Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American basketball player, widely considered one of the greatest of all time. He played 20 seasons in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, winning six NBA championships (six as player, two as assistant coach) and a record six MVP awards. A 19-time All-Star, Abdul-Jabbar was renowned for his signature skyhook shot. He also played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. A Hall of Fame inductee, he held the NBA's all-time scoring record from 1984 until 2023. He was also a 15-time All-NBA Team member and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection.
On April 16, 1947, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was born. He is an American former professional basketball player who played for 20 seasons in the NBA.
In 1950, at the age of 3, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. moved with his family to the Dyckman Street projects in the Inwood neighborhood of Upper Manhattan.
In 1957, the drama Zero Hour! was released. The movie served as the inspiration for Airplane!.
In 1964, the Harlem riot, triggered by the shooting of James Powell, sparked Alcindor's interest in racial politics, leading him to identify with Black Power.
On November 27, 1965, Alcindor made his first public performance in UCLA's annual varsity–freshman exhibition game at the Pauley Pavilion. Alcindor scored 31 points and had 21 rebounds leading the freshman team to a 75-60 victory.
In 1966, Alcindor made his varsity debut, receiving national coverage. He scored 56 points in his first game, breaking the UCLA single-game record. The team had an undefeated 30-0 record.
In 1967, Abdul-Jabbar, as the only college athlete, attended the Cleveland Summit. This was a meeting of prominent black athletes convened in support of Muhammad Ali's refusal to fight in the Vietnam War.
In 1967, Alcindor was named national player of the year and played on an NCAA basketball champion team.
On January 12, 1968, during a game against California (UC Berkeley), Alcindor suffered a scratched left cornea when struck by Tom Henderson in a rebound battle.
During the summer of 1968, Alcindor converted to Sunni Islam and boycotted the 1968 Summer Olympics to protest the unequal treatment of African Americans.
In 1968, Alcindor played on an NCAA basketball champion team.
In 1969, Alcindor earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in history. He also practiced martial arts, studying aikido and Jeet Kune Do.
In 1969, Alcindor was drafted first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA draft. He spent six seasons with the team.
In 1969, Alcindor was named national player of the year, played on an NCAA basketball champion team and he became the first-ever Naismith College Player of the Year.
In 1969, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Alcindor) was drafted first overall in the NBA by the Milwaukee Bucks and also chosen first overall in the ABA draft by the New York Nets, ultimately choosing the Bucks.
On February 21, 1970, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 51 points in a 140-127 win over the SuperSonics.
On June 3, 1971, at a State Department press conference, Alcindor announced his decision to be known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a Muslim name that translates to "noble one, servant of the Almighty".
At age 24 in 1971, Alcindor converted to Islam and legally changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, meaning 'noble one, servant of the Almighty', named by Hamaas Abdul Khaalis.
In 1971, Abdul-Jabbar married Habiba Abdul-Jabbar (born Janice Brown) after meeting her at a Lakers game. Together, they had three children.
In 1971, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar began publicly using his adopted Arabic name after converting to Sunni Islam in 1968.
In 1971, at age 24, Alcindor led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship. Following this triumph, he adopted the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In 1972, Abdul-Jabbar made his film debut in Bruce Lee's movie, Game of Death.
In 1972, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared in Bruce Lee's film "Game of Death".
Until 1972, freshman were ineligible to play varsity basketball.
In 1973, Abdul-Jabbar embarked on a pilgrimage to Libya and Saudi Arabia to learn Arabic for self-study of the Quran, renewing his faith.
In September 1974, Oscar Robertson retired after failing to reach a contract agreement with the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming a free agent in the off season.
In 1974, Abdul-Jabbar began wearing his trademark goggles after getting poked in the eye during a preseason game.
In 1974, blocks became an officially recorded statistic in the NBA, marking the fourth year of Abdul-Jabbar's career.
On March 13, 1975, sportscaster Marv Albert reported that Abdul-Jabbar had requested a trade to either New York or Los Angeles, preferably to the Knicks.
