 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).[93] In the playoffs, the Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals, setting up a confrontation with the Portland Trail Blazers. The result was a memorable matchup, pitting Abdul-Jabbar against a young, injury-free Bill 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.[94][95]

Playoff disappointments (1977–1979)

Two minutes into the opening game of the 1977–78 season, Abdul-Jabbar broke his right hand punching Milwaukee's Kent Benson in retaliation to the rookie's elbow to his stomach. Benson suffered a black right eye and required two stitches.[96][97][98] According to Benson, Abdul-Jabbar initiated the elbowing, but there were no witnesses and it was not captured on replays.[96][98] Abdul-Jabbar, who broke the same bone in 1975 after he punched the backboard support,[97] was out for almost two months and missed 20 games.[98][99] He was fined a then-league record $5,000 but was not suspended.[97][99] Benson missed one game but was not punished by the league.[98][100] The Lakers were 8–13 when Abdul-Jabbar returned.[101] He was not named to the 1978 NBA All-Star Game, the only time in his 20-year career he was not selected to an All-Star Game.[102] Chicago's Artis Gilmore and Detroit's Bob Lanier were chosen as reserves for the West, with Walton starting at center.[103] Amid criticism from the media over his performance, Abdul-Jabbar had 39 points, 20 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers the day the All-Star rosters were announced.[104] He added 37 points and 30 rebounds in a victory over the New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn) in the final game before the All-Star break.[105]

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.[11] The Lakers, however, continued to be stymied in the playoffs, being eliminated by the Seattle SuperSonics in both 1978 (first round) and 1979 (semifinals).[106]

Last MVP award and championship success (1979–1985)

The Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the first overall pick of 1979 NBA draft. They had acquired the pick from the New Orleans Jazz (later Utah) in 1976, when league rules required that they compensate Los Angeles for their signing of free agent Gail Goodrich.[107] 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.[108] While less dominant than in his younger years, Abdul-Jabbar reinforced his status as one of the greatest basketball players ever,[108] adding an additional four All-NBA First Team selections and two All-Defense First Team honors.[11] He won his record sixth MVP award in his first season with Johnson in 1979–80.[108][109] In the 1980 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.[110][111][112]

Abdul-Jabbar continued to average 20 or more points per game in the following six seasons.[108] The Lakers won another championship in 1981–82, but he suffered migraines in the finals, averaging just 18 points per game against Philadelphia.[112][113] In 14 playoff games, he finished with a 20.4 point average, the lowest of his career at the time.[112] The Lakers advanced to the 1983 NBA Finals in a rematch against the 76ers, who had acquired Moses Malone to shore up their center position after Abdul-Jabbar had outplayed their big-man duo of Darryl Dawkins and Caldwell Jones in the previous finals.[113] The 76ers swept the Lakers 4–0, and Malone was named the Finals MVP after outrebounding Abdul-Jabbar 72–30 in the series.[114] Malone had 27 offensive rebounds, which nearly equaled Abdul-Jabbar's total rebounds (30).[115] On April 5, 1984, against Utah, Abdul-Jabbar broke Chamberlain's record for most 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) Mark Eaton.[116][117]

Abdul-Jabbar won his second Finals MVP in 1985,[108] when he became the oldest to win the award at 38 years and 54 days old.[118] He averaged 25.7 points, 9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 blocks in the series against Boston.[119] He was initially outplayed in Game 1, scoring 12 points with three rebounds against 30-year-old Celtics center Robert Parish, who had 18 points and eight rebounds in a 148–114 win over the Lakers, dubbed the "Memorial Day Massacre".[118] 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 coach Pat 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.[120] The title ended the Celtics' streak of eight consecutive championships against the Lakers.[108]

 
Abdul-Jabbar against the Boston Celtics in the 1980s

While in Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar started doing yoga in 1976 to improve his flexibility, and was notable for his physical fitness regimen.[121] He said: "There is no way I could have played as long as I did without yoga."[122] 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 from free weights to Nauitilus equipment. He also switched that offseason from tai chi to yoga.[123]

In 1983, Abdul-Jabbar's house burned down. Many of his belongings, including his beloved jazz LP collection of about 3,000 albums, were destroyed.[124] Many Lakers fans sent and brought him albums, which he found uplifting.[125]

Final playing years and sixth ring (1985–1989)

Abdul-Jabbar played in his 17th season in 1985–86, breaking the previous NBA record for seasons played of 16, held by Dolph Schayes, John Havlicek, Paul Silas, and Elvin Hayes.[126][127][128] Prior to the 1986–87 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.[129] The Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals in each of his final three seasons, defeating Boston in 1987, and Detroit in 1988.[1] The Lakers lost to the Pistons in a four-game sweep in his final season.[130] After winning Game 7 of the 1988 finals, the 41-year-old Abdul-Jabbar announced in the locker room that he would return for one more season before retiring.[131][132] His points, rebounds, and minutes had dropped in his 19th season,[132][133][134] and there were reports prior to the game that he was retiring after the contest.[131][135] 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.[136] At the Forum against Seattle in his final regular season game,[136] every Laker came onto the court wearing Abdul-Jabbar's trademark goggles.[137]

At the time of his retirement, Abdul-Jabbar held the record for most career games played in the NBA.[138] He also was the all-time record holder for most points (38,387), most field goals made (15,837), and most minutes played (57,446).[27]

Coaching career

In 1995, Abdul-Jabbar began expressing an interest in coaching and imparting knowledge from his playing days.[139][140] 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.[139][140][141] His sensitivity and shyness created a perception of him being aloof and surly.[139][142] At the time, his mentality was that he either did not have the time or did not owe anything to anyone.[143] 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.[141]

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."[125] 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.[144]

Abdul-Jabbar worked as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Seattle SuperSonics, helping mentor, among others, their young centers, Michael Olowokandi and Jerome James.[145] Abdul-Jabbar was the head coach of the Oklahoma Storm of the United States Basketball League in 2002, leading the team to the league's championship that season, but he failed to land the head coaching position at Columbia University a year later.[146] He then worked as a scout for the New York Knicks.[147] He returned to the Lakers as a special assistant coach to Phil Jackson for six seasons (2005–2011). Early on, he mentored their young center, Andrew Bynum.[148][149] Abdul-Jabbar also served as a volunteer coach at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona, in 1998.[150] He moved on from coaching in 2013 after unsuccessfully lobbying for open head coach positions with UCLA and the Milwaukee Bucks.[151]

Player profile

On offense, Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant low-post threat. In contrast to other low-post specialists like Wilt Chamberlain, Artis Gilmore, or Shaquille O'Neal, he was a relatively slender player, standing 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) tall while weighing around 240 pounds (110 kg) to 250 lb (115 kg), although he bulked to 270 lb (120 kg) in 1986; 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.[129] Abdul-Jabbar was famous for his ambidextrous skyhook shot. It contributed to his high .5595 field goal accuracy, making him the 21st most accurate scorer of all time,[152] as well as a feared clutch shooter.[153] He shot above 50% in every season but his last.[154]

Abdul-Jabbar maintained a dominant presence on defense. He was selected to the NBA 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.[155][156] 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",[11] or "Captain", by his colleagues.[157] He had an even temperament, which Riley said made him coachable.[158]

A strict fitness regime made Abdul-Jabbar one of the most durable players of all time.[159] He began a year-around conditioning program at age 26.[160] 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.[161] 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 a fast break.[160][162] 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."[163] Addul-Jabbar finished his career with then-NBA records of 20 seasons and 1,560 games played,[164] later broken by former Celtics center Robert Parish.[165]

Abdul-Jabbar began wearing his trademark goggles after getting poked in the eye during preseason in 1975. 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 by Houston's Rudy Tomjanovich.[166] After years of being jabbed in the eyes, Abdul-Jabbar developed corneal erosion syndrome, occasionally experiencing pain when his eyes dry up. He missed three games in December 1986 due to the condition.[167]

Skyhook

Abdul-Jabbar was well known for his trademark skyhook, a hook 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 a goaltending violation.[168][169] His body being between the defender and the ball made it further difficult to block,[168] as did extending his non-shooting arm to fend off opponents.[154] He was stronger shooting the skyhook with his right hand than he was with his left, which he developed in his later years.[154]

According to Abdul-Jabbar, he learned the move in fifth grade after practicing with the ambidextrious Mikan 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".[143] He also watched Cliff Hagan shoot the hook with the St. Louis Hawks.[154] 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. Addul-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 the rim.[170]

Legacy

Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points, and he won a record six MVP awards.[1][4] 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 a record 19 All-Star teams.[171] He was named to the NBA's 35th, 50th, and 75th anniversary teams.[172] He averaged 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game.[171] Abdul-Jabbar is ranked as the NBA's third leading all-time rebounder (17,440).[173] He is the third all-time in registered blocks (3,189),[174] which is impressive because this basketball statistic was not recorded until the fourth year of his career (1974).[175] He had 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.[176]

Abdul-Jabbar combined dominance during his career peak with the longevity and sustained excellence of his later years.[4] He credited Bruce 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".[177] Abdul-Jabbar played in 95 percent of his team's regular-season games during his career.[109] 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.[178] He earned first-team All-NBA selections that were 15 years apart and Finals MVPs 14 seasons from each other.[179]

Among the most graceful basketball players ever,[109] Abdul-Jabbar is regarded as one of the best centers ever and one of the greatest players in NBA history;[2] he was voted the best center of all time by ESPN ahead of Wilt Chamberlain in 2007,[180] and ranked No. 4 in Slam's "Top 100 Players Of All-Time" in 2018,[181] and No. 3 in ESPN's list of the top 74 NBA players of all time in 2020, the best center ever ahead of Bill Russell and Chamberlain.[182] League experts and basketball legends frequently mentioned him when considering the greatest player of all time.[178] Former Lakers coach Pat Riley once said: "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] Isiah Thomas remarked: "If they say the numbers don't lie, then Kareem is the greatest ever to play the game."[5] 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."[7] In 2015, ESPN named Abdul-Jabbar the best center in NBA history,[178] and ranked him No. 2 behind Michael Jordan among the greatest NBA players ever.[4] While Jordan's shots were enthralling and considered unfathomable, Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook appeared automatic, and he himself called the shot "unsexy".[1][4] In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar's only recognized rookie card became the most expensive basketball card ever sold (the record has since been surpassed) when it went for $501,900 at auction.[183] In 2022, he was ranked No. 3 (first in his position) in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[184] and No. 3 (behind Jordan and LeBron James) in a similar list by The Athletic.[185]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship  *  Led the league     NBA record

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1969–70 Milwaukee 82* — 43.1 .518 — .653 14.5 4.1 — — 28.8
1970–71† Milwaukee 82 — 40.1 .577 — .690 16.0 3.3 — — 31.7*
1971–72 Milwaukee 81 — 44.2 .574 — .689 16.6 4.6 — — 34.8*
1972–73 Milwaukee 76 — 42.8 .554 — .713 16.1 5.0 — — 30.2
1973–74 Milwaukee 81 — 43.8 .539 — .702 14.5 4.8 1.4 3.5 27.0
1974–75 Milwaukee 65 — 42.3 .513 — .763 14.0 4.1 1.0 3.3* 30.0
1975–76 L.A. Lakers 82 — 41.2 .529 — .703 16.9* 5.0 1.5 4.1* 27.7
1976–77 L.A. Lakers 82 — 36.8 .579* — .701 13.3 3.9 1.2 3.2 26.2
1977–78 L.A. Lakers 62 — 36.5 .550 — .783 12.9 4.3 1.7 3.0 25.8
1978–79 L.A. Lakers 80 — 39.5 .577 — .736 12.8 5.4 1.0 4.0* 23.8
1979–80† L.A. Lakers 82 — 38.3 .604 .000 .765 10.8 4.5 1.0 3.4* 24.8
1980–81 L.A. Lakers 80 — 37.2 .574 .000 .766 10.3 3.4 .7 2.9 26.2
1981–82† L.A. Lakers 76 76 35.2 .579 .000 .706 8.7 3.0 .8 2.7 23.9
1982–83 L.A. Lakers 79 79 32.3 .588 .000 .749 7.5 2.5 .8 2.2 21.8
1983–84 L.A. Lakers 80 80 32.8 .578 .000 .723 7.3 2.6 .7 1.8 21.5
1984–85† L.A. Lakers 79 79 33.3 .599 .000 .732 7.9 3.2 .8 2.1 22.0
1985–86 L.A. Lakers 79 79 33.3 .564 .000 .765 6.1 3.5 .8 1.6 23.4
1986–87† L.A. Lakers 78 78 31.3 .564 .333 .714 6.7 2.6 .6 1.2 17.5
1987–88† L.A. Lakers 80 80 28.9 .532 .000 .762 6.0 1.7 .6 1.2 14.6
1988–89 L.A. Lakers 74 74 22.9 .475 .000 .739 4.5 1.0 .5 1.1 10.1
Career[11] 1,560 625 36.8 .559 .056 .721 11.2 3.6 .9 2.6 24.6
All-Star[11] 18  13 24.9 .493 .000 .820 8.3 2.8 .4 2.1  13.9

