History of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Timeline
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player widely considered one of the greatest of all time. Dominating as a center for 20 seasons in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, he won a record six MVP awards. He was a 19-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA Team member, and 11-time All-Defensive Team selection. Abdul-Jabbar secured six NBA championships as a player and two as an assistant coach, earning two Finals MVP awards. A Hall of Famer, he held the NBA's career scoring record from 1984 until LeBron James surpassed him in 2023. His accolades include membership in three NBA anniversary teams.
April 16, 1947: Birth of Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.
On April 16, 1947, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was born.
1950: Moved to Dyckman Street Projects
In 1950, at the age of 3, Alcindor moved with his family to the Dyckman Street projects in the Inwood neighborhood of Upper Manhattan.
1957: Inspiration for Airplane!
In 1957, the drama Zero Hour! served as the inspiration for Airplane!, which Abdul-Jabbar would later appear in in 1980.
1964: Inspired by Harlem Riot
In 1964, the Harlem riot, triggered by the fatal shooting of James Powell, sparked Alcindor's interest in racial politics, shaping his identity and activism.
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 grabbing 21 rebounds to lead the freshman team to a 75-60 victory.
1966: Varsity Debut and National Coverage
In 1966, Alcindor made his varsity debut as a sophomore, receiving national coverage and scoring 56 points in his first game, breaking the UCLA single-game record.
1967: Attendance at Cleveland Summit
In 1967, Abdul-Jabbar, as the only college athlete, attended the Cleveland Summit, a meeting of prominent black athletes supporting Muhammad Ali's refusal to fight in the Vietnam War.
1967: National Player of the Year
In 1967, Alcindor won the National player of the year award.
January 12, 1968: Eye Injury
On January 12, 1968, Alcindor suffered a scratched left cornea during a game against California (UC Berkeley), leading to future eye protection measures.
1968: Conversion to Islam and Olympic Boycott
During the summer of 1968, Alcindor converted to Sunni Islam and boycotted the 1968 Summer Olympics to protest the unequal treatment of African Americans.
1968: NCAA Champion
In 1968, Alcindor played on three NCAA basketball champion teams.
1969: Earned Bachelor of Arts Degree
In 1969, Alcindor completed his studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in history and practiced martial arts.
1969: NBA and ABA Drafts
In 1969, Alcindor was drafted first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA draft, declining an offer from the Harlem Globetrotters. He also rejected the New York Nets offer as too low.
1969: National Player of the Year, NCAA Champion
In 1969, Alcindor was named a three-time national player of the year and played on three NCAA basketball champion teams.
1969: Drafted by the 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 SuperSonics
On February 21, 1970, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 51 points in a 140–127 win over the SuperSonics.
1970: Acquisition of Oscar Robertson
In 1970, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard Oscar Robertson.
June 3, 1971: Name Change to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
On June 3, 1971, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announced at a State Department press conference that he wanted to be called by his Muslim name, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, translating to "noble one, servant of the Almighty".
1971: Marriage to Janice Brown
In 1971, Abdul-Jabbar married Janice Brown (Habiba Abdul-Jabbar) and had three children with her.
1971: Public Use of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Name
In 1971, Alcindor began publicly using the Arabic name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, after converting to Sunni Islam in 1968.
1971: Won First NBA Title and Finals MVP
In 1971, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA title, sweeping the Baltimore Bullets, and Abdul-Jabbar was named the Finals MVP.
1971: Won First NBA Championship and Changed Name
In 1971, Lew Alcindor led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship at age 24, and subsequently took the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
1971: Conversion to Islam
In 1971, at age 24, Abdul-Jabbar converted to Islam and legally changed his name.
1972: Film Debut in Game of Death
In 1972, Abdul-Jabbar made his film debut in Bruce Lee's film Game of Death.
1972: Appearance in Bruce Lee's Film
In 1972, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared in Bruce Lee's film Game of Death, showcasing his martial arts skills.
1972: Freshman Ineligibility Rule
Until 1972, freshman were ineligible to play varsity, causing Alcindor to be relegated to the freshman team in his first year with the Bruins.
1973: Pilgrimage to Libya and Saudi Arabia
In 1973, Abdul-Jabbar embarked on a pilgrimage to Libya and Saudi Arabia to study the Quran.
September 1974: Robertson Retires
In September 1974, Oscar Robertson, who was a free agent in the offseason, retired after being unable to agree on a contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
1974: Began Wearing Goggles
Abdul-Jabbar began wearing his trademark goggles in 1974 after getting poked in the eye during preseason.
1974: MVP Award and Finals Appearance
In 1974, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won his third MVP Award in four years and led the Milwaukee Bucks to their fourth consecutive Midwest Division title. He was among the top five NBA players in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots, and field goal percentage. The Bucks advanced to the 1974 NBA Finals, losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games.
