This article explores the remarkable journey of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the celebrated American basketball player. Discover more about his formative years, rise to prominence, and legendary professional career on i-manhattan.
Early Years
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on April 16, 1947, in Harlem, Manhattan, was the son of Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a police officer, and Cora Lillian, who worked at a local store. His aptitude for basketball was evident from the start: at birth, Alcindor weighed nearly thirteen pounds (almost six kilograms) and measured 22.5 inches (fifty-seven centimeters) long. This remarkable growth continued, and by age fourteen, he stood over two meters tall (more than 6 feet 7 inches). While his height initially made him self-conscious, it, combined with his innate talent, destined him for greatness in the basketball world. Kareem’s first taste of significant athletic success came in high school, where he led his team to three consecutive championships, a 71-game winning streak, an overall record of 79-2 — extraordinary achievements. With Kareem, the team also won a national championship.
Rise to Prominence
After high school, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) headed to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He initially played on the freshman team, as NCAA rules then barred freshmen from varsity competition. However, these limitations didn’t stop him from making an immediate impact. In a legendary scrimmage, the freshman squad, led by Alcindor, famously defeated the varsity team 75-60 — a stunning upset. During his three varsity years, Alcindor powered UCLA to an astounding 88-2 record. It’s noteworthy that during his college career, he led his team to three consecutive NCAA championships and received numerous awards and honors, including being named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player three times.
Professional Career
In 1969, Alcindor faced a significant decision. The legendary Harlem Globetrotters offered him a lucrative $1 million contract, but he declined. He was the first overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and also the first pick in the American Basketball Association (ABA) draft by the New York Nets. Although both teams eagerly sought the talented player, the ambitious athlete chose the Bucks. The Nets later offered a significantly larger contract, but Kareem stood by his decision, famously stating he wasn’t going to be “sold.”
As a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, his impact was immediate. In the 1969-1970 season, he finished second in the league in scoring and earned the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. The 1970-1971 season was even more spectacular: the Bucks, led by Alcindor (who adopted the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971), won sixty-six games, including a then-record twenty consecutive victories. That year, Kareem received his first of six NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards and his first scoring title.
In 1975, Abdul-Jabbar joined the Los Angeles Lakers. During the 1975-1976 season with the Lakers, he had a dominant season, averaging 27.7 points per game and leading the league. He secured his fourth MVP award, becoming the first Laker in franchise history to win the honor. In 1976-1977, Abdul-Jabbar helped lead the team to the NBA’s best record at 53-29 and won his fifth MVP award, surpassing Bill Russell’s record. The 1977-1978 season saw an unfortunate incident where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar punched Michael Kent Benson during a game, breaking his own right hand and consequently missing nearly two months of play.
From 1979 to 1985, Abdul-Jabbar, though not as dominant as in his younger years, solidified his status as one of basketball’s all-time greats. He earned four more All-NBA First Team selections and two All-Defensive First Team honors. In 1985, at age thirty-eight, Abdul-Jabbar received his second Finals MVP award, becoming the oldest player to achieve this. By the time he retired, Jabbar held the record for the most games played in an NBA career.
Coaching Career
In 1995, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar began his coaching career. He served for some time as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Seattle SuperSonics. Jabbar also served as head coach for the Oklahoma Storm of the United States Basketball League (USBL) and worked as a scout for the New York Knickerbockers (commonly known as the Knicks).