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1970 Milwaukee 10 — 43.5 .567 — .733 16.8 4.1 — — 35.2
1971† Milwaukee 14 — 41.2 .515 — .673 17.0 2.5 — — 26.6
1972 Milwaukee 11 — 46.4 .437 — .704 18.2 5.1 — — 28.7
1973 Milwaukee 6 — 46.0 .428 — .543 16.2 2.8 — — 22.8
1974 Milwaukee 16 — 47.4 .557 — .736 15.8 4.9 1.3 2.4 32.2
1977 L.A. Lakers 11 — 42.5 .607 — .725 17.7 4.1 1.7 3.5 34.6
1978 L.A. Lakers 3 — 44.7 .521 — .556 13.7 3.7 .7 4.0 27.0
1979 L.A. Lakers 8 — 45.9 .579 — .839 12.6 4.8 1.0 4.1 28.5
1980† L.A. Lakers 15 — 41.2 .572 — .790 12.1 3.1 1.1 3.9 31.9
1981 L.A. Lakers 3 — 44.7 .462 — .714 16.7 4.0 1.0 2.7 26.7
1982† L.A. Lakers 14 — 35.2 .520 — .632 8.5 3.6 1.0 3.2 20.4
1983 L.A. Lakers 15 — 39.2 .568 .000 .755 7.7 2.8 1.1 3.7 27.1
1984 L.A. Lakers 21 — 36.5 .555 — .750 8.2 3.8 1.1 2.1 23.9
1985† L.A. Lakers 19 19 32.1 .560 — .777 8.1 4.0 1.2 1.9 21.9
1986 L.A. Lakers 14 14 34.9 .557 — .787 5.9 3.5 1.1 1.7 25.9
1987† L.A. Lakers 18 18 31.1 .530 .000 .795 6.8 2.0 .4 1.9 19.2
1988† L.A. Lakers 24 24 29.9 .464 .000 .789 5.5 1.5 .6 1.5 14.1
1989 L.A. Lakers 15 15 23.4 .463 — .721 3.9 1.3 .3 .7 11.1
Career[11] 237 90 37.3 .533 .000 .740 10.5 3.2 1.0 2.4 24.3

Athletic honors

Main article: List of career achievements by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Film and television

 
Actor Shavar Ross and Abdul-Jabbar on the set of Diff'rent Strokes, c. 1982

Playing in Los Angeles facilitated Abdul-Jabbar's trying his hand at acting. He made his film debut in Bruce Lee's 1972 film Game of Death, in which his character Hakim fights Billy Lo (played by Lee).[15]

In 1980, Abdul-Jabbar played co-pilot Roger Murdock in Airplane![25] He has a scene in which a little boy looks at him and remarks that he is in fact Abdul-Jabbar,[191] spoofing the appearance of football star Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch as an airplane pilot in the 1957 drama that served as the inspiration for Airplane!, Zero Hour![192] 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".[191] This causes Abdul-Jabbar's character to snap: "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."[191][193] When Murdock loses consciousness later in the film, he collapses at the controls wearing Abdul-Jabbar's goggles and yellow Lakers' shorts.[191] In 2014, Abdul-Jabbar and Airplane! co-star Robert Hays (character Ted Striker) reprised their Airplane! roles in a parody commercial promoting Wisconsin tourism.[194]

 
Abdul-Jabbar (center) at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear with Comedy Central hosts Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart

Abdul-Jabbar has had numerous other television and film appearances, often playing himself. He has had roles in movies such as Fletch, Troop Beverly Hills and Forget Paris, and television series such as Full House, Living Single, Amen, Everybody Loves Raymond, Martin, Diff'rent Strokes (his height humorously contrasted with that of diminutive child star Gary Coleman), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Scrubs, 21 Jump Street,[195] Emergency!, Man from Atlantis, and New Girl.[196] Abdul-Jabbar played a genie in a lamp in a 1984 episode of Tales from the Darkside. He also played himself on the February 10, 1994, episode of the sketch comedy television series In Living Color.[197]

Abdul-Jabbar appeared in the television version of Stephen King's The Stand, played the Archangel of Basketball in Slam Dunk Ernest, and had a brief non-speaking cameo appearance in BASEketball.[198] Abdul-Jabbar was also the co-executive producer of the 1994 TV film The Vernon Johns Story.[199] He has also made appearances on The Colbert Report in a 2006 skit called "HipHopKetball II: The ReJazzebration Remix '06",[200] and in 2008 as a stage manager who is sent out on a mission to find Nazi gold.[201] Abdul-Jabbar also voiced himself in a 2011 episode of The Simpsons titled "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing".[202] He had a recurring role as himself on the NBC series Guys with Kids, which aired from 2012 to 2013.[198] On Al 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.[203]

In February 2019, he appeared in season 12 episode 16 of The Big Bang Theory, "The D&D Vortex".[204] In 2021, Abdul-Jabbar made a guest appearance as himself in a season 2 episode of Dave. The episode he appeared in was also named after him.[205] Abdul-Jabbar makes a cameo appearance as himself in the 2022 Netflix film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.[206]

Writing

In September 2018, Abdul-Jabbar was announced as one of the writers for the July 2019 revival of Veronica Mars.[207][208][209]

Documentaries

On February 10, 2011, Abdul-Jabbar debuted his film On the Shoulders of Giants, documenting the tumultuous journey of the famed yet often-overlooked New York Renaissance professional basketball team, at Science Park High School in Newark, New Jersey. The event was simulcast live throughout the school, city, and state.[210] In 2015, he appeared in Kareem: Minority of One, an HBO documentary on his life.[211] In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar was the executive producer and narrator of the History channel special Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution.[212] He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his narration.[213]

Reality television

Abdul-Jabbar participated in the 2013 ABC reality series Splash, a celebrity diving competition.[214] In April 2018, Abdul-Jabbar competed in the all-athlete season of season 26 of Dancing with the Stars and partnered with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold.[215]

Writing and activism

 
Abdul-Jabbar at a book signing in 2007

Abdul-Jabbar became a best-selling author and cultural critic.[216][217] He published several books, mostly on African-American history.[218] His first book, his autobiography Giant Steps, was written in 1983 with co-author Peter Knobler. The book's title is an homage to jazz great John Coltrane, referring to his album Giant Steps. Others include On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance,[219] co-written with Raymond Obstfeld, and Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, World War II's Forgotten Heroes, co-written with Anthony Walton, which is a history of the first black armored unit to fight in World War II.[220]

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 for Time. He appeared on Meet 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.[221][222] 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."[223]

In November 2014, Abdul-Jabbar published an essay in Jacobin calling for just compensation for college 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."[224] Commenting on Donald 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."[225]

Government appointments

Cultural ambassador

 
Hillary Clinton and Abdul-Jabbar, 2012

In January 2012, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that Abdul-Jabbar had accepted a position as a cultural ambassador for the United States.[226] During the announcement press conference, Abdul-Jabbar commented on the historical legacy of African-Americans as representatives of U.S. culture: "I remember when Louis Armstrong first did it back for President Kennedy, one of my heroes. So it's nice to be following in his footsteps."[227] As part of this role, Abdul-Jabbar has traveled to Brazil to promote education for local youths.[228]

President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition

Former President Barack Obama announced in his last days of office that he has appointed Abdul-Jabbar along with Gabrielle Douglas and Carli Lloyd to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.[229]

Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee

In January 2017, Abdul-Jabbar was appointed to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee by United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. According to the United States Mint, Abdul-Jabbar is a keen coin collector whose interest in the life of Alexander Hamilton had led him into the hobby. He resigned in 2018 due to what the Mint described as "increasing personal obligations".[230]

Personal life

 
Abdul-Jabbar surrounded by children's division players during an exhibition at Club Ferro Carril Oeste of Buenos Aires, 1993
 
Abdul-Jabbar (below, far right) and other former NBA players visit the New York NBA Store in January 2005

Abdul-Jabbar met Habiba Abdul-Jabbar (born Janice Brown) at a Lakers game during his senior year at UCLA.[231] They eventually married and together had three children: daughters Habiba and Sultana and son Kareem Jr., who played basketball at Western Kentucky after attending Valparaiso.[232][233] Abdul-Jabbar and Janice divorced in 1978. He has another son, Amir, with Cheryl Pistono. Another son, Adam, made an appearance on the TV sitcom Full House with him.[234]

In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar performed a tribute to friend Muhammad Ali along with Chance the Rapper.[235]

Religion and name

At age 24 in 1971, he converted to Islam and legally became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which means "noble one, servant of the Almighty."[236] He was named by Hamaas Abdul Khaalis.[236][237] Abdul-Jabbar purchased and donated 7700 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 the 1973 Hanafi Muslim massacre. Eventually, Kareem "found that [he] disagreed with some of Hamaas' teachings about the Quran, and [they] parted ways." He then studied the Quran on his own, and "emerged from this pilgrimage with [his] beliefs clarified and [his] faith renewed."[236] Abdul-Jabbar was also heavily influenced by Malcolm X, a leader of the Nation of Islam.[236] Abdul-Jabbar was invited to join the group, but he refused.[236][238]

Abdul-Jabbar has spoken about the thinking that was behind his name change when he converted to Islam.[239] 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 from Trinidad in the 18th century. My people were Yoruba, and their culture survived slavery ... 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."[240] His name change further eroded his public image in the United States, mostly in white areas.[241]

In 1998, Abdul-Jabbar reached a settlement after he sued Miami Dolphins running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar (now Abdul-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.[242] The football player had also been an athlete at UCLA.[243]

Health problems

Abdul-Jabbar suffers from migraines,[244] and his use of cannabis to reduce the symptoms has had legal ramifications.[245] In November 2009, Abdul-Jabbar announced that he was suffering from a form of leukemia, Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic 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.[246][247] Abdul-Jabbar is a spokesman for Novartis, the company that produces Gleevec, his cancer medication.[248]

In February 2011, Abdul-Jabbar announced via Twitter that his leukemia was gone and he was "100% cancer free".[249] 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."[248] In April 2015, Abdul-Jabbar was admitted to hospital when he was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Later that week, on his 68th birthday, he underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery at the UCLA Medical Center.[250]

Non-athletic honors

In 2011, Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Double Helix Medal for his work in raising awareness for cancer research.[251][252] Also in 2011, Abdul-Jabbar received an honorary degree from New York Institute of Technology.[253] In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama.[254] In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for his work on the documentary special Black Patriots: Heroes of The Revolution.[213]

Works

Books

  • Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem; Knobler, Peter (1983). Giant Steps. New York: Bantam Books. ISBN 0553050443.
  • Kareem, with Mignon McCarthy (1990) ISBN 0-394-55927-4.
  • Selected from Giant Steps (Writers' Voices) (1999) ISBN 0-7857-9912-5.
  • Black Profiles in Courage: A Legacy of African-American Achievement, with Alan Steinberg (1996) ISBN 0-688-13097-6.
  • A Season on the Reservation: My Sojourn with the White Mountain Apaches, with Stephen Singular (2000) ISBN 0-688-17077-3.
  • Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, World War II's Forgotten Heroes with Anthony Walton (2004) ISBN 978-0-7679-0913-6.
  • On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance with Raymond Obstfeld (2007) ISBN 978-1-4165-3488-4.
  • What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African American Inventors with Raymond Obstfeld (2012) ISBN 978-0-7636-4564-9.
  • Streetball Crew Book One Sasquatch in the Paint with Raymond Obstfeld (2013) ISBN 978-1-4231-7870-5.
  • Streetball Crew Book Two Stealing the Game with Raymond Obstfeld (2015) ISBN 978-1423178712.
  • Mycroft Holmes with Anna Waterhouse (September 2015) ISBN 978-1-7832-9153-3.
  • Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White with Raymond Obstfeld (2016) ISBN 978-1-6189-3171-9.
  • Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court (2017) ISBN 978-1538760468.
  • Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court (2017) ISBN 978-0316555388.
  • Mycroft Holmes and The Apocalypse Handbook. Illustrated by Josh Cassara. Titan Comics. 2017. ISBN 978-1785853005.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • Mycroft and Sherlock with Anna Waterhouse (October 9, 2018) ISBN 978-1785659256.
  • Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage with Anna Waterhouse (September 24, 2019) ISBN 978-1785659300.

