Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made an impact.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a Hall of Fame center, is considered one of basketball's all-time greatest players. He dominated the NBA for 20 seasons, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, after a stellar college career at UCLA. He won a record six NBA MVP awards and was a 19-time All-Star. Abdul-Jabbar earned 6 NBA championships as a player and 2 as an assistant coach. Known for his signature 'skyhook' shot, he held the NBA's all-time scoring record from 1984 until LeBron James surpassed him in 2023. His accolades include multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive Team selections and two NBA Finals MVP awards.
1964: Inspired by Harlem Riot of 1964
In 1964, the Harlem riot, triggered by the fatal shooting of James Powell, sparked Alcindor's interest in racial politics and shaped his identity.
November 27, 1965: First public performance at UCLA
On November 27, 1965, Alcindor made his first public performance in UCLA's annual varsity–freshman exhibition game, scoring 31 points and 21 rebounds in the freshman team's 75-60 victory over the varsity team at Pauley Pavilion.
1966: Varsity Debut
In 1966, Alcindor made his varsity debut as a sophomore and received national coverage, scoring 56 points in his first game and leading UCLA to an undefeated 30-0 record and a national championship.
1967: Attended the Cleveland Summit
In 1967, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the only college athlete to attend the Cleveland Summit, a meeting of prominent black athletes who convened in support of Muhammad Ali's refusal to fight in the Vietnam War.
1968: Celtics Consecutive Titles
In 1968, the Boston Celtics were the last NBA team to win consecutive titles.
1969: Drafted first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks
In 1969, Alcindor was drafted first overall in the NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, turning down an offer from the Harlem Globetrotters. He also rejected a higher offer from the New York Nets due to his aversion to a bidding war.
1969: Drafted by Milwaukee Bucks
In 1969, Lew Alcindor was drafted first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA draft.
February 21, 1970: Scored 51 points against the SuperSonics
On February 21, 1970, Alcindor scored 51 points in a 140-127 win over the SuperSonics, contributing to the Bucks' improved performance.
1971: Bucks win NBA Championship and name change
In 1971, at the age of 24, Lew Alcindor led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship and subsequently adopted the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
1974: Blocks become official statistic
In 1974, the NBA started recording blocks as an official statistic, the fourth year of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career.
March 13, 1975: Trade Request Publicized
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.
1975: Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
In 1975, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would play for the final 14 seasons of his NBA career.
1978: Signs Sneaker Deal with Adidas
In 1978, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the first NBA player to sign a sneaker endorsement deal with Adidas, later becoming the first player with a signature shoe.
1979: Magic Johnson Drafted
In 1979, the Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the first overall pick of the 1979 NBA draft.
1980: Role in Airplane!
In 1980, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played co-pilot Roger Murdock in the movie "Airplane!", featuring in a memorable scene spoofing Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch's appearance as a pilot in the 1957 film "Zero Hour!"
1980: Wins Sixth MVP Award
In 1980, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won his sixth and final MVP award, maintaining a high level of performance throughout his later years.
1981: Responds to Criticism
In 1981, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar defended his playing style against criticisms of not hustling, explaining his need to conserve energy due to playing extensive minutes.
1983: Publication of Giant Steps
In 1983, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's autobiography, Giant Steps, co-written with Peter Knobler, was published.
December 5, 1984: Contract Extension
On December 5, 1984, Abdul-Jabbar agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract extension with the Lakers, with none of the money deferred.
1984: Broke NBA's Career Scoring Record
In 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke the NBA's career scoring record, establishing a new milestone in his career.
1984: Tales from the Darkside episode
In 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played a genie in a lamp in an episode of "Tales from the Darkside".
November 12, 1985: Contract Extension
On November 12, 1985, Abdul-Jabbar signed to a one-year extension of his contract at the same $2 million salary, while maintaining the option to retire after the 1985–86 season.
1986: Abdul-Jabbar Bulks Up
In 1986, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar increased his weight to 270 lb (120 kg) to guard under the basket.
1988: Lakers Win Championship
In 1988, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons to win the NBA championship. In Game 6, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar converted two crucial free throws in the final seconds to force a Game 7.
1989: Retirement from NBA
In 1989, at the age of 42, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired from the NBA as the league's all-time regular season leader in multiple statistical categories.
1989: Lakers Lose NBA Finals
In 1989, the Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Detroit Pistons in a four-game series in the NBA Finals.
February 10, 1994: Appearance on In Living Color
On February 10, 1994, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played himself on an episode of the sketch comedy television series "In Living Color".
1994: Co-executive producer of The Vernon Johns Story
In 1994, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the co-executive producer of the TV film The Vernon Johns Story.
1995: Abdul-Jabbar Expresses Coaching Interest
In 1995, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar expressed his interest in coaching and sharing his basketball knowledge, but faced limited opportunities due to his past reputation for being introverted and unfriendly with the media.
1998: Volunteer Coach at Alchesay High School
In 1998, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar served as a volunteer coach at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona.
2002: Oklahoma Storm Championship
In 2002, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar coached the Oklahoma Storm of the United States Basketball League, leading them to the league championship.
2005: Joins Lakers as Assistant Coach
In 2005, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar returned to the Los Angeles Lakers as a special assistant coach to Phil Jackson, mentoring young center Andrew Bynum.
2006: Appearance on The Colbert Report
In 2006, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared on The Colbert Report in a skit called "HipHopKetball II: The ReJazzebration Remix '06".
