How Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar across different fields.

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.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

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.

1983: Publication of Giant Steps

In 1983, Abdul-Jabbar's autobiography, "Giant Steps", co-authored with Peter Knobler, was published.

1985: Riley Called Abdul-Jabbar the Greatest Player Ever

In 1985, Pat Riley called Abdul-Jabbar the greatest player ever.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2018: Publication of Mycroft and Sherlock

In 2018, Abdul-Jabbar published Mycroft and Sherlock, a sequel to his first novel Mycroft Holmes.

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".

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: 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.

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.

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.