Audio book

References

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External links

  • Official website
  • Career statistics and player information from NBA.com   and Basketball-Reference.com
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at IMDb
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at AllMovie
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar collected news and commentary at The New York Times
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the Muck Rack journalist listing site  
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Newsletter On Substack


January 13, 2023
kareem, abdul, jabbar, american, football, player, formerly, known, karim, abdul, jabbar, abdul, karim, jabbar, ɑːr, reem, dool, born, ferdinand, lewis, alcindor, april, 1947, american, former, professional, basketball, player, played, seasons, national, baske. For the American football player formerly known as Karim Abdul Jabbar see Abdul Karim al Jabbar Kareem Abdul Jabbar k e ˈ r iː m ae b ˈ d uː l dʒ e ˈ b ɑːr ke REEM ab DOOL je BAR born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr April 16 1947 is an American former professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers During his career as a center Abdul Jabbar was a record six time NBA Most Valuable Player MVP a record 19 time NBA All Star a 15 time All NBA Team member and an 11 time NBA All Defensive Team member He was a member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach and was twice voted NBA Finals MVP He was named to three NBA anniversary teams 35th 50th and 75th 1 Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time 2 3 4 he was called the greatest basketball player of all time by Pat Riley Isiah Thomas and Julius Erving 5 6 7 Kareem Abdul JabbarAbdul Jabbar in 2014Personal informationBorn 1947 04 16 April 16 1947 age 75 New York City New York U S Listed height7 ft 2 in 2 18 m Listed weight225 lb 102 kg Career informationHigh schoolPower Memorial New York City New York CollegeUCLA 1966 1969 NBA draft1969 Round 1 Pick 1st overallSelected by the Milwaukee BucksPlaying career1969 1989PositionCenterNumber33Coaching career1998 2011Career historyAs player 1969 1975Milwaukee Bucks1975 1989Los Angeles LakersAs coach 1998 1999Alchesay HS assistant 2000Los Angeles Clippers assistant 2002Oklahoma Storm2005 2011Los Angeles Lakers assistant Career highlights and awards6 NBA champion 1971 1980 1982 1985 1987 1988 2 NBA Finals MVP 1971 1985 6 NBA Most Valuable Player 1971 1972 1974 1976 1977 1980 19 NBA All Star 1970 1977 1979 1989 10 All NBA First Team 1971 1974 1976 1977 1980 1981 1984 1986 5 All NBA Second Team 1970 1978 1979 1983 1985 5 NBA All Defensive First Team 1974 1975 1979 1981 6 NBA All Defensive Second Team 1970 1971 1976 1978 1984 NBA Rookie of the Year 1970 NBA All Rookie First Team 1970 2 NBA scoring champion 1971 1972 NBA rebounding champion 1976 4 NBA blocks leader 1975 1976 1979 1980 NBA anniversary teams 35th 50th 75th No 33 retired by Milwaukee Bucks No 33 retired by Los Angeles Lakers 3 NCAA champion 1967 1969 3 NCAA final Four Most Outstanding Player 1967 1969 3 National college player of the year 1967 1969 3 Consensus first team All American 1967 1969 No 33 retired by UCLA Bruins 2 Mr Basketball USA 1964 1965 3 First team Parade All American 1963 1965 Presidential Medal of Freedom 2016 As head coach USBL champion 2002 As assistant coach 2 NBA champion 2009 2010 Career NBA statisticsPoints38 387 24 6 ppg Rebounds17 440 11 2 rpg Assists5 660 3 6 apg Stats at NBA comStats at Basketball Reference comBasketball Hall of Fame as playerCollege Basketball Hall of FameInducted in 2006Abdul Jabbar was known as Lew Alcindor l uː ae l ˈ s ɪ n d er LOO al SIN der when he played at parochial high school Power Memorial in New York City where he led their team to 71 consecutive wins He was recruited by Jerry Norman the assistant coach at the University of California Los Angeles UCLA 8 where he played for coach John Wooden on three consecutive national championship teams 9 He was a record three time MVP of the NCAA Tournament Drafted with the first overall pick by the one season old Bucks franchise in the 1969 NBA draft Alcindor spent six seasons in Milwaukee After leading the Bucks to its first NBA championship at age 24 in 1971 he took the Muslim name Kareem Abdul Jabbar Using his trademark skyhook 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 in which they won five additional NBA championships Abdul Jabbar s contributions were a key component in the Showtime era of Lakers basketball Over his 20 year NBA career his teams succeeded in making the playoffs 18 times and got past the first round 14 times his teams reached the NBA Finals on ten occasions 1 10 At the time of his retirement at age 42 in 1989 Abdul Jabbar was the NBA s all time leader in points 38 387 games played 1 560 minutes 57 446 field goals made 15 837 field goal attempts 28 307 blocked shots 3 189 defensive rebounds 9 394 career wins 1 074 and personal fouls 4 657 He remains the all time leader in points scored field goals made and career wins He is ranked third all time in both rebounds and blocked shots 11 ESPN named him the greatest center of all time in 2007 2 the greatest player in college basketball history in 2008 12 and the second best player in NBA history behind Michael Jordan in 2016 4 Abdul Jabbar has also been an actor a basketball coach a best selling author 13 14 and a martial artist having trained in Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee and appeared in his film Game of Death 1972 15 In 2012 Abdul Jabbar was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be a U S global cultural ambassador 16 In 2016 President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom 17 Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 2 1 School records 3 Professional career 3 1 Milwaukee Bucks 1969 1975 3 1 1 Rookie of the Year 1969 1970 3 1 2 First championship MVP and Finals MVP 1970 1971 3 1 3 MVP recognition and trade request 1971 1975 3 2 Los Angeles Lakers 1975 1989 3 2 1 Fourth and fifth MVP awards 1975 1977 3 2 2 Playoff disappointments 1977 1979 3 2 3 Last MVP award and championship success 1979 1985 3 2 4 Final playing years and sixth ring 1985 1989 4 Coaching career 5 Player profile 5 1 Skyhook 6 Legacy 7 NBA career statistics 7 1 Regular season 7 2 Playoffs 8 Athletic honors 9 Film and television 9 1 Writing 9 2 Documentaries 9 3 Reality television 10 Writing and activism 11 Government appointments 11 1 Cultural ambassador 11 2 President s Council on Fitness Sports and Nutrition 11 3 Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee 12 Personal life 12 1 Religion and name 12 2 Health problems 12 3 Non athletic honors 13 Works 13 1 Books 13 2 Audio book 14 References 15 External linksEarly lifeFerdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr was born in Harlem New York City the only child of Cora Lillian a department store price checker and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr a transit police officer and jazz musician 18 19 He grew up in the Dyckman Street projects in the Inwood neighborhood of Upper Manhattan which he moved to at the age of 3 in 1950 20 At birth Alcindor weighed 12 lb 11 oz 5 75 kg and was 22 1 2 inches 57 cm long 21 22 He was always very tall for his age 21 By age nine he was already 5 ft 8 in 1 73 m tall 23 Alcindor was often depressed as a teenager because of the stares and comments about his height 21 By the eighth grade age 13 14 he had grown to 6 ft 8 in 2 03 m and could already slam dunk a basketball 23 24 Alcindor began his record breaking basketball accomplishments when he was in high school where he led coach Jack Donohue s Power Memorial Academy team 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 26 His 2 067 total points were a New York City high school record 27 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 26 He had a strained relationship in his final year with Donohue after the coach called him a nigger 28 College career Alcindor with the reverse two hand dunk against Stanford Alcindor was not able to play professionally in the NBA out of high school At the time the league only accepted players beginning with the year that they could have hypothetically graduated from college His other options to play pro ball would were to join the Harlem Globetrotters or play overseas However his goal was to attend college and he chose the University of California Los Angeles 29 By now 7 foot 1 inch 2 16 m tall Alcindor was relegated to the freshman team in his first year with the Bruins 30 31 as freshman were ineligible to play varsity until 1972 32 The freshman squad included Lucius Allen Kenny Heitz and Lynn Shackelford who were fellow high school All Americans 33 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 new Pauley Pavilion 31 34 35 The 1965 66 varsity team was the two time defending national champions and the top ranked team in preseason polls 31 36 The freshman team won 75 60 behind Alcindor s 31 points and 21 rebounds 34 21 It was the first time a freshman team had beaten the UCLA varsity squad 21 The varsity had lost Gail Goodrich and Keith Erickson from the championship squad to graduation and starting guard Freddie Goss was out sick 34 37 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 37 38 The freshman team was 21 0 that year dominating against junior college and other freshman teams 36 Alcindor versus USC 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 broke the UCLA single game record held by Gail Goodrich 21 27 39 He averaged 29 points per game during the season and led UCLA to an undefeated 30 0 record and a national championship 40 After the season the dunk was banned in college basketball in an attempt to curtail his dominance 25 40 The rule was not rescinded until the 1976 77 season 41 Alcindor was the main contributor to the team s three year record of 88 wins and only two losses one to the University of Houston in which Alcindor had an eye injury and the other to crosstown rival USC who played a stall game 31 42 there was no shot 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 43 During his college career Alcindor was a three time national player of the year 1967 1969 a three time unanimous first team All American 1967 1969 played on three NCAA basketball champion teams 1967 1968 and 1969 was honored as the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Tournament three times and became the first ever Naismith College Player of the Year in 1969 44 45 He was the only player to win the Helms Foundation Player of the Year award three times 46 He had considered transferring to Michigan because of unfulfilled recruiting promises UCLA player Willie Naulls introduced Alcindor and teammate Lucius Allen to athletic booster Sam Gilbert who convinced the pair to remain at UCLA 47 During his junior year Alcindor suffered a scratched left cornea on January 12 1968 in a game against Cal when he was struck by Tom Henderson in a rebound battle 48 He would miss the next two games against Stanford and Portland 25 His cornea would again be scratched during his pro career which subsequently caused him to wear goggles for eye protection 49 On January 20 the Bruins faced coach Guy Lewis s Houston Cougars in the first ever nationally televised regular season college basketball game with 52 693 in attendance at the Astrodome In a contest billed as the Game of the Century Cougar forward Elvin 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 50 51 Hayes and Alcindor had a rematch in the semifinals of the 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 Jerry Norman for devising the diamond and one defense that contained Hayes 52 53 Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on the game and used the headline Lew s Revenge The Rout of Houston 54 Alcindor performs ceremonial net cutting at Freedom Hall in Louisville in 1969 after a 20 point win over Purdue and Rick Mount in unprecedented third straight national title en route to seven consecutive national championships for UCLA During the summer of 1968 Alcindor took the shahada twice and converted to Sunni Islam from Catholicism He adopted the Arabic name Kareem Abdul Jabbar though he did not begin using it publicly until 1971 55 He boycotted the 1968 Summer Olympics deciding not to try out for U S Olympic basketball team who went on to easily win the gold medal Alcindor was protesting the unequal treatment of African Americans in the United States 28 56 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 57 As the NBA did not allow college underclassmen to make an early NBA draft declaration Alcindor completed his studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history in 1969 In his free time he practiced martial arts He studied aikido in New York between his sophomore and junior year before learning Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee in Los Angeles 58 59 School records As of the 2019 20 UCLA Bruins men s basketball team season 60 he still holds or shares a number of individual records at UCLA 61 Highest career scoring average 26 4 Most career field goals 943 tied with Don MacLean Most points in a season 870 1967 