In 1975, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played the final 14 seasons of his NBA career and won five NBA championships.
In 1976, while playing in Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar began practicing yoga to improve his flexibility, contributing to his physical fitness and longevity in the NBA.
In the 1976-77 season, the ban on dunking in college basketball, known as the "Alcindor Rule", was rescinded.
In 1977, during the opening game of the season, Abdul-Jabbar broke his right hand after punching Milwaukee's Kent Benson in retaliation to an elbow, causing him to miss almost two months and 20 games.
In 1978, Abdul-Jabbar and Janice Brown divorced.
In 1978, Abdul-Jabbar became the first NBA player to sign a sneaker endorsement deal with Adidas. Soon after, he became the first player with a signature shoe.
In 1978, Abdul-Jabbar was not named to the NBA All-Star Game for the only time in his 20-year career.
In 1979, Abdul-Jabbar briefly stopped wearing goggles during the playoffs.
Prior to the 1979–80 season, Abdul-Jabbar gained 10 pounds (4.5 kg) after switching from free weights to Nautilus equipment and changed his exercise from tai chi to yoga.
In October 1980, Abdul-Jabbar resumed wearing goggles after being accidentally poked in the right eye by Houston's Rudy Tomjanovich.
In 1980, Abdul-Jabbar played the role of co-pilot Roger Murdock in the comedy film Airplane!, where he has a memorable scene breaking character and expressing frustration with criticisms about his defensive play.
In 1980, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar claimed his sixth and final MVP award.
In 1981, Abdul-Jabbar responded to criticism that he did not hustle, explaining that he needed to conserve energy to play 42 to 45 minutes a night effectively.
On December 22, 1983, Abdul-Jabbar scored 10 points against Golden State, dropping his season average to 17.7, almost 10 points below his career average.
In 1983, Abdul-Jabbar published his first book, the autobiography 'Giant Steps', co-written with Peter Knobler. The book's title is an homage to jazz great John Coltrane's album 'Giant Steps'.
In 1983, Abdul-Jabbar's house burned down, destroying many of his belongings, including his jazz LP collection. Lakers fans sent and brought him albums, which he found uplifting.
On April 5, 1984, playing against Utah, Abdul-Jabbar broke Wilt Chamberlain's record for the most career points in the NBA.
On December 5, 1984, Abdul-Jabbar agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract extension with the Lakers.
In 1984, Abdul-Jabbar appeared in an episode of Tales from the Darkside, playing a genie in a lamp.
In 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke the NBA's career scoring record, solidifying his status as a dominant force in basketball.
On November 12, 1985, Abdul-Jabbar signed a one-year extension of his contract at the same $2 million salary, retaining the option to retire after the 1985–86 season.
In 1985, Abdul-Jabbar won his second Finals MVP award, becoming the oldest player to win the award at 38 years and 54 days old.
In 1985, Pat Riley hailed Abdul-Jabbar as the greatest player ever, citing his broken records, championships, and enduring responsibility.
In December 1986, Abdul-Jabbar missed three games due to corneal erosion syndrome, a condition resulting from years of being jabbed in the eyes.
In 1986, Abdul-Jabbar increased his weight to 270 lb (120 kg) to try to guard under the basket more effectively.
In 1986, Abdul-Jabbar played in his 17th season, breaking the NBA record for seasons played.
After winning the championship over Boston in 1987, Abdul-Jabbar signed a two-year contract with the Lakers.
In 1988, the Lakers, after a guarantee from Riley, defeated the Detroit Pistons to win the NBA Championship. In Game 6, Abdul-Jabbar made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining, extending the series to seven games.
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 categories.
In 1989, the Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons in a four-game sweep in the NBA finals, marking the end of Abdul-Jabbar's career.
On February 10, 1994, Abdul-Jabbar played himself on an episode of the sketch comedy television series In Living Color.
In 1994, Abdul-Jabbar was the co-executive producer of the TV film 'The Vernon Johns Story'.
