Learn About New York Native Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, an American former professional basketball player, was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on April 16, 1947. He played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) a record six times in his career as a center. He was also a record 19-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 11-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, an American former professional basketball player, was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on April 16, 1947. He played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) a record six times in his career as a center. He was also a record 19-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 11-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Who Is He?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant high school basketball player who attracted interest from UCLA and helped the Bruins win three national championships. Initially playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and then the Los Angeles Lakers, his domination in the NBA persisted. Abdul-Jabbar finished as the league’s all-time leading scorer after winning six championships and six MVP honors. His talent was recognized as early as high school, and he is largely regarded as one of the finest players in NBA history. He retired in 1989.

History

Childhood and Education – Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., the ancestor of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was born in New York City on April 16, 1947. Alcindor was always the tallest child in his class. He was the only child of New York City policeman Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr. and his wife, Cora.

By the time he was nine years old, Lew Alcindor, as he was known, was an astounding 5’8″. By the time he entered eighth grade, he had gained another full foot and was capable of slam dunks.

He got into the sport at a young age. Few could match