Highest season scoring average 29 0 1967 Most field goals in a season 346 1967 also the second most at 303 1969 and the third most at 294 1968 Most free throw attempts in a season 274 1967 Most points in a single game 61 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 to Bill Walton 61 Professional careerMilwaukee Bucks 1969 1975 Rookie of the Year 1969 1970 Alcindor displaying the skyhook over Wes Unseld of the Baltimore Bullets The shot was almost impossible to block The Globetrotters offered Alcindor 1 million to play for them but he declined and was picked first overall in the 1969 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks who were in only their second season of existence The Bucks had won a coin toss with the Phoenix Suns for the first pick He was also chosen first overall in the 1969 American Basketball Association draft by the New York Nets 62 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 47 63 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 64 Alcindor s presence enabled the Bucks 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 65 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 of NBA Rookie of the Year 25 In the series clinching game against the Philadelphia 76ers he recorded 46 points and 25 rebounds 66 He was the second rookie to score at least 40 points and 25 rebounds in a playoff game the first being Wilt Chamberlain 67 He also set an NBA rookie record with 10 or more games of 20 points scored during the playoffs tied by Jayson Tatum in 2018 68 First championship MVP and Finals MVP 1970 1971 The next season the Bucks acquired All Star guard Oscar Robertson Milwaukee went on to record the best record in the league with 66 victories in the 1970 71 season 25 including a then record 20 straight wins 69 Alcindor was awarded his first of six NBA Most Valuable Player Awards along with his first scoring title 31 7 ppg 25 He also led the league in total points with 2 596 27 The Bucks won the NBA title sweeping the Baltimore Bullets 4 0 in the 1971 NBA Finals Alcindor posted 27 points 12 rebounds and seven assists in Game 4 70 and he was named the Finals MVP after averaging 27 points per game on 60 5 shooting in the series 71 MVP recognition and trade request 1971 1975 During the offseason Alcindor and Robertson joined Bucks head coach Larry Costello on a three week basketball tour of Africa on behalf of the State 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 of Allah 72 73 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 27 and became the first player to be named the NBA Most Valuable Player twice in his first three years 74 In 1974 Abdul Jabbar led the Bucks to their fourth consecutive Midwest Division title 75 and he won his third MVP Award in four years 76 He was among the top five NBA players in scoring 27 0 ppg third rebounding 14 5 rpg fourth blocked shots 283 second and field goal percentage 539 second 75 Milwaukee advanced to the 1974 finals losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games 77 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 78 79 On October 3 Abdul Jabbar privately requested a trade to the New York Knicks with his second choice being the Washington Bullets now the Wizards and his third the Los Angeles Lakers 80 He had never spoken negatively of the city of Milwaukee or its fans but he said that being in the Midwest did not fit his cultural needs 80 81 82 Two days later in a pre season game before the 1974 75 season against the Celtics in Buffalo New York Abdul Jabbar caught a fingernail in his left eye from Don Nelson and suffered a corneal abrasion this angered him enough to punch the backboard stanchion breaking two bones in his right hand 80 83 84 He missed the first 16 games of the season during which the Bucks were 3 13 and returned in late November wearing protective goggles 84 On March 13 1975 sportscaster Marv Albert reported that Abdul Jabbar requested a trade to either New York or Los Angeles preferably to the Knicks 80 85 The following day after a loss in Milwaukee to the Lakers Abdul Jabbar confirmed to reporters his desire to play in another city 86 He averaged 30 0 points during the season but Milwaukee finished in last place in the division at 38 44 87 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 center Walt Wesley from the Bucks for center Elmore Smith guard Brian Winters blue chip rookies Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman and cash 80 87 In the 1975 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 88 89 His 1 111 defensive rebounds remains the NBA single season record defensive rebounds were not recorded prior to the 1973 74 season 90 He earned his fourth MVP award becoming the first winner in Lakers franchise history 91 but missed the post season for the second straight year as the Lakers finished 40 42 92 Abdul Jabbar receiving a pass from Magic Johnson during the 1985 NBA Finals After acquiring a cast of no name free agents the Lakers were projected to finished near the bottom of the Pacific Division in 1976 77 Abdul Jabbar helped lead the team to the best record 53 29 in the NBA and he won his fifth MVP award tying Bill 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 93 In the playoffs the Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals setting up a confrontation with the Portland Trail Blazers The result was a memorable matchup pitting Abdul Jabbar against a young injury free Bill 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 94 95 Playoff disappointments 1977 1979 Two minutes into the opening game of the 1977 78 season Abdul Jabbar broke his right hand punching Milwaukee s Kent Benson in retaliation to the rookie s elbow to his stomach Benson suffered a black right eye and required two stitches 96 97 98 According to Benson Abdul Jabbar initiated the elbowing but there were no witnesses and it was not captured on replays 96 98 Abdul Jabbar who broke the same bone in 1975 after he punched the backboard support 97 was out for almost two months and missed 20 games 98 99 He was fined a then league record 5 000 but was not suspended 97 99 Benson missed one game but was not punished by the league 98 100 The Lakers were 8 13 when Abdul Jabbar returned 101 He was not named to the 1978 NBA All Star Game the only time in his 20 year career he was not selected to an All Star Game 102 Chicago s Artis Gilmore and Detroit s Bob Lanier were chosen as reserves for the West with Walton starting at center 103 Amid criticism from the media over his performance Abdul Jabbar had 39 points 20 rebounds six assists and four blocks in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers the day the All Star rosters were announced 104 He added 37 points and 30 rebounds in a victory over the New Jersey Nets now Brooklyn in the final game before the All Star break 105 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 11 The Lakers however continued to be stymied in the playoffs being eliminated by the Seattle SuperSonics in both 1978 first round and 1979 semifinals 106 Last MVP award and championship success 1979 1985 The Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the first overall pick of 1979 NBA draft They had acquired the pick from the New Orleans Jazz later Utah in 1976 when league rules required that they compensate Los Angeles for their signing of free agent Gail Goodrich 107 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 108 While less dominant than in his younger years Abdul Jabbar reinforced his status as one of the greatest basketball players ever 108 adding an additional four All NBA First Team selections and two All Defense First Team honors 11 He won his record sixth MVP award in his first season with Johnson in 1979 80 108 109 In the 1980 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 110 111 112 Abdul Jabbar continued to average 20 or more points per game in the following six seasons 108 The Lakers won another championship in 1981 82 but he suffered migraines in the finals averaging just 18 points per game against Philadelphia 112 113 In 14 playoff games he finished with a 20 4 point average the lowest of his career at the time 112 The Lakers advanced to the 1983 NBA Finals in a rematch against the 76ers who had acquired Moses Malone to shore up their center position after Abdul Jabbar had outplayed their big man duo of Darryl Dawkins and Caldwell Jones in the previous finals 113 The 76ers swept the Lakers 4 0 and Malone was named the Finals MVP after outrebounding Abdul Jabbar 72 30 in the series 114 Malone had 27 offensive rebounds which nearly equaled Abdul Jabbar s total rebounds 30 115 On April 5 1984 against Utah Abdul Jabbar broke Chamberlain s record for most 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 Mark Eaton 116 117 Abdul Jabbar won his second Finals MVP in 1985 108 when he became the oldest to win the award at 38 years and 54 days old 118 He averaged 25 7 points 9 rebounds 5 2 assists and 1 5 blocks in the series against Boston 119 He was initially outplayed in Game 1 scoring 12 points with three rebounds against 30 year old Celtics center Robert Parish who had 18 points and eight rebounds in a 148 114 win over the Lakers dubbed the Memorial Day Massacre 118 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 coach Pat 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 120 The title ended the Celtics streak of eight consecutive championships against the Lakers 108 Abdul Jabbar against the Boston Celtics in the 1980s While in Los Angeles Abdul Jabbar started doing yoga in 1976 to improve his flexibility and was notable for his physical fitness regimen 121 He said There is no way I could have played as long as I did without yoga 122 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 from free weights to Nauitilus equipment He also switched that offseason from tai chi to yoga 123 In 1983 Abdul Jabbar s house burned down Many of his belongings including his beloved jazz LP collection of about 3 000 albums were destroyed 124 Many Lakers fans sent and brought him albums which he found uplifting 125 Final playing years and sixth ring 1985 1989 Abdul Jabbar played in his 17th season in 1985 86 breaking the previous NBA record for seasons played of 16 held by Dolph Schayes John Havlicek Paul Silas and Elvin Hayes 126 127 128 Prior to the 1986 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 129 The Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals in each of his final three seasons defeating Boston in 1987 and Detroit in 1988 1 The Lakers lost to the Pistons in a four game sweep in his final season 130 After winning Game 7 of the 1988 finals the 41 year old Abdul Jabbar announced in the locker room that he would return for one more season before retiring 131 132 His points rebounds and minutes had dropped in his 19th season 132 133 134 and there were reports prior to the game that he was retiring after the contest 131 135 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 136 At the Forum against Seattle in his final regular season game 136 every Laker came onto the court wearing Abdul Jabbar s trademark goggles 137 At the time of his retirement Abdul Jabbar held the record for most career games played in the NBA 138 He also was the all time record holder for most points 38 387 most field goals made 15 837 and most minutes played 57 446 27 Coaching careerIn 1995 Abdul Jabbar began expressing an interest in coaching and imparting knowledge from his playing days 139 140 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 139 140 141 His sensitivity and shyness created a perception of him being aloof and surly 139 142 At the time his mentality was that he either did not have the time or did not owe anything to anyone 143 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 141 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 125 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 144 Abdul Jabbar worked as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Seattle SuperSonics helping mentor among others their young centers Michael Olowokandi and Jerome James 145 Abdul Jabbar was the head coach of the Oklahoma Storm of the United States Basketball League in 2002 leading the team to the league s championship that season but he failed to land the head coaching position at Columbia University a year later 146 He then worked as a scout for the New York Knicks 147 He returned to the Lakers as a special assistant coach to Phil Jackson for six seasons 2005 2011 Early on he mentored their young center Andrew Bynum 148 149 Abdul Jabbar also served as a volunteer coach at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver Arizona in 1998 150 He moved on from coaching in 2013 after unsuccessfully lobbying for open head coach positions with UCLA and the Milwaukee Bucks 151 Player profileOn offense Abdul Jabbar was a dominant low post threat In contrast to other low post specialists like Wilt Chamberlain Artis Gilmore or Shaquille O Neal he was a relatively slender player standing 7 ft 2 in 2 18 m tall while weighing around 240 pounds 110 kg to 250 lb 115 kg although he bulked to 270 lb 120 kg in 1986 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 129 Abdul Jabbar was famous