In 1995, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar started expressing interest in coaching, aiming to share his vast basketball knowledge. However, he faced limited opportunities due to a reputation for being introverted and unfriendly with the media during his playing career, which led to perceptions of being aloof.
In 1998, Abdul-Jabbar reached a settlement after suing Miami Dolphins running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar for profiting off his famous name. The football player was required to change his jersey nameplate to 'Abdul'.
In 1998, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar volunteered as a basketball coach at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona.
In 2002, Abdul-Jabbar served as the head coach of the Oklahoma Storm in the United States Basketball League, successfully leading the team to win the league's championship that season.
In 2005, Abdul-Jabbar rejoined the Lakers as a special assistant coach to Phil Jackson, where he mentored the team's young center, Andrew Bynum, for six seasons.
In 2006, Abdul-Jabbar appeared on The Colbert Report in a skit called "HipHopKetball II: The ReJazzebration Remix '06".
In 2007, ESPN named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the greatest center of all time, recognizing his exceptional career and contributions to basketball.
In 2007, ESPN voted Abdul-Jabbar as the best center of all time, ahead of Wilt Chamberlain.
In December 2008, Abdul-Jabbar was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.
In 2008, Abdul-Jabbar appeared on The Colbert Report as a stage manager tasked with finding Nazi gold.
In 2008, ESPN recognized Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the greatest player in college basketball history, highlighting his dominance and achievements during his time at UCLA.
In November 2009, Abdul-Jabbar announced that he was suffering from Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, diagnosed in December 2008. He became a spokesman for Novartis, the producer of his medication, Gleevec.
On February 10, 2011, Abdul-Jabbar debuted his film 'On the Shoulders of Giants', documenting the 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.
In February 2011, Abdul-Jabbar initially announced via Twitter that his leukemia was gone, but later clarified that his cancer was at an absolute minimum.
In 2011, Abdul-Jabbar voiced himself in an episode of The Simpsons titled "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing".
In 2011, Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Double Helix Medal for his work in raising awareness for cancer research. Also in 2011, Abdul-Jabbar received an honorary degree from New York Institute of Technology.
In 2011, Abdul-Jabbar's six-season tenure as a special assistant coach with the Lakers came to an end.
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. He traveled to Brazil to promote education for local youths.
From 2012 to 2013, Abdul-Jabbar had a recurring role as himself on the NBC series 'Guys with Kids'.
In 2012, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to serve as a U.S. global cultural ambassador.
From 2012 to 2013, Abdul-Jabbar had a recurring role as himself on the NBC series 'Guys with Kids'.
In 2013, Abdul-Jabbar moved on from coaching after unsuccessfully lobbying for open head coach positions with UCLA and the Milwaukee Bucks.
In 2013, Abdul-Jabbar participated in the ABC reality series 'Splash', a celebrity diving competition.
In 2013, Julius Erving stated that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is still the number one all-time player to start a franchise with.
In November 2014, Abdul-Jabbar published an essay in Jacobin advocating for just compensation for college athletes, arguing against the 'indentured servitude' of college athletes.
In 2014, Abdul-Jabbar and Airplane! co-star Robert Hays reprised their Airplane! roles in a parody commercial promoting Wisconsin tourism.
In 2014, the UCLA Bruins wore "The Blueprint" Crazy 8 shoes against Colorado on Feb. 13, and the shoes were sold online and at an Adidas store in New Orleans during NBA All-Star weekend, starting on Feb. 14.
On January 25, 2015, Abdul-Jabbar appeared on 'Meet the Press' to discuss his column about Islam and its portrayal in the media, addressing concerns about the actions of violent extremists claiming to be Muslim.
In April 2015, Abdul-Jabbar was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery at the UCLA Medical Center on his 68th birthday.
In 2015, Abdul-Jabbar appeared in 'Kareem: Minority of One', an HBO documentary about his life.
In 2015, Abdul-Jabbar made his adult fiction writing debut with the Victorian mystery novel 'Mycroft Holmes', based on the character from the Sherlock Holmes stories, co-written with Anna Waterhouse.