1974: Blocks Recorded
In 1974, the basketball statistic for blocks was first recorded, marking the fourth year of Abdul-Jabbar's career. He retired as the third all-time in registered blocks (3,189).
March 13, 1975: Trade Request
On March 13, 1975, it was reported that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade to either New York or Los Angeles.
1975: Trade to the Lakers
In 1975, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Milwaukee Bucks.
1975: Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
In 1975, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played the final 14 seasons of his career.
1976: Lakers improved record
In 1976, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the NBA.
1976: Dunking Restriction Rescinded
In 1976, the ban on dunking in college basketball, initially implemented to curtail Alcindor's dominance, was rescinded.
1976: Started Doing Yoga
In 1976, while in Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar started doing yoga to improve his flexibility, marking a commitment to physical fitness that contributed to his longevity in the NBA.
1977: Hand Injury
In 1977, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke his right hand punching Milwaukee's Kent Benson in retaliation to an elbow. He missed almost two months and was fined a then-league record $5,000.
1978: Divorce from Janice Brown
In 1978, Abdul-Jabbar and Janice Brown divorced.
1978: Signed Sneaker Endorsement Deal
In 1978, Abdul-Jabbar became the first NBA player to sign a sneaker endorsement deal with Adidas, and later, the first player with a signature shoe.
1978: All-Star Game Snub
In 1978, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was not named to the NBA All-Star Game, the only time in his 20-year career that he was not selected.
1978: Playoff Elimination
In 1978, The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round.
1979: Briefly Abandoned Goggles
Abdul-Jabbar briefly abandoned wearing his goggles in the 1979 playoffs.
1979: Playoff Semifinals Elimination
In 1979, The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by the Seattle SuperSonics in the semifinals.
1979: Lakers Acquire Magic Johnson
In 1979, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Magic Johnson, paving the way for the "Showtime" era.
1979: Weight Training Changes
Prior to the 1979–80 season, Abdul-Jabbar gained 10 pounds (4.5 kg) from 240 to 250 pounds (110 kg) after switching from free weights to Nautilus equipment. He also switched that offseason from tai chi to yoga.
October 1980: Resumed Wearing Goggles
In October 1980, Abdul-Jabbar resumed wearing goggles after being accidentally poked in the right eye by Houston's Rudy Tomjanovich.
1980: Role in Airplane!
In 1980, Abdul-Jabbar played co-pilot Roger Murdock in Airplane!, a comedic role spoofing Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch's appearance in the 1957 drama Zero Hour!.
1980: Won Sixth MVP Award
In 1980, Abdul-Jabbar won his sixth and final MVP award, continuing to average above 20 points in the following six seasons.
1980: NBA Championship and Finals Injury
In 1980, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won his record sixth MVP award and led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Championship, although he sprained his ankle in Game 5 of the finals.
1981: Response to Criticism
In 1981, Abdul-Jabbar responded to criticism about his hustle, explaining his need to conserve energy due to playing extensive minutes each game.
1981: Another Championship
In 1981, The Los Angeles Lakers won another NBA championship.
December 22, 1983: Low Scoring Game
On December 22, 1983, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 10 points against the Golden State Warriors, dropping his season average to 17.7 points per game.
1983: Publication of Giant Steps
In 1983, Abdul-Jabbar's autobiography, "Giant Steps", co-authored with Peter Knobler, was published.
1983: House Fire
In 1983, Abdul-Jabbar's house burned down, destroying many of his belongings, including his jazz LP collection.
1983: Finals Loss to 76ers
In 1983, the Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals but were swept by the Philadelphia 76ers.
April 5, 1984: Breaks Scoring Record
On April 5, 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke Wilt Chamberlain's record for most career points in the NBA, scoring on his signature skyhook against the Utah Jazz.
December 5, 1984: Contract Extension
On December 5, 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers for $2 million.
1984: Tales from the Darkside
In 1984, Abdul-Jabbar played a genie in a lamp in an episode of Tales from the Darkside.
1984: Broke NBA's Career Scoring Record
In 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke the NBA's career scoring record, marking a significant milestone in his career.
November 12, 1985: Contract Extension
On November 12, 1985, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar signed a one-year extension of his contract, while maintaining the option to retire after the 1985-86 season.
1985: Finals MVP
In 1985, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won his second Finals MVP, becoming the oldest player to win the award. The Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in the finals.
1985: Riley Called Abdul-Jabbar the Greatest Player Ever
In 1985, Pat Riley called Abdul-Jabbar the greatest player ever.
December 1986: Missed Games Due to Corneal Erosion
In December 1986, Abdul-Jabbar missed three games due to corneal erosion syndrome.
