{"id":15398,"date":"2024-05-29T17:51:57","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T21:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/?p=15398"},"modified":"2025-05-29T03:10:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T07:10:58","slug":"kareem-abdul-jabbar-the-life-of-a-manhattan-basketball-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/eternal-15398-kareem-abdul-jabbar-the-life-of-a-manhattan-basketball-legend","title":{"rendered":"<strong>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The Life of a Manhattan Basketball Legend<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This article explores the remarkable journey of <strong>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/strong>, the celebrated American basketball player. Discover more about his formative years, rise to prominence, and legendary professional career on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\">i-manhattan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1162\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124738\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124738\/image.png 1162w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124738\/image-218x300.png 218w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124738\/image-768x1057.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124738\/image-1116x1536.png 1116w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124738\/image-696x958.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1162px) 100vw, 1162px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0c26069cccf\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0c26069cccf\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/eternal-15398-kareem-abdul-jabbar-the-life-of-a-manhattan-basketball-legend\/#Early_Years\" >Early Years<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/eternal-15398-kareem-abdul-jabbar-the-life-of-a-manhattan-basketball-legend\/#Rise_to_Prominence\" >Rise to Prominence<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/eternal-15398-kareem-abdul-jabbar-the-life-of-a-manhattan-basketball-legend\/#Professional_Career\" >Professional Career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/eternal-15398-kareem-abdul-jabbar-the-life-of-a-manhattan-basketball-legend\/#Coaching_Career\" >Coaching Career<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Early_Years\"><\/span>Early Years<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/strong>, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on <strong>April 16, 1947<\/strong>, in <strong>Harlem, Manhattan<\/strong>, 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 <strong>thirteen pounds<\/strong> (almost six kilograms) and measured <strong>22.5 inches<\/strong> (fifty-seven centimeters) long. This remarkable growth continued, and by age fourteen, he stood <strong>over two meters tall<\/strong> (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&#8217;s first taste of significant athletic success came in high school, where he led his team to <strong>three consecutive championships, a 71-game winning streak, an overall record of 79-2<\/strong> \u2014 extraordinary achievements. With Kareem, the team also won a <strong>national championship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rise_to_Prominence\"><\/span>Rise to Prominence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After high school, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) headed to the <strong>University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)<\/strong>. He initially played on the freshman team, as NCAA rules then <strong>barred freshmen from varsity competition<\/strong>. However, these limitations didn&#8217;t stop him from making an immediate impact. In a legendary scrimmage, the <strong>freshman squad, led by Alcindor, famously defeated the varsity team 75-60<\/strong> \u2014 a stunning upset. During his three varsity years, Alcindor powered UCLA to an astounding <strong>88-2 record<\/strong>. It&#8217;s noteworthy that during his college career, he led his team to <strong>three consecutive NCAA championships<\/strong> and received numerous awards and honors, including being named the NCAA Tournament&#8217;s Most Outstanding Player three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124736\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124736\/image-1.png 1500w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124736\/image-1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124736\/image-1-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124736\/image-1-696x464.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Professional_Career\"><\/span>Professional Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1969, Alcindor faced a significant decision. The legendary <strong>Harlem Globetrotters<\/strong> offered him a lucrative $1 million contract, but he declined. He was the <strong>first overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks<\/strong> and also the <strong>first pick in the American Basketball Association (ABA) draft by the New York Nets<\/strong>. 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 <strong>wasn&#8217;t going to be &#8220;sold.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a member of the <strong>Milwaukee Bucks<\/strong>, his impact was immediate. In the 1969-1970 season, he finished second in the league in scoring and earned the <strong>NBA Rookie of the Year Award<\/strong>. The 1970-1971 season was even more spectacular: the Bucks, led by Alcindor (who adopted the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971), won <strong>sixty-six games<\/strong>, including a then-record <strong>twenty consecutive victories<\/strong>. That year, Kareem received his <strong>first of six NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards<\/strong> and his <strong>first scoring title<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1975, Abdul-Jabbar joined the <strong>Los Angeles Lakers<\/strong>. During the 1975-1976 season with the Lakers, he had a dominant season, averaging <strong>27.7 points per game<\/strong> and leading the league. He secured his <strong>fourth MVP award, becoming the first Laker in franchise history to win the honor<\/strong>. In 1976-1977, Abdul-Jabbar helped lead the team to the <strong>NBA&#8217;s best record at 53-29<\/strong> and won his <strong>fifth MVP award, surpassing Bill Russell&#8217;s record<\/strong>. The 1977-1978 season saw an unfortunate incident where <strong>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar punched Michael Kent Benson<\/strong> during a game, breaking his own right hand and consequently missing nearly two months of play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From 1979 to 1985, Abdul-Jabbar, though not as dominant as in his younger years, solidified his status as one of basketball&#8217;s all-time greats. He earned <strong>four more All-NBA First Team selections<\/strong> and <strong>two All-Defensive First Team honors<\/strong>. In 1985, at <strong>age thirty-eight<\/strong>, Abdul-Jabbar received his <strong>second Finals MVP award<\/strong>, becoming the oldest player to achieve this. By the time he retired, Jabbar held the record for the <strong>most games played in an NBA career<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124735\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124735\/image-2.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124735\/image-2-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124735\/image-2-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.i-manhattan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/17124735\/image-2-696x464.png 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Coaching_Career\"><\/span>Coaching Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1995, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar began his coaching career. He served for some time as an assistant coach for the <strong>Los Angeles Clippers<\/strong> and the <strong>Seattle SuperSonics<\/strong>. Jabbar also served as head coach for the <strong>Oklahoma Storm<\/strong> of the United States Basketball League (USBL) and worked as a scout for the <strong>New York Knickerbockers<\/strong> (commonly known as the Knicks).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":13221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4820],"tags":[6082,6083,6081,6089,6086,6080,6087,6088,6084,6085],"motype":[4825],"moformat":[88],"moimportance":[32,35],"class_list":{"0":"post-15398","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sporty","8":"tag-basketball-records","9":"tag-harlem-basketball","10":"tag-kareem-abdul-jabbar","11":"tag-lew-alcindor","12":"tag-los-angeles-lakers","13":"tag-milwaukee-bucks","14":"tag-nba-legend","15":"tag-nba-mvp","16":"tag-ncaa-champion","17":"tag-ucla-basketball","18":"motype-eternal","19":"moformat-copywriting","20":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","21":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/516"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15398"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15408,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15398\/revisions\/15408"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15398"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=15398"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=15398"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-manhattan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=15398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}