for his ambidextrous skyhook shot It contributed to his high 5595 field goal accuracy making him the 21st most accurate scorer of all time 152 as well as a feared clutch shooter 153 He shot above 50 in every season but his last 154 Abdul Jabbar maintained a dominant presence on defense He was selected to the NBA 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 155 156 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 11 or Captain by his colleagues 157 He had an even temperament which Riley said made him coachable 158 A strict fitness regime made Abdul Jabbar one of the most durable players of all time 159 He began a year around conditioning program at age 26 160 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 161 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 a fast break 160 162 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 163 Addul Jabbar finished his career with then NBA records of 20 seasons and 1 560 games played 164 later broken by former Celtics center Robert Parish 165 Abdul Jabbar began wearing his trademark goggles after getting poked in the eye during preseason in 1975 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 by Houston s Rudy Tomjanovich 166 After years of being jabbed in the eyes Abdul Jabbar developed corneal erosion syndrome occasionally experiencing pain when his eyes dry up He missed three games in December 1986 due to the condition 167 Skyhook Abdul Jabbar was well known for his trademark skyhook a hook 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 a goaltending violation 168 169 His body being between the defender and the ball made it further difficult to block 168 as did extending his non shooting arm to fend off opponents 154 He was stronger shooting the skyhook with his right hand than he was with his left which he developed in his later years 154 According to Abdul Jabbar he learned the move in fifth grade after practicing with the ambidextrious Mikan 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 143 He also watched Cliff Hagan shoot the hook with the St Louis Hawks 154 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 Addul 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 the rim 170 LegacyAbdul Jabbar is the NBA all time leading scorer with 38 387 points and he won a record six MVP awards 1 4 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 a record 19 All Star teams 171 He was named to the NBA s 35th 50th and 75th anniversary teams 172 He averaged 24 6 points 11 2 rebounds 3 6 assists and 2 6 blocks per game 171 Abdul Jabbar is ranked as the NBA s third leading all time rebounder 17 440 173 He is the third all time in registered blocks 3 189 174 which is impressive because this basketball statistic was not recorded until the fourth year of his career 1974 175 He had 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 176 Abdul Jabbar combined dominance during his career peak with the longevity and sustained excellence of his later years 4 He credited Bruce 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 177 Abdul Jabbar played in 95 percent of his team s regular season games during his career 109 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 38 178 He earned first team All NBA selections that were 15 years apart and Finals MVPs 14 seasons from each other 179 Among the most graceful basketball players ever 109 Abdul Jabbar is regarded as one of the best centers ever and one of the greatest players in NBA history 2 he was voted the best center of all time by ESPN ahead of Wilt Chamberlain in 2007 180 and ranked No 4 in Slam s Top 100 Players Of All Time in 2018 181 and No 3 in ESPN s list of the top 74 NBA players of all time in 2020 the best center ever ahead of Bill Russell and Chamberlain 182 League experts and basketball legends frequently mentioned him when considering the greatest player of all time 178 Former Lakers coach Pat Riley once said 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 Isiah Thomas remarked If they say the numbers don t lie then Kareem is the greatest ever to play the game 5 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 7 In 2015 ESPN named Abdul Jabbar the best center in NBA history 178 and ranked him No 2 behind Michael Jordan among the greatest NBA players ever 4 While Jordan s shots were enthralling and considered unfathomable Abdul Jabbar s skyhook appeared automatic and he himself called the shot unsexy 1 4 In 2016 Abdul Jabbar s only recognized rookie card became the most expensive basketball card ever sold the record has since been surpassed when it went for 501 900 at auction 183 In 2022 he was ranked No 3 first in his position in ESPN s NBA 75th Anniversary Team list 184 and No 3 behind Jordan and LeBron James in a similar list by The Athletic 185 NBA career statisticsLegend GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game FG Field goal percentage 3P 3 point field goal percentage FT Free throw percentage RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high Won an NBA championship Led the league NBA recordRegular season Year Team GP GS MPG FG 3P FT RPG APG SPG BPG PPG1969 70 Milwaukee 82 43 1 518 653 14 5 4 1 28 81970 71 Milwaukee 82 40 1 577 690 16 0 3 3 31 7 1971 72 Milwaukee 81 44 2 574 689 16 6 4 6 34 8 1972 73 Milwaukee 76 42 8 554 713 16 1 5 0 30 21973 74 Milwaukee 81 43 8 539 702 14 5 4 8 1 4 3 5 27 01974 75 Milwaukee 65 42 3 513 763 14 0 4 1 1 0 3 3 30 01975 76 L A Lakers 82 41 2 529 703 16 9 5 0 1 5 4 1 27 71976 77 L A Lakers 82 36 8 579 701 13 3 3 9 1 2 3 2 26 21977 78 L A Lakers 62 36 5 550 783 12 9 4 3 1 7 3 0 25 81978 79 L A Lakers 80 39 5 577 736 12 8 5 4 1 0 4 0 23 81979 80 L A Lakers 82 38 3 604 000 765 10 8 4 5 1 0 3 4 24 81980 81 L A Lakers 80 37 2 574 000 766 10 3 3 4 7 2 9 26 21981 82 L A Lakers 76 76 35 2 579 000 706 8 7 3 0 8 2 7 23 91982 83 L A Lakers 79 79 32 3 588 000 749 7 5 2 5 8 2 2 21 81983 84 L A Lakers 80 80 32 8 578 000 723 7 3 2 6 7 1 8 21 51984 85 L A Lakers 79 79 33 3 599 000 732 7 9 3 2 8 2 1 22 01985 86 L A Lakers 79 79 33 3 564 000 765 6 1 3 5 8 1 6 23 41986 87 L A Lakers 78 78 31 3 564 333 714 6 7 2 6 6 1 2 17 51987 88 L A Lakers 80 80 28 9 532 000 762 6 0 1 7 6 1 2 14 61988 89 L A Lakers 74 74 22 9 475 000 739 4 5 1 0 5 1 1 10 1Career 11 1 560 625 36 8 559 056 721 11 2 3 6 9 2 6 24 6All Star 11 18 13 24 9 493 000 820 8 3 2 8 4 2 1 13 9Playoffs Year Team GP GS MPG FG 3P FT RPG APG SPG BPG PPG1970 Milwaukee 10 43 5 567 733 16 8 4 1 35 21971 Milwaukee 14 41 2 515 673 17 0 2 5 26 61972 Milwaukee 11 46 4 437 704 18 2 5 1 28 71973 Milwaukee 6 46 0 428 543 16 2 2 8 22 81974 Milwaukee 16 47 4 557 736 15 8 4 9 1 3 2 4 32 21977 L A Lakers 11 42 5 607 725 17 7 4 1 1 7 3 5 34 61978 L A Lakers 3 44 7 521 556 13 7 3 7 7 4 0 27 01979 L A Lakers 8 45 9 579 839 12 6 4 8 1 0 4 1 28 51980 L A Lakers 15 41 2 572 790 12 1 3 1 1 1 3 9 31 91981 L A Lakers 3 44 7 462 714 16 7 4 0 1 0 2 7 26 71982 L A Lakers 14 35 2 520 632 8 5 3 6 1 0 3 2 20 41983 L A Lakers 15 39 2 568 000 755 7 7 2 8 1 1 3 7 27 11984 L A Lakers 21 36 5 555 750 8 2 3 8 1 1 2 1 23 91985 L A Lakers 19 19 32 1 560 777 8 1 4 0 1 2 1 9 21 91986 L A Lakers 14 14 34 9 557 787 5 9 3 5 1 1 1 7 25 91987 L A Lakers 18 18 31 1 530 000 795 6 8 2 0 4 1 9 19 21988 L A Lakers 24 24 29 9 464 000 789 5 5 1 5 6 1 5 14 11989 L A Lakers 15 15 23 4 463 721 3 9 1 3 3 7 11 1Career 11 237 90 37 3 533 000 740 10 5 3 2 1 0 2 4 24 3Athletic honorsMain article List of career achievements by Kareem Abdul Jabbar Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame May 15 1995 186 College 2 Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year 1967 1969 187 2 Oscar Robertson Trophy winner 1967 1968 187 2 UPI College Basketball Player of the Year 1967 1969 187 3 Consensus first team All American 1967 1969 187 3 NCAA champion 1967 1969 187 3 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player 1967 1969 187 Naismith College Player of the Year 1969 187 3 First team All Pac 8 1967 1969 187 National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame 2007 188 National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year 1970 11 6 NBA champion 1971 1980 1982 1985 1987 1988 11 6 NBA MVP 1971 1972 1974 1976 1977 1980 11 6 Sporting News NBA MVP 1971 1972 1974 1976 1977 1980 11 2 Finals MVP 1971 1985 11 Sports Illustrated magazine s Sportsman of the Year 1985 189 Elected to the NBA 35th Anniversary Team 11 One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History 1996 11 Elected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team 2021 11 November 16 2012 a statue of Abdul Jabbar was unveiled in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles 190 Film and television Actor Shavar Ross and Abdul Jabbar on the set of Diff rent Strokes c 1982 Playing in Los Angeles facilitated Abdul Jabbar s trying his hand at acting He made his film debut in Bruce Lee s 1972 film Game of Death in which his character Hakim fights Billy Lo played by Lee 15 In 1980 Abdul Jabbar played co pilot Roger Murdock in Airplane 25 He has a scene in which a little boy looks at him and remarks that he is in fact Abdul Jabbar 191 spoofing the appearance of football star Elroy Crazylegs Hirsch as an airplane pilot in the 1957 drama that served as the inspiration for Airplane Zero Hour 192 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 191 This causes Abdul Jabbar s character to snap 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 191 193 When Murdock loses consciousness later in the film he collapses at the controls wearing Abdul Jabbar s goggles and yellow Lakers shorts 191 In 2014 Abdul Jabbar and Airplane co star Robert Hays character Ted Striker reprised their Airplane roles in a parody commercial promoting Wisconsin tourism 194 Abdul Jabbar center at the Rally to Restore Sanity and or Fear with Comedy Central hosts Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart Abdul Jabbar has had numerous other television and film appearances often playing himself He has had roles in movies such as Fletch Troop Beverly Hills and Forget Paris and television series such as Full House Living Single Amen Everybody Loves Raymond Martin Diff rent Strokes his height humorously contrasted with that of diminutive child star Gary Coleman The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Scrubs 21 Jump Street 195 Emergency Man from Atlantis and New Girl 196 Abdul Jabbar played a genie in a lamp in a 1984 episode of Tales from the Darkside He also played himself on the February 10 1994 episode of the sketch comedy television series In Living Color 197 Abdul Jabbar appeared in the television version of Stephen King s The Stand played the Archangel of Basketball in Slam Dunk Ernest and had a brief non speaking cameo appearance in BASEketball 198 Abdul Jabbar was also the co executive producer of the 1994 TV film The Vernon Johns Story 199 He has also made appearances on The Colbert Report in a 2006 skit called HipHopKetball II The ReJazzebration Remix 06 200 and in 2008 as a stage manager who is sent out on a mission to find Nazi gold 201 Abdul Jabbar also voiced himself in a 2011 episode of The Simpsons titled Love Is a Many Strangled Thing 202 He had a recurring role as himself on the NBC series Guys with Kids which aired from 2012 to 2013 198 On Al 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 203 In February 2019 he appeared in season 12 episode 16 of The Big Bang Theory The D amp D Vortex 204 In 2021 Abdul Jabbar made a guest appearance as himself in a season 2 episode of Dave The episode he appeared in was also named after him 205 Abdul Jabbar makes a cameo appearance as himself in the 2022 Netflix film Glass Onion A Knives Out Mystery 206 Writing In September 2018 Abdul Jabbar was announced as one of the writers for the July 2019 revival of Veronica Mars 207 208 209 Documentaries On February 10 2011 Abdul Jabbar debuted his film On the Shoulders of Giants documenting the tumultuous journey of the famed yet often overlooked New York Renaissance professional basketball team at Science Park High School in Newark New Jersey The event was simulcast live throughout the school city and state 210 In 2015 he appeared in Kareem Minority of One an HBO documentary on his life 211 In 2020 Abdul Jabbar was the executive producer and narrator of the History channel special Black Patriots Heroes of the Revolution 212 He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his narration 213 Reality television Abdul Jabbar participated in the 2013 ABC reality series Splash a celebrity diving competition 214 In April 2018 Abdul Jabbar competed in the all athlete season of season 26 of Dancing with the Stars and partnered with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold 215 Writing and activism Abdul Jabbar at a book signing in 2007 Abdul Jabbar became a best selling author and cultural critic 216 217 He published several books mostly on African American history 218 His first book his autobiography Giant Steps was written in 1983 with co author Peter Knobler The book s title is an homage to jazz great John Coltrane referring to his album Giant Steps Others include On the Shoulders of Giants My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance 219 co written with Raymond Obstfeld