1986: Breaks NBA record
In 1986, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in his 17th season, breaking the previous NBA record for seasons played of 16.
1987: NBA Championship
In 1987, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers won the championship over the Boston Celtics.
1988: NBA Championship
In 1988, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, defeated the Detroit Pistons for the NBA championship.
1989: Final Season
In 1989, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played his final season. The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA finals.
1989: Retirement from NBA
In 1989, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired from the NBA at the age of 42, holding numerous records at the time.
February 10, 1994: Appearance on In Living Color
On February 10, 1994, Abdul-Jabbar played himself on an episode of the sketch comedy television series In Living Color.
1994: Co-Executive Producer
In 1994, Abdul-Jabbar was the co-executive producer of the TV film The Vernon Johns Story.
1995: Interest in Coaching
In 1995, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar began expressing interest in coaching and imparting knowledge from his playing days.
1998: Settlement in Name Lawsuit
In 1998, Abdul-Jabbar reached a settlement after suing Miami Dolphins running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar over name usage.
1998: Volunteer Coach at Alchesay High School
In 1998, Abdul-Jabbar served as a volunteer coach at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona.
2002: Head Coach of Oklahoma Storm
In 2002, Abdul-Jabbar was the head coach of the Oklahoma Storm of the United States Basketball League, leading the team to the league's championship that season.
2005: Special Assistant Coach for the Lakers
In 2005, Abdul-Jabbar returned to the Lakers as a special assistant coach to Phil Jackson, where he mentored young center Andrew Bynum.
2006: The Colbert Report Skit
In 2006, Abdul-Jabbar appeared on The Colbert Report in a skit called "HipHopKetball II: The ReJazzebration Remix '06".
2007: Voted Best Center of All Time by ESPN
In 2007, Abdul-Jabbar was voted the best center of all time by ESPN, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.
December 2008: Leukemia Diagnosed
In December 2008, Abdul-Jabbar was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.
2008: Stage Manager Role
In 2008, Abdul-Jabbar appeared as a stage manager who is sent out on a mission to find Nazi gold.
2008: Named Greatest Player in College Basketball History
In 2008, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named the greatest player in college basketball history by ESPN, highlighting his achievements at UCLA.
November 2009: Announcement of Leukemia Diagnosis
In November 2009, Abdul-Jabbar announced that he was suffering from leukemia, Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, which had been diagnosed in December 2008.
February 10, 2011: Film Debut
On February 10, 2011, Abdul-Jabbar debuted his film On the Shoulders of Giants.
February 2011: Announcement of Leukemia Status
In February 2011, Abdul-Jabbar announced that his leukemia was gone, later clarifying that the cancer was at an absolute minimum.
2011: The Simpsons Appearance
In 2011, Abdul-Jabbar voiced himself in an episode of The Simpsons titled "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing".
2011: Awards and Honors
In 2011, 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: End of Lakers Coaching Role
In 2011, Abdul-Jabbar's six-season tenure as a special assistant coach for the Lakers concluded.
January 2012: Appointment as Cultural Ambassador
In January 2012, Abdul-Jabbar was appointed as a cultural ambassador for the United States by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and traveled to Brazil.
2012: Recurring Role on Guys with Kids
From 2012 to 2013, 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 be a U.S. global cultural ambassador, highlighting his role as a cultural figure.
2013: Recurring Role on Guys with Kids
From 2012 to 2013, Abdul-Jabbar had a recurring role as himself on the NBC series Guys with Kids.
2013: End of Coaching Career
In 2013, Abdul-Jabbar moved on from coaching after unsuccessfully lobbying for open head coach positions with UCLA and the Milwaukee Bucks.
2013: Erving Called Abdul-Jabbar the Number One Player
In 2013, Julius Erving called Abdul-Jabbar the number one player to start a franchise with.
2013: Participation in Splash
In 2013, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar participated in the ABC reality series Splash, a celebrity diving competition.
November 2014: Essay on College Athlete Compensation
In November 2014, Abdul-Jabbar published an essay in Jacobin advocating for just compensation for college athletes.
2014: Reprised Airplane! Role in Commercial
In 2014, Abdul-Jabbar and Airplane! co-star Robert Hays reprised their Airplane! roles in a parody commercial promoting Wisconsin tourism.
2014: UCLA Bruins Wore Adidas Tribute Shoes
In 2014, the UCLA Bruins wore "The Blueprint" Crazy 8 Adidas shoes against Colorado on February 13, and the shoes were sold online and at an Adidas store in New Orleans during NBA All-Star weekend.
January 25, 2015: Appearance on Meet the Press
On January 25, 2015, Abdul-Jabbar appeared on Meet the Press to discuss his column on Islam and violent extremism.