2008: Appearance as a stage manager
In 2008, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared as a stage manager who is sent out on a mission to find Nazi gold.
February 10, 2011: Debut of On the Shoulders of Giants
On February 10, 2011, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar debuted his film On the Shoulders of Giants, which documented the New York Renaissance professional basketball team, at Science Park High School in Newark, New Jersey.
2011: Voiced himself in The Simpsons
In 2011, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar voiced himself in an episode of The Simpsons titled "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing".
2011: Awarded the Double Helix Medal and honorary degree
In 2011, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Double Helix Medal for his work in raising awareness for cancer research and received an honorary degree from New York Institute of Technology.
2011: Leaves Lakers Coaching Position
In 2011, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's tenure as a special assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers concluded after six seasons.
January 2012: Appointed as a U.S. cultural ambassador
In January 2012, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was appointed as a cultural ambassador for the United States by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, traveling to Brazil to promote education.
2012: Recurring role on Guys with Kids
From 2012 to 2013, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a recurring role as himself on the NBC series Guys with Kids.
2012: Selected as U.S. Global Cultural Ambassador
In 2012, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to serve as a U.S. global cultural ambassador.
2013: Recurring role on Guys with Kids
From 2012 to 2013, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a recurring role as himself on the NBC series Guys with Kids.
2013: Unsuccessful Coaching Bids
In 2013, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ended his coaching career after unsuccessfully lobbying for head coach positions with UCLA and the Milwaukee Bucks.
2013: Participation in Splash reality series
In 2013, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar participated in the ABC reality series Splash, a celebrity diving competition.
November 2014: Published essay in Jacobin on college athlete compensation
In November 2014, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar published an essay in Jacobin calling for just compensation for college athletes.
2014: Airplane! Parody Commercial
In 2014, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Hays reprised their roles from "Airplane!" in a parody commercial promoting Wisconsin tourism.
2014: UCLA Bruins Wear 'The Blueprint' Crazy 8
In 2014, on February 13, the UCLA Bruins wore "The Blueprint" Crazy 8 sneakers against Colorado, and the shoes were sold online and at an Adidas store in New Orleans during NBA All-Star weekend starting on February 14.
January 25, 2015: Appearance on Meet the Press
On January 25, 2015, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared on Meet the Press to discuss his column on Islam and violence.
2015: Appearance in HBO documentary Kareem: Minority of One
In 2015, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared in Kareem: Minority of One, an HBO documentary about his life.
2015: Adult fiction debut with Mycroft Holmes
In 2015, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made his adult fiction writing debut with the Victorian mystery novel Mycroft Holmes, co-written with Anna Waterhouse.
January 2017: Appointed to Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
In January 2017, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was appointed to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee by the United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.
2017: Appearance in Linkin Park's "Good Goodbye" music video
In 2017, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared in the music video for "Good Goodbye" by Linkin Park, playing a warlord or emperor of a dunk contest.
2017: Condemned Donald Trump's travel ban
In 2017, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar condemned Donald Trump's travel ban, calling it a rejection of sacred values.
2017: Spoke at Ramadan event at Israeli consulate
In 2017, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spoke at an event marking Ramadan at the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles, emphasizing Muslim-Jewish relations.
April 2018: Competed in Dancing with the Stars
In April 2018, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar competed in season 26 of Dancing with the Stars, partnering with Lindsay Arnold.
September 2018: Announced as writer for Veronica Mars revival
In September 2018, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was announced as one of the writers for the July 2019 revival of Veronica Mars.
2018: NBA Rookie Record tied
In 2018, Jayson Tatum tied Alcindor's NBA rookie record with 10 or more games of 20+ points scored during the playoffs.
2018: Publication of Mycroft and Sherlock
In 2018, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar published Mycroft and Sherlock, co-written with Anna Waterhouse, a sequel to Mycroft Holmes.
2018: Resigned from Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
In 2018, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar resigned from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee due to increasing personal obligations.
February 2019: Appearance on The Big Bang Theory
In February 2019, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared in season 12 episode 16 of The Big Bang Theory, titled "The D&D Vortex".
July 2019: Writer for Veronica Mars revival
In July 2019, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar worked as one of the writers for the revival of Veronica Mars.
2019: Publication of Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage
In 2019, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar published Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage, co-written with Anna Waterhouse, the third book in the Mycroft Holmes series.
2020: Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award
In 2020, Kareem 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.
2020: Executive producer and narrator of Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution
In 2020, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the executive producer and narrator of the History channel special Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his narration.
June 2021: Published essay on COVID-19 vaccine refusal
In June 2021, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar published an essay in Jacobin on the negative impact of refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on public health, criticizing Kyrie Irving among others.
2021: Guest appearance on Dave
In 2021, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made a guest appearance as himself in a season 2 episode of Dave, with the episode being named after him.
2022: Cameo in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
In 2022, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made a cameo appearance as himself in the Netflix film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
February 7, 2023: James Breaks Scoring Record
On February 7, 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 career points to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Abdul-Jabbar attended the game and passed the game ball to James during the ceremony.
2023: Appearance on Billions
In 2023, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared as himself in season 7, episode 3 of the Showtime series Billions.
2024: James Surpasses All-Star Selections
In 2024, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for most All-Star team selections.
2025: Named Harvard College Class Day speaker
In 2025, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named Harvard College Class Day speaker after receiving an honorary degree from the same.
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