and Brothers in Arms The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion World War II s Forgotten Heroes co written with Anthony Walton which is a history of the first black armored unit to fight in World War II 220 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 for Time He appeared on Meet 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 221 222 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 223 In November 2014 Abdul Jabbar published an essay in Jacobin calling for just compensation for college 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 224 Commenting on Donald 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 225 Government appointmentsCultural ambassador Hillary Clinton and Abdul Jabbar 2012 In January 2012 United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that Abdul Jabbar had accepted a position as a cultural ambassador for the United States 226 During the announcement press conference Abdul Jabbar commented on the historical legacy of African Americans as representatives of U S culture I remember when Louis Armstrong first did it back for President Kennedy one of my heroes So it s nice to be following in his footsteps 227 As part of this role Abdul Jabbar has traveled to Brazil to promote education for local youths 228 President s Council on Fitness Sports and Nutrition Former President Barack Obama announced in his last days of office that he has appointed Abdul Jabbar along with Gabrielle Douglas and Carli Lloyd to the President s Council on Fitness Sports and Nutrition 229 Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee In January 2017 Abdul Jabbar was appointed to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee by United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin According to the United States Mint Abdul Jabbar is a keen coin collector whose interest in the life of Alexander Hamilton had led him into the hobby He resigned in 2018 due to what the Mint described as increasing personal obligations 230 Personal life Abdul Jabbar surrounded by children s division players during an exhibition at Club Ferro Carril Oeste of Buenos Aires 1993 Abdul Jabbar below far right and other former NBA players visit the New York NBA Store in January 2005 Abdul Jabbar met Habiba Abdul Jabbar born Janice Brown at a Lakers game during his senior year at UCLA 231 They eventually married and together had three children daughters Habiba and Sultana and son Kareem Jr who played basketball at Western Kentucky after attending Valparaiso 232 233 Abdul Jabbar and Janice divorced in 1978 He has another son Amir with Cheryl Pistono Another son Adam made an appearance on the TV sitcom Full House with him 234 In 2016 Abdul Jabbar performed a tribute to friend Muhammad Ali along with Chance the Rapper 235 Religion and name At age 24 in 1971 he converted to Islam and legally became Kareem Abdul Jabbar which means noble one servant of the Almighty 236 He was named by Hamaas Abdul Khaalis 236 237 Abdul Jabbar purchased and donated 7700 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 the 1973 Hanafi Muslim massacre Eventually Kareem found that he disagreed with some of Hamaas teachings about the Quran and they parted ways He then studied the Quran on his own and emerged from this pilgrimage with his beliefs clarified and his faith renewed 236 Abdul Jabbar was also heavily influenced by Malcolm X a leader of the Nation of Islam 236 Abdul Jabbar was invited to join the group but he refused 236 238 Abdul Jabbar has spoken about the thinking that was behind his name change when he converted to Islam 239 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 from Trinidad in the 18th century My people were Yoruba and their culture survived slavery 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 240 His name change further eroded his public image in the United States mostly in white areas 241 In 1998 Abdul Jabbar reached a settlement after he sued Miami Dolphins running back Karim Abdul Jabbar now Abdul 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 242 The football player had also been an athlete at UCLA 243 Health problems Abdul Jabbar suffers from migraines 244 and his use of cannabis to reduce the symptoms has had legal ramifications 245 In November 2009 Abdul Jabbar announced that he was suffering from a form of leukemia Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic 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 246 247 Abdul Jabbar is a spokesman for Novartis the company that produces Gleevec his cancer medication 248 In February 2011 Abdul Jabbar announced via Twitter that his leukemia was gone and he was 100 cancer free 249 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 248 In April 2015 Abdul Jabbar was admitted to hospital when he was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease Later that week on his 68th birthday he underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery at the UCLA Medical Center 250 Non athletic honors In 2011 Abdul Jabbar was awarded the Double Helix Medal for his work in raising awareness for cancer research 251 252 Also in 2011 Abdul Jabbar received an honorary degree from New York Institute of Technology 253 In 2016 Abdul Jabbar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by outgoing U S President Barack Obama 254 In 2020 Abdul Jabbar was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for his work on the documentary special Black Patriots Heroes of The Revolution 213 WorksThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items May 2016 Books Abdul Jabbar Kareem Knobler Peter 1983 Giant Steps New York Bantam Books ISBN 0553050443 Kareem with Mignon McCarthy 1990 ISBN 0 394 55927 4 Selected from Giant Steps Writers Voices 1999 ISBN 0 7857 9912 5 Black Profiles in Courage A Legacy of African American Achievement with Alan Steinberg 1996 ISBN 0 688 13097 6 A Season on the Reservation My Sojourn with the White Mountain Apaches with Stephen Singular 2000 ISBN 0 688 17077 3 Brothers in Arms The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion World War II s Forgotten Heroes with Anthony Walton 2004 ISBN 978 0 7679 0913 6 On the Shoulders of Giants My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance with Raymond Obstfeld 2007 ISBN 978 1 4165 3488 4 What Color Is My World The Lost History of African American Inventors with Raymond Obstfeld 2012 ISBN 978 0 7636 4564 9 Streetball Crew Book One Sasquatch in the Paint with Raymond Obstfeld 2013 ISBN 978 1 4231 7870 5 Streetball Crew Book Two Stealing the Game with Raymond Obstfeld 2015 ISBN 978 1423178712 Mycroft Holmes with Anna Waterhouse September 2015 ISBN 978 1 7832 9153 3 Writings on the Wall Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White with Raymond Obstfeld 2016 ISBN 978 1 6189 3171 9 Coach Wooden and Me Our 50 Year Friendship On and Off the Court 2017 ISBN 978 1538760468 Becoming Kareem Growing Up On and Off the Court 2017 ISBN 978 0316555388 Mycroft Holmes and The Apocalypse Handbook Illustrated by Josh Cassara Titan Comics 2017 ISBN 978 1785853005 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Mycroft and Sherlock with Anna Waterhouse October 9 2018 ISBN 978 1785659256 Mycroft and Sherlock The Empty Birdcage with Anna Waterhouse September 24 2019 ISBN 978 1785659300 Audio book On the Shoulders of Giants An Audio Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance 8 CD Set Vol 1 4 with Avery Brooks Jesse L Martin Maya Angelou Herbie Hancock Billy Crystal Charles Barkley James Worthy Julius Erving Jerry West Clyde Drexler Bill Russell Coach John Wooden Stanley Crouch Quincy Jones and other chart topping musicians as well as legendary actors and performers such as Samuel L Jackson 2008 ISBN 978 0 615 18301 5References a b c d e f g h i Kareem Abdul Jabbar Bio NBA com Archived from the original on January 19 2016 a b c The Game s Greatest Giants Ever ESPN March 6 2007 Retrieved December 5 2013 Aikins Mike December 27 2010 The Greatest Player in NBA History Why Kareem Abdul Jabbal Deserves the Title Bleacher Report Retrieved June 3 2013 a b c d e f All Time NBArank Kareem No 2 ESPN February 10 2016 Retrieved February 19 2016 a b Mitchell Fred March 23 2012 NBA s best all time player You be the judge Chicago Tribune Retrieved April 6 2021 Dilbeck Steve April 1 2013 The growing pains for seven footer Kareem Abdul Jabbar The National Retrieved June 3 2013 a b Julius Erving interview Grantland December 20 2013 Archived from the original on December 20 2013 Retrieved April 11 2014 via YouTube Orr Christine August 17 2014 Wooden Part 4 Recruiting Lew Alcindor Bruins Nation Retrieved June 25 2019 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Biography and Interview Achievement org American Academy of Achievement Retrieved April 1 2022 Legends profile Kareem Abdul Jabbar NBA com September 13 2021 Retrieved April 15 2022 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Kareem Abdul Jabbar Stats Basketball Reference Retrieved April 15 2022 25 Greatest Players in College Basketball ESPN March 8 2008 Retrieved December 5 2021 Kareem Abdul Jabbar IMDb cm Retrieved June 3 2013 Books by Kareem Abdul Jabbar Amazon com Retrieved June 3 2013 a b Raymond Nicholas March 20 2021 Bruce Lee s Game Of Death Why Kareem Abdul Jabbar Really Cameoed Screen Rant Retrieved January 11 2022 Kareem Abdul Jabbar named U S global cultural ambassador Los Angeles Times January 19 2012 Retrieved June 3 2013 President Obama Names Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Whitehouse gov November 16 2016 Retrieved November 16 2016 via National Archives Kareem Abdul Jabbar Biography 1947 Film Reference Retrieved April 15 2022 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Biography and Interview American Academy of Achievement Retrieved April 15 2022 Childhood in New York New York Magazine Retrieved February 22 2019 a b c d e f Alcindor The Awesome Ebony Vol 22 no 5 March 1967 pp 91 97 ISSN 0012 9011 Retrieved June 17 2021 African American Registry Mr Basketball and much more Kareem Abdul Jabbar aaregistry com The African American Registry Archived from the original on October 27 2006 Retrieved April 15 2022 a b Kareem Abdul Jabbar biography Biography com 2013 Retrieved April 15 2022 David Hoibert ed 2007 Kareem Abdul The New Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 1 15 ed Chicago Encyclopaedia Britannica Incorporated p 21 ISBN 978 159339 292 5 OCLC 25228234 Retrieved October 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 a b c d e f g Dawson Dawn P ed 2010 1992 Great athletes Basketball Revised ed Salem Press pp 1 4 ISBN 9781587654732 Retrieved June 6 2021 a b Didinger Ray May 25 1989 They Still Remember Power s Tower Philly com Retrieved April 15 2022 a b c d e Kareem Abdul Jabbar Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved May 19 2020 a b Zaccardi Nick May 22 2017 Kareem Abdul Jabbar details passing on 1968 Olympics in new book NBC Sports Retrieved April 15 2022 Abdul Jabbar Kareem April 19 2012 Freshman life has changed ESPN Retrieved April 18 2022 McSweeney John February 25 1966 Rival cage coaches agree Alcindor may be greatest Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press p 20 a b c d Lopresti Mike March 3 2017 Remembering the start of UCLA s dynasty 50 years later NCAA com Retrieved June 18 2021 Smith Dean October 2 1983 Why Freshman Should Not Play The New York Times Retrieved June 18 2021 21 Turn Out As UCLA Opens Cage Practice The San Francisco Examiner UPI October 16 1965 p 28 Retrieved June 18 2021 via Newspapers com a b c Florence Mal November 28 1965 Who s No 1 UCLA Frosh Too Hot for Varsity 75 60 Los Angeles Times Sec D pp 1 10 Retrieved June 14 2021 via Newspapers 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 Basketball Teams to Dedicate Pavilion Los Angeles Times November 21 1965 p K 5 Retrieved June 18 2021 via Newspapers com a b Crowe Jerry May 27 1990 A Grand Opening Pauley Pavilion and UCLA s Best Freshman Team Made Their Debuts Together 25 Years Ago Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 18 2021 a b Bruins Are Beaten By Freshman Quintet Corvallis Gazette Times November 29 1965 p 10 Retrieved June 18 2021 via Newspapers com Wittry Andy August 12 2020 Kareem Abdul Jabbar College stats best moments quotes NCAA com Retrieved June 18 2021 sports illustrated 1967 cover basketballs new superstar lew alcindor Google Search www google com Retrieved June 25 2019 a b Lew s Still Loose Time Magazine April 14 1967 Retrieved June 27 2020 McLeaod Mac April 8 1976 The Dunk Is Back What Does It Bring The Daily Item p 1B Retrieved June 18 2021 via Newspapers com Bill Littlefield May 19 2017 50 Years Of Coach Wooden And Kareem Through Racism Olympic Boycotts And More WBUR FM Retrieved April 15 2020 Crowe Jerry February 2 2009 His USC team stood around and waited to beat UCLA Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 18 2021 Johnson Gary K 2005 NCAA Men s Basketball Finest PDF Ncaa Men s Basketball s Finest National Collegiate Athletic Association 11 ISSN 1521 2955 Retrieved December 25 2018 Men s Basketball Award Winners PDF NCAA com p 16 Retrieved June 18 2021 Lew Alcindor HeadsHelms All American Hoop Quintet The Daily