April 2015: Hospitalization and Bypass Surgery
In April 2015, Abdul-Jabbar was hospitalized and underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery.
2015: Adult Fiction Debut
In 2015, Abdul-Jabbar made his adult fiction writing debut with the Victorian mystery novel Mycroft Holmes.
2015: ESPN Ranked Abdul-Jabbar the Best Center
In 2015, ESPN named Abdul-Jabbar the best center in NBA history, and ranked him No. 2 behind Michael Jordan among the greatest NBA players ever.
2015: HBO Documentary
In 2015, he appeared in Kareem: Minority of One, an HBO documentary on his life.
2016: Tribute to Muhammad Ali
In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar performed a tribute to his friend Muhammad Ali alongside Chance the Rapper.
2016: Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
2016: Rookie Card Sold for Record Price
In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar's only recognized rookie card became the most expensive basketball card ever sold at the time, fetching $501,900 at auction.
January 2017: Appointment to Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
In January 2017, Abdul-Jabbar was appointed to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee by the United States Secretary of the Treasury.
2017: Appeared in Music Video
In 2017, Abdul-Jabbar appeared in the music video for "Good Goodbye" by Linkin Park.
2017: Condemnation of Travel Ban
In 2017, Abdul-Jabbar condemned Donald Trump's travel ban, criticizing its lack of reason and compassion.
2017: Speech at Ramadan Event
In 2017, Abdul-Jabbar spoke at a Ramadan event at the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles, emphasizing Muslim-Jewish relations.
April 2018: Dancing with the Stars
In April 2018, 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, Abdul-Jabbar was announced as one of the writers for the July 2019 revival of Veronica Mars.
2018: Publication of Mycroft and Sherlock
In 2018, Abdul-Jabbar published Mycroft and Sherlock, a sequel to his first novel Mycroft Holmes.
2018: Resignation from Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
In 2018, Abdul-Jabbar resigned from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee due to increasing personal obligations.
2018: Ranked No. 4 in Slam's "Top 100 Players Of All-Time"
In 2018, Abdul-Jabbar was ranked No. 4 in Slam's "Top 100 Players Of All-Time".
2018: Tatum Ties Rookie Playoff Record
In 2018, Jayson Tatum tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA rookie record with 10 or more games of 20+ points scored during the playoffs.
February 2019: Appeared on The Big Bang Theory
In February 2019, Abdul-Jabbar appeared in season 12 episode 16 of The Big Bang Theory, "The D&D Vortex".
July 2019: Veronica Mars Revival
Abdul-Jabbar was one of the writers for the July 2019 revival of Veronica Mars.
2019: UCLA Records
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.
2019: Publication of Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage
In 2019, Abdul-Jabbar published Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage, a further sequel to his first novel Mycroft Holmes.
2020: Prostate Cancer Revelation
In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer eleven years earlier.
2020: Emmy Nomination
In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for his work on Black Patriots: Heroes of The Revolution.
2020: Ranked No. 3 in ESPN's List of Top 74 NBA Players
In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar was ranked No. 3 in ESPN's list of the top 74 NBA players of all time.
2020: Executive Producer and Narrator
In 2020, 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: Essay on COVID-19 Vaccine
In June 2021, Abdul-Jabbar published an essay criticizing those refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
2021: Guest Appearance on Dave
In 2021, Abdul-Jabbar made a guest appearance as himself in a season 2 episode of Dave, which was also named after him.
2022: Cameo Appearance
In 2022, Abdul-Jabbar made a cameo appearance as himself in the Netflix film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
2022: Ranked No. 3 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list
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.
February 7, 2023: Career Scoring Record Broken
On February 7, 2023, LeBron James surpassed Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 career points to become the NBA's new career scoring leader. Abdul-Jabbar attended the game and passed the game ball to James during the ceremony.
February 2023: Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis
In February 2023, Abdul-Jabbar spoke about his atrial fibrillation diagnosis and partnered with "No Time to Wait" to raise awareness of the symptoms.
December 2023: Hospitalized After Hip Fracture
In December 2023, Abdul-Jabbar was hospitalized after he fell and broke his hip at a concert.
2023: Appeared on Billions
In 2023, Abdul-Jabbar appeared as himself in season 7, episode 3 of the Showtime series Billions.
2023: NBA Career Scoring Record Surpassed
In 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA career scoring record, ending Abdul-Jabbar's long-held record.
2023: Riley Remained Consistent With His Choice
In 2023, as James was on the verge of breaking the NBA career scoring record, Pat Riley remained consistent with his choice, stating Abdul-Jabbar was the greatest.
2024: All Star Appearances Record Broken
In 2024, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 19 All-Star team selections.
