AbdulJabbar

Abdul-Jabbar, commonly known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, is an American former professional basketball player regarded as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on April 16, 1947, he played 20 seasons in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, winning six championships and six regular-season Most Valuable Player awards.

He grew up in New York City and attended Power Memorial Academy before enrolling at UCLA, where he led the Bruins to three consecutive NCAA championships (1967–1969) and earned national player-of-the-year honors. He also contributed to the United States’ gold-medal-winning team at the 1968 Olympics.

In the NBA, Alcindor was the first overall pick in 1969 by Milwaukee. With the Bucks, he won the 1971 NBA title and became a transformative force in the league. After a 1975 trade to the Lakers, he captured five more championships and popularized a dominant skyhook shot. He was named league MVP six times and appeared in numerous All-Star games.

A devout Muslim, he changed his name from Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. to Lew Alcindor in 1969 and then to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971. Following his playing career, he pursued writing, public speaking, and acting, addressing history, culture, and social issues. He is the author of several books, including Be Becoming Kareem: Growing Up on and Off the Court, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Abdul-Jabbar’s legacy extends beyond basketball. He is known for longevity, on-court excellence, and his contributions to civil rights and education. He held the NBA’s all-time regular-season scoring record (38,387 points) until LeBron James surpassed it in 2023.