In 2015, ESPN named Abdul-Jabbar the best center in NBA history and ranked him No. 2 among the greatest NBA players ever, behind Michael Jordan.
In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar performed a tribute to his friend Muhammad Ali along with Chance the Rapper.
In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama.
In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar's only recognized rookie card became the most expensive basketball card ever sold, fetching $501,900 at auction.
In January 2017, Abdul-Jabbar was appointed to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee by the United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin due to his interest in coin collecting and the life of Alexander Hamilton.
In 2017, Abdul-Jabbar appeared in the music video for 'Good Goodbye' by Linkin Park, playing a warlord in a dunk contest.
In 2017, Abdul-Jabbar condemned Donald Trump's travel ban, criticizing the 'absence of reason and compassion'.
In 2017, Abdul-Jabbar spoke at a Ramadan event organized by the Israeli consul in Los Angeles, stressing the importance of Muslim-Jewish relations and cross-cultural exchange.
In April 2018, Abdul-Jabbar competed in season 26 of 'Dancing with the Stars', partnered with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold.
In September 2018, Abdul-Jabbar was announced as one of the writers for the July 2019 revival of 'Veronica Mars'.
In 2018, Abdul-Jabbar co-authored 'Mycroft and Sherlock' with Anna Waterhouse, a sequel to 'Mycroft Holmes'.
In 2018, Abdul-Jabbar resigned from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee due to increasing personal obligations.
In 2018, Jayson Tatum tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA rookie record with 10 or more games of 20+ points scored during the playoffs.
In 2018, Slam ranked Abdul-Jabbar as the No. 4 player in their "Top 100 Players Of All-Time" list.
In February 2019, Abdul-Jabbar appeared in season 12, episode 16 of 'The Big Bang Theory', titled 'The D&D Vortex'.
Abdul-Jabbar was one of the writers for the July 2019 revival of 'Veronica Mars'.
As of the 2019-20 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team season, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still holds or shares a number of individual records at UCLA.
In 2019, Abdul-Jabbar co-authored 'Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage' with Anna Waterhouse, the third novel in the Mycroft Holmes series.
In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer eleven years earlier.
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.
In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar was the executive producer and narrator of the History channel special 'Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution', earning an Emmy nomination for his narration.
In 2020, ESPN ranked Abdul-Jabbar as No. 3 in their list of the top 74 NBA players of all time, recognizing him as the best center ever, ahead of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.
In June 2021, Abdul-Jabbar published an essay in Jacobin discussing the negative impact of COVID-19 vaccine refusal on public health, including criticism of Kyrie Irving.
In 2021, Abdul-Jabbar made a guest appearance as himself in a season 2 episode of 'Dave'. The episode was also named after him.
In 2022, Abdul-Jabbar made a cameo appearance as himself in the Netflix film 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'.
In 2022, Abdul-Jabbar was ranked No. 3 (first in his position) in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list and No. 3 (behind Jordan and James) in a similar list by The Athletic.
On February 7, 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 career points to become the NBA's new career scoring leader. Abdul-Jabbar was present at the game and passed the game ball to James during the in-game ceremony.
In February 2023, Abdul-Jabbar spoke out about his atrial fibrillation diagnosis. He partnered with Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer's "No Time to Wait" to raise awareness of the symptoms of the irregular and rapid heart rhythm condition which increase the risk of stroke.
In December 2023, Abdul-Jabbar was hospitalized after he fell and broke his hip while attending a concert.
In 2023, Abdul-Jabbar appeared as himself in season 7, episode 3 of the Showtime series 'Billions'.
In 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA career scoring record, ending Abdul-Jabbar's long-held reign.
In 2023, as LeBron James approached breaking the NBA career scoring record, Pat Riley reaffirmed that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remains the greatest player ever, emphasizing his unstoppable skyhook shot.
In 2024, LeBron James surpassed Abdul-Jabbar's record of 19 All-Star team selections.
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