Herald p 8 Retrieved June 18 2021 via Newspapers com a b Florence Mal April 7 1974 Papa Sam Gilbert is someone special to UCLA cagers Sarasota Herald Tribune Florida Los Angeles Times p 7D 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 Wizig Jerry January 20 1988 It s been 20 years since they ve played The Game of the Century Houston Chronicle Archived from the original on October 4 2012 Nguyen Thuc Nhi January 19 2018 UCLA Houston Game of the Century still leaves impression 50 years later Los Angeles Daily News Archived from the original on January 27 2020 Eight days after scratching his cornea against Cal Abdul Jabbar was one of four UCLA starters to play all 40 minutes Esper Dwain March 25 1968 Bruins Hope Norman Stays The Independent Pasadena California p 15 Retrieved July 22 2015 via Newspapers com Gasaway John June 7 2010 John Wooden s Century Basketball Prospectus Archived from the original on July 23 2015 Retrieved July 23 2015 Lew s Revenge The Rout of Houston Archived from the original on May 6 2019 Retrieved March 7 2019 Diamant Jeff 2010 Abdul Jabbar Kareem Lew Alcindor In Curtis Edward E IV ed Encyclopedia of Muslim American History 1st ed New York Facts On File pp 2 3 ISBN 978 1 4381 3040 8 OCLC 650849872 Retrieved January 15 2020 via Google Books Smith Johnny March 30 2018 The reign of Lew Alcindor in the age of revolt Andscape Retrieved December 22 2021 Black Journal 60 Kareem American Archive American Archive of Public Broadcasting May 2 1972 Archived from the original on February 24 2021 Retrieved June 15 2020 Lakers Now Los Angeles Times January 27 2006 Archived from the original on February 2 2006 Retrieved August 10 2006 Huang Mike November 30 2017 How Bruce Lee became a muse for Kareem and an All Rookie guard ESPN Retrieved June 17 2021 UCLA 2019 2020 Men s basketball Information Guide UCLA Bruins October 2 2019 Retrieved January 11 2021 a b 2009 10 UCLA men s basketball media guide UCLA Bruins November 19 2009 Archived from the original on July 17 2011 Retrieved January 11 2022 New York Nets 1968 1975 1969 Stats History Awards and More Archived from the original on May 18 2015 Scorecard Sports Illustrated April 7 1969 Archived from the original on December 24 2013 Retrieved April 17 2022 Alcindor Rejects A B A s 3 2 Million Offer and Will Sign With Bucks The New York Times March 30 1969 Retrieved April 17 2022 Seattle SuperSonics vs Milwaukee Bucks Box Score February 21 1970 Basketball Reference Retrieved March 24 2020 Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks Box Score April 3 1970 Basketball Reference Retrieved March 24 2020 Top 10 NBA Players With The Most PPG During A Rookie Season Wilt Chamberlain Was A Scoring God Since His First Season MSN Sports November 25 2021 Retrieved December 9 2021 Jayson Tatum s rookie season ranks alongside best in Celtics history Sporting News June 18 2018 Retrieved June 6 2021 And Bucks Win Sixth The Ithaca Journal December 15 1971 p 26 Retrieved June 6 2021 via Newspapers com Oscar Had No Doubt Wisconsin State Journal May 1 2021 Section 3 page 1 Retrieved July 13 2021 via Newspapers com Spears Marc J July 12 2021 Giannis dominating like Kareem revives Bucks title hopes Andscape Retrieved July 13 2021 Smith Terence June 4 1971 Biggest Name in N B A Jabbar The New York Times p 27 Retrieved June 6 2021 Seppy Tom June 4 1971 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Also Known As Lew Alcindor To Tour Africa Sheboygan Press Associated Press p 21 Retrieved June 6 2021 via Newspapers com Abdul Jabbar is Most Valuable Kenosha News UPI March 22 1971 p 25 Retrieved June 6 2021 via Newspapers com a b Basketball Pro Chart The Lompoc Record Newspaper Enterprise Association October 24 1974 p 7 Retrieved June 6 2021 via Newspapers com Jabbar Most Valuable Player The Fresno Bee AP March 21 1974 p D1 Retrieved June 6 2021 via Newspapers com Deb Sopan July 11 2021 The Bucks Have Big Time Supporters Kareem and Oscar Robertson The New York Times Retrieved April 18 2022 Putnam Pat December 9 1974 Return of Ol Goggle Eyes Sports Illustrated Retrieved June 7 2021 Goldaper Sam September 4 1974 Robertson Ends Career The New York Times p 33 Retrieved June 7 2021 a b c d e Bonk Thomas December 25 1987 June 16 1975 A Banner Day For Lakers Kareem Takes His Post 4 Players Bucks Got in Trade Gone but He s Still on Job Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 6 2021 Goldaper Sam March 18 1975 Bucks See No Need Now to Make Deal for Unhappy Abdul Jabbar The New York Times Say It Ain t So Milwaukee Bucks Sports Illustrated May 30 2001 Archived from the original on November 4 2012 Retrieved June 10 2007 Abdul Jabbar Fractures Hand The New York Times AP October 6 1974 Section 5 page 1 Retrieved June 6 2021 a b Kareem Looks Different Acts The Same Wisconsin State Journal November 25 1974 Section 2 page 1 Retrieved June 6 2021 via Newspapers com Jabbar on the move The Journal News March 14 1975 p 14B Retrieved June 7 2021 via Newspapers com Jabbar Finally Confirms It He Wants To Be Traded Los Angeles Times UPI March 15 1975 Part III p 1 Retrieved June 7 2021 via Newspapers com a b Cady Steve June 17 1975 Abdul Jabbar Traded by Bucks for Four Lakers The New York Times Retrieved June 7 2021 Third NBA Scoring Title For McAdoo The Sacramento Bee April 13 1976 p C4 Retrieved June 7 2021 via Newspapers com Kareem keeps getting better The Bakersfield Californian October 7 1976 p 27 Retrieved June 7 2021 via Newspapers com Bock Hal Special K Kareem Abdul Jabbar Survived on Talent and a Quiet Dignity Los Angeles Times Associated Press Retrieved June 7 2021 The Players Player Jabbar Los Angeles Times April 2 1976 Section III p 2 Retrieved June 7 2021 via Newspapers com Abadie Chuck April 13 1976 Jabbar is most valuable player Hattiesburg American p 14 Retrieved June 7 2021 via Newspapers com Goldaper Sam May 24 1977 Abdul Jabbar Is Chosen M V P for a Fifth Time The New York Times Retrieved June 7 2021 Dwyer Kelly September 4 2014 Dunk History A healthy Bill Walton meets Kareem Abdul Jabbar at the summit Ball Dont Lie Retrieved June 7 2021 via Yahoo Kirkpatrick Curry May 23 1977 L A Couldn t Move the Mountain Sports Illustrated Retrieved June 7 2021 a b Green Ted October 19 1977 Jabbar scores KO Over Benson Los Angeles Times Sec III pp 1 10 Retrieved June 12 2021 via Newspapers com a b c Montgomery Paul L October 21 1977 Abdul Jabbar Fined 5 000 for One Punch The New York Times Retrieved June 12 2021 a b c d Wolfley Pete February 20 2011 Benson s NBA start did not lack punch Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Retrieved June 12 2021 a b Simmons Bill 2009 The Book of Basketball The NBA According to the Sports Guy ESPN Books New York City p 133 ISBN 978 0 345 51176 8 Bonk Thomas May 16 1985 Abdul Jabbar Tells His Side of the Fight Just to League Office Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 12 2021 Green Ted December 4 1977 An Added Punch Los Angeles Times Part III p 1 Retrieved June 12 2021 via Newspapers com Jabbar replaces Magic for 19th All Star game Journal Gazette Mattoon Illinois AP February 11 1989 p B 3 Retrieved June 12 2021 via Newspapers com After Another Hearing Kuhn Still Undecided on Blue Deal Los Angeles Times January 25 1978 Part III p 4 Retrieved June 12 2021 via Newspapers com Green Ted January 25 1978 Jabbar Silences Critics 76ers and Jabbar Los Angeles Times Part III pp 1 6 Retrieved June 12 2021 via Newspapers com Green Ted February 4 1978 Lakers Pull One Out of the Fire Los Angeles Times Part III p 1 5 Retrieved June 12 2021 via Newspapers com Green Ted April 26 1979 SuperSonics Finish Off The Lakers 106 101 Los Angeles Times Part III p 1 Retrieved June 13 2021 via Newspapers com Pearlman Jeff May 14 2014 The Magic coin flip book excerpt ESPN Retrieved June 13 2021 a b c d e f Knoblauch Austin October 11 2011 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 13 2021 a b c Mahoney Rob March 2 2022 The Ineffable Cool and Playing Style That Made the Showtime Lakers Showtime The Ringer Retrieved April 17 2022 Hollinger John June 16 2011 Greatest Finals performances 21 30 ESPN com Retrieved May 20 2022 Simmons 2009 p 598 a b c Johnson Roy S June 2 1985 For Abdul Jabbar It s a Matter of Pride The New York Times Retrieved May 20 2022 a b Penner Mark March 8 2013 The Sixers trade for Moses Malone Philadelphia Daily News Archived from the original on June 24 2019 Retrieved June 12 2022 Aschburner Steve September 13 2015 Moses Malone dead at 60 was an NBA elite National Basketball Association Archived from the original on April 19 2019 Hollinger John June 16 2011 Greatest Finals performances 11 20 ESPN Retrieved June 12 2022 Strasen Marty 2004 The Best Book of Basketball Facts amp Stats Firefly Books p 185 ISBN 155297782X Retrieved April 15 2022 via Internet Archive Schwartz Larry Kareem just kept on winning ESPN Retrieved June 13 2021 a b Dodson Aaron June 9 2017 On this day in NBA Finals history Kareem Abdul Jabbar becomes oldest Finals MVP Andscape Retrieved February 18 2022 Zillgitt Jeff May 2 2020 Day 52 without sports Don t forget Kareem Abdul Jabbar in greatest NBA player of all time debates USA Today Retrieved April 18 2022 McCallum Jack January 4 1985 When L A Buried the Garden Ghost Sports Illustrated Retrieved May 9 2022 Kareem Abdul Jabbar is hot for yoga Archived from the original on December 6 2003 Retrieved May 23 2006 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link 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 Retrieved August 10 2012 Ostler Scott September 26 1979 Lakers Hope More Is Less Los Angeles Times Part III pp 1 5 Retrieved April 9 2022 via Newspapers com Thomas Ron February 11 1983 NBA Notes Kareem loses a lot USA Today p 5C a b Talking with Kareem Abdul Jabbar Part I Los Angeles Times January 25 2006 Archived from the original on September 15 2018 Retrieved May 2 2010 Bonk Thomas September 28 1985 Lakers Move Closer to Signing Kareem for a Year or 2 More Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on March 7 2016 Johnson Roy S May 22 1983 THE LONG RUN SUCCESS OF KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR The New York Times Archived from the original on March 7 2016 Goldaper Sam February 12 1984 HAYES ENJOYING FAREWELL SEASON The New York Times Archived from the original on December 9 2015 a b Edes Gordon November 25 1986 The NBA Abdul Jabbar Adds Weight and Strength to Battle the Other 7 Footers Los Angeles Times Retrieved January 11 2021 Littwin Mike June 18 1989 Pistons Win Title With Huge Asterisk Attached Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 14 2021 a b Baker Chris June 22 1988 Abdul Jabbar Makes a Promise He ll Return Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 15 2021 a b Abdul Jabbar will return for one final season with Lakers News Journal Mansfield Ohio June 23 1988 pp 1 B 5 B Retrieved June 15 2021 via Newspapers com The Lakers Player by Player Kareem Abdul Jabbar Los Angeles Times June 23 1988 Part III A p 9 Retrieved June 15 2021 via Newspapers com Goldstein Alan June 23 1988 Guarantees no longer necessary Shreveport Journal p 3C Retrieved June 15 2021 via Newspapers com Frauenheim Norm June 22 1988 Riley s prophecy now lore The Arizona Republic pp F1 F3 Retrieved June 15 2021 via Newspapers com a b McManis Sam April 23 1989 A Last Hurrah For Abdul Jabbar a Season of Farewells Will Be Capped Today Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 14 2021 Johnson Earvin Novak William 1992 My Life Random House p 124 ISBN 9780679415695 Retrieved June 15 2021 via Internet Archive 10 memories top his all time list of great moments Des Moines Sunday Register April 30 1989 p 13D Retrieved June 14 2021 via Newspapers com a b c Broussard Chris April 25 2004 A Legend Learns That He Needs to Be Liked The New York Times Retrieved June 16 2021 a b Plaschke Bill December 2 1997 Abdul Jabbar Figures NBA Needs a Coach Kareem Los Angeles Times Retrieved June 16 2021 a b Johnson Earvin Novak William 1992 My Life Random House pp 121 123 ISBN 9780679415695 Retrieved June 15 2021 via Internet Archive Rogers John February 16 2018 A talkative Kareem Abdul Jabbar reflects on becoming himself Associated Press Retrieved June 16 2021 a b Talking with Kareem Abdul Jabbar Part II Los Angeles Times January 27 2006 Archived from the original on September 15 2018 Retrieved May 2 2010 Beard Alison January February 2012 Life s Work An Interview with Kareem Abdul Jabbar Harvard Business Review Retrieved June 16 2021 Crowe Jerry September 7 2005 Kareem Hopes to Teach Young Laker a Lesson Los Angeles Times Retrieved April 16 2020 Jonathan Lemire January 2004 Keeping Up Columbia College Today Archived from the original on June 10 2007 Retrieved June 10 2007 Doug Cantor June 1 2004 Esquire Q A Kareem Abdul Jabbar Archived from the original on May 27 2008 Retrieved June 10 2007 Lakers hire Kareem Abdul Jabbar as Special Assistant Coach NBA com September 2 2005 Retrieved June 10 2007 Markazi Arash May 19 2011 Kareem Abdul Jabbar unhappy ESPN Retrieved April 16 2020 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Volunteers As High School Coach On Indian Reservation in Arizona Jet November 23 1998 Archived from the original on October 12 2007 Retrieved