Full Name: Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr.
Profession: NBA Legend
Biography: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American basketball player known for his prolific career in the NBA, winning six championships and until 2023 holding the record for the league's all-time leading scorer when he was overtaken by LeBron James.
Abdul-Jabbar's basketball journey began in high school at Power Memorial Academy, where he set the record for a 71-game winning streak. He played college basketball at UCLA under coach John Wooden, winning three national championships and the first Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1969. His signature skyhook shot was developed during this time.
Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969, Abdul-Jabbar quickly became an NBA star. He converted to Islam in 1971, adopting his famous name. His NBA career spanned 20 seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he helped shape the Showtime era. He retired with six MVP titles and remained the all-time NBA leading scorer until 2023.
Outside of basketball, Abdul-Jabbar also pursued acting with notable appearances in Game of Death (1972) and Airplane! (1980). He was appointed as a U.S. cultural ambassador in 2012, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Born: April 16, 1947
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Age: 77 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Aries
Married Life
- 1971-05-28 NBA center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) weds school teacher Janice Brown
Historical Events
- 1967-03-25 29th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: UCLA beats Dayton, 79-64; Bruins center Lew Alcindor (later named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) tournament MOP
- 1969-05-05 Milwaukee Bucks sign #1 NBA Draft pick, star UCLA center Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
- 1972-01-09 Led by future Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks beat LA Lakers, 120-104, ending LA's consecutive win streak at 33, the longest winning streak in major league sports history
- 1972-03-22 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar named NBA MVP
- 1975-06-16 NBA Milwaukee Bucks trade Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley to L.A. Lakers for 4 players
- 1981-12-01 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar passes Oscar Robertson (26,710) to become the NBA’s second all-time leading scorer behind Wilt Chamberlain; scores 14 points in 117-86 Lakers' win over Utah Jazz in Los Angeles
- 1984-04-05 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaks Wilt Chamberlain's all-time career scoring record of 31,419 points (31,421)
- 1985-06-09 NBA Championship, Boston Garden: Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics, 111-100 for a 4 games to 2 series victory; Finals MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- 1986-01-10 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers scores his 34,000th career point during 124-102 win over Indiana Pacers; only NBA player to reach the milestone at that time, holds career record until 2023
- 1987-02-24 LA Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scores his 36,000th NBA point in a 97-93 win over the Suns in Phoenix
- 1989-04-04 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's last NBA game in Seattle
- 1989-04-23 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scores 10 points in his last game as a Laker in a 121-117 win over Seattle SuperSonics at the LA Forum
- 1990-03-20 LA Lakers retires Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's #33
- 1992-01-04 Boston's Robert Parish becomes 5th player in NBA history to register 2,000 career blocks during Celtics' 100-96 loss at Minnesota - others Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mark Eaton, Wayne Rollins and George Johnson
- 1993-01-14 Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton blocks 2 shots in a 96-89 win over Seattle SuperSonics; becomes only 2nd player in NBA history (along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) to record 3,000 career blocks
- 2000-01-29 Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz becomes the 3rd player in NBA history to score 30,000 career points; finishes with 35 in a 96-94 loss to Minnesota; behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419)
- 2002-01-30 Utah's Karl Malone becomes 2nd player in NBA history to register 34,000 career points by scoring 18 in a 90-78 win over Chicago at the Delta Center; trails only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points)
- 2018-01-22 New Orleans Pelicans' DeMarcus Cousins has 44 points, 24 rebounds & 10 assists in 132-128 double-OT win over Chicago Bulls; 1st player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1972) with 40+ points, 20+ rebounds & 10+ assists
- 2024-01-15 Joel Embiid ties Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record with his 16th straight game with 30 or more points and 10-plus rebounds in a win over the Houston Rockets
Biographies and Sources
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - NBA
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Basketball Reference
David Lee
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Hakeem Olajuwon
Klay Thompson
Paul Arizin
Robert Parish