June 10 2007 Abramson Mitch Kareem Abdul Jabbar promotes new book says he is not upset about lack of coaching opportunity in NBA New York Daily News Retrieved June 16 2021 NBA amp ABA Career Leaders and Records for Field Goal Pct Basketball Reference Retrieved January 11 2022 Sexton Joshua August 4 2011 LA Lakers Ranking the Most Clutch Players in Lakers History Bleacher Report Retrieved January 11 2022 a b c d Adande J A Secrets of the Skyhook ESPN Retrieved April 18 2022 DuPree David February 10 1978 5 Positions 5 Special Skills The Washington Post Retrieved April 9 2022 Harvey Randy May 26 1983 Lakers Have New Plan To Stop Malone Los Angeles Times Part III pp 1 13 Retrieved April 9 2022 via Newspapers com Hartman Steve Smith Matt 2009 The Great Book of Los Angeles Sports Lists Basic Civitas Books p 30 ISBN 978 0 7624 3520 3 Johnson Roy S May 22 1983 The Long Run Success Of Kareem Abdul Jabbar The New York Times Archived from the original on March 7 2016 Goodwin James October 28 2014 Kareem Abdul Jabbar in UAE NBA legend reveals fitness secrets Gulf News Retrieved January 11 2022 a b Bonk Thomas May 29 1984 At 37 Abdul Jabbar Is Going Against All Odds Los Angeles Times Part III pp 1 6 Retrieved April 9 2022 via Newspapers com Smith Gary December 23 1985 Now More Than Ever A Winner Sports Illustrated Retrieved April 1 2022 Ostler Scott December 19 1980 Lakers Are Finding Out Why NBA Champs Don t Repeat Los Angeles Times Part III pp 1 14 Retrieved April 9 2022 via Newspapers com Murray Jim October 6 1981 Kareem Doesn t Get Any Respect Los Angeles Times Part III pp 1 6 Retrieved April 9 2022 via Newspapers com Murray Jim November 17 1992 A Chapter Closed He Is Opening Los Angeles Times Retrieved May 20 2022 Bjarkman Peter C 2002 Boston Celtics Encyclopedia Sports Publishing p 54 ISBN 9781582615646 Retrieved December 2 2015 Addul Jabbar to miss two games The Morning News Associated Press October 14 1980 p B2 via Newspapers com Abdul Jabbar out with eye trouble The Spokesman Review December 21 1986 p D2 via Newspapers com a b DuPree David March 26 1983 Sky s the Limit With the Hook Of All Hooks The Washington Post Retrieved April 18 2022 Maule Tex March 12 2015 SI Vault How a coin flip helped the Milwaukee Bucks land Lew Alcindor Sports Illustrated Retrieved April 18 2022 Nielsen John March 8 1988 The Shot That Reigns Over the Rim The New York Times Retrieved April 18 2022 a b Turner Broderick November 12 2009 It just adds up On points Kareem Abdul Jabbar is Lakers top center Los Angeles Times Retrieved April 20 2022 Everything you need to know about the NBA s 75th Anniversary Season NBA com Retrieved October 23 2021 NBA History Rebounds Leaders ESPN Retrieved December 5 2021 All Time Leaders Blocks NBA com Archived from the original on June 20 2013 Retrieved June 3 2013 Pro Basketball s All Time All Stars Across the Eras p xxxi Scarecrow Press 2013 Simmons 2009 p 601 Abdul Jabbar Kareem August 16 2019 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Bruce Lee Was My Friend and Tarantino s Movie Disrespects Him The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved April 15 2022 a b c All time NBArank Counting down the 10 greatest centers ever ESPN January 19 2016 Archived from the original on January 20 2016 Simmons 2009 pp 594 595 Daily Dime Special Edition The game s greatest giants ever March 6 2007 Retrieved January 26 2008 SLAM s Top 100 Players Of All Time Kareem Abdul Jabbar No 4 Slam May 3 2018 Retrieved August 28 2022 Ranking the top 74 NBA players of all time Nos 10 1 ESPN May 13 2020 Retrieved May 19 2021 Heritage Auctions Summer Platinum Night Auction commands 13 67 Million Sports ha com Heritage Auctions August 30 2016 Retrieved August 28 2020 The NBA s 75th Anniversary Team ranked Where 76 basketball legends check in on our list EPSN com February 21 2022 Retrieved April 7 2022 NBA 75 Top 75 NBA players of all time from MJ and LeBron to Lenny Wilkens The Athletic February 23 2022 Retrieved April 7 2022 Hall of Famers Basketball Hall of Fame Archived from the original on April 20 2010 Retrieved August 2 2009 a b c d e f g h Kareem Abdul Jabbar Sports Reference Retrieved December 21 2021 Marshall John November 18 2007 Abdul Jabbar Honored by College Hall The Washington Post Retrieved April 15 2022 Bonk Thomas December 18 1985 Kareem Is Second NBA Player Named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Los Angeles Times Retrieved December 22 2021 Elliot Helene November 17 2012 Lakers honor Kareem Abdul Jabbar with long awaited statue Los Angeles Times Retrieved December 22 2021 a b c d Zupanic Jeffrey April 5 2017 Kareem Abdul Jabbar from Airplane to Mount Union Kent Record Courier Retrieved July 12 2021 Mertes Micah May 24 2017 Don t call me Shirley Memorable Airplane lines little known facts Omaha World Herald Retrieved July 12 2021 Abrahams Jim Zucker David Zucker Jerry June 11 1979 A I R P L A N E Shooting Script Retrieved July 13 2021 via DailyScript com Nicks Denver March 4 2014 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Reprises Airplane Role in Wisconsin Tourism Ad Time Retrieved July 12 2021 Kareem Abdul Jabaar Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved July 4 2021 Mark Medina April 10 2012 Kareem Abdul Jabbar guest stars on Fox s New Girl on Tuesday Los Angeles Times Retrieved April 12 2012 Fields Curt April 14 2006 An All Star Lineup In Living Color The Washington Post Retrieved July 13 2021 a b Kareem Abdul Jabbar List of Movies and TV Shows TV Guide Retrieved July 13 2021 Kilian Michael Vernon Johns A New Hero For America Chicago Tribune Retrieved July 13 2021 HipHopKetball II The ReJazzebration Remix 06 Comedy Central March 14 2006 Retrieved April 15 2022 Das Booty Hitler s Gold Pt 2 Comedy Central March 18 2008 Retrieved April 15 2022 The Simpsons Season 22 Episode 17 Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved July 13 2021 One on One Kareem Abdul Jabbar Part 2 Al Jazeera English February 6 2010 Event occurs at 10 10 Archived from the original on December 11 2021 Retrieved July 13 2021 Dicker Ron February 6 2019 Melissa Rauch And Kareem Abdul Jabbar Make Quite A Pair In Big Bang Theory Photo HuffPost Retrieved December 5 2021 Keveney Bill June 30 2021 How Kareem Abdul Jabbar dunking on Dave fits rapper s self deprecating TV persona USA Today Retrieved April 15 2022 Lee Lenker Maureen November 25 2022 Angela Lansbury filmed her Glass Onion role on a laptop Inside all the Knives Out 2 cameos Entertainment Weekly Retrieved November 25 2022 Polacek Scott September 25 2018 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Joins Writing Staff of Veronica Mars TV Show Reboot Bleacher Report Retrieved June 9 2019 Crucchiola Jordan September 25 2018 Veronica Mars Writers Room Adds Kareem Abdul Jabbar Of Course Vulture Retrieved June 9 2019 Gelman Vlada April 28 2019 How Kareem Abdul Jabbar Ended Up Writing for the Veronica Mars Revival TVLine Retrieved June 9 2019 Kareem Abdul Jabbar tells Newark students a tale worth learning New Jersey Star Ledger February 11 2011 Retrieved February 11 2011 Lowry Brian November 2 2015 TV Review Kareem Minority Of One Variety Archived from the original on November 4 2015 HISTORY Announces Black Patriots Heroes of the Revolution History com Retrieved July 13 2021 a b Kareem Abdul Jabbar Emmys com Retrieved July 13 2021 Bucks Legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar Making a Splash NBA com Press release February 8 2013 Thorbecke Catherine April 13 2018 Adam Rippon Tonya Harding and more superstar athletes to face off in Dancing With the Stars season 26 ABC News Retrieved April 13 2018 Desta Yohana September 26 2018 Yes Kareem Abdul Jabbar Is Really Writing for the New Veronica Mars Vanity Fair Retrieved June 9 2019 Carroll Rory April 15 2020 On this day Born April 16 1947 Kareem Abdul Jabbar American basketball player Reuters Retrieved July 4 2021 Rhoden William C June 14 2017 Locker Room Talk Abdul Jabbar Is The Best Basketball Player Period Andscape Retrieved July 4 2021 Abdul Jabbar Kareem Obstfeld Raymond 2007 On The Shoulders Of Giants My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance New York Simon amp Schuster pp 1 288 ISBN 978 1 4165 3488 4 OCLC 76168045 S2CID 190584066 ISBN 978 1 4165 4991 8 Zeise Paul May 16 2004 Plight of WWII black battalion brought to light Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved December 23 2021 Abdul Jabbar Kareem January 9 2015 Kareem Abdul Jabbar These Terrorist Attacks Are Not About Religion Time Retrieved January 27 2015 Kareem Abdul Jabbar on Meet the Press NBC News January 25 2015 Retrieved January 27 2015 Martin Michael November 1 2015 Kareem Abdul Jabbar If It s Time To Speak Up You Have To Speak Up NPR Retrieved April 15 2022 Abdul Jabbar Kareem November 12 2014 College Athletes of the World Unite Jacobin Retrieved December 14 2014 Long Michael G February 9 2021 42 Today Jackie Robinson and His Legacy p 162 ISBN 9781479805624 Beck Howard January 18 2012 Abdul Jabbar Drafted by U S as Cultural Ambassador The New York Times Archived from the original on January 3 2022 Retrieved August 20 2019 Remarks With Cultural Ambassador Kareem Abdul Jabbar U S Department of State January 18 2012 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Global Cultural Ambassador Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs eca state gov Obama makes wave of final appointments for well connected friends celebs Fox News January 18 2017 Retrieved January 18 2017 Kareem Abdul Jabbar to Step Down from Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee usmint gov United States Mint Retrieved April 21 2019 Abdul Jabbar Kareem 1983 Giant Steps New York Bantam Books p 227 ISBN 0 553 05044 3 Kareem s Son To Leave Valparaiso Chicago Tribune Retrieved February 21 2019 The Official Website of Kareem Abdul Jabbar 2008 March KareemAbdulJabbar com Archived from the original on November 23 2012 Retrieved December 18 2012 Toone Stephanie June 13 2020 Kareem Abdul Jabbar s son accused of stabbing his neighbor The Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved July 4 2021 Williams Janice July 12 2016 2016 Espy Award Nominees Archived from the original on July 15 2016 Retrieved July 15 2016 a b c d e Abdul Jabbar Kareem March 29 2015 Why I converted to Islam Opinion Al Jazeera Retrieved January 26 2020 KAREEM STILL CONTROLS ALCINDOR NAME COURT RULES Chicago Tribune February 9 1996 Retrieved January 10 2023 Center in a Storm Sports Illustrated February 19 1973 Retrieved December 23 2021 Carswell Shirley February 16 2017 Who is Kareem Abdul Jabbar The Hilltop Retrieved October 8 2021 Linderman Larry June 1 1986 A candid conversation with one of the greatest basketball players of all time Playboy Retrieved April 15 2022 Dwyre Bill January 21 2015 Let s appreciate Kareem Abdul Jabbar while he s still with us Los Angeles Times Retrieved December 23 2021 Abdul Jabbars Settle Their Suit The New York Times Associated Press April 30 1998 Retrieved August 20 2019 NBA great Kareem Abdul Jabbar wants NFL player to stop using name the former Sharmon Shah Miami Dolphin running back being sued by former basketball player Jet December 1 1997 Archived from the original on March 12 2007 Retrieved August 16 2005 Anderson Dave May 28 1984 Transferring A Headache The New York Times Retrieved May 2 2010 Abdul Jabbar in drug arrest BBC Sport July 19 2000 Retrieved May 2 2010 Turner Broderick November 10 2009 Lakers great Kareem Abdul Jabbar has leukemia Los Angeles Times Retrieved May 2 2010 Abdul Jabbar battling leukaemia BBC Sport November 10 2009 Retrieved May 2 2010 a b Kareem Abdul Jabbar updates health ESPN Associated Press February 10 2011 Archived from the original on February 13 2011 Kareem Abdul Jabbar tweets that he s 100 cancer free Los Angeles Times February 4 2011 Archived from the original on August 20 2011 Retrieved February 5 2011 Holmes Baxter April 17 2015 Kareem Abdul Jabbar has quadruple bypass surgery ESPN Retrieved April 18 2015 Double Helix Medals Dinner Doublehelixmedals cshl edu Archived from the original on January 6 2013 Retrieved December 18 2012 Kareem Abdul Jabbar on being honored with Double Helix Medal NBA lockout CNN American Morning November 17 2007 Retrieved June 8 2015 Kareem Abdul Jabbar NYIT Commencement 2011 Archived from the original on November 26 2015 Retrieved February 14 2016 Home Kareem Abdul Jabbar KareemAbdulJabbar com Retrieved June 25 2019 External linksKareem Abdul Jabbar at Wikipedia s sister projects Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Official website Career statistics and player information from NBA com and Basketball Reference com Kareem Abdul Jabbar at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Kareem Abdul Jabbar at IMDb Kareem Abdul Jabbar at AllMovie Kareem Abdul Jabbar collected news and commentary at The New York Times Appearances on C SPAN Kareem Abdul Jabbar on the Muck Rack journalist listing site Kareem Abdul Jabbar s Newsletter On Substack Portals Basketball Biography United States Sports Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kareem Abdul Jabbar amp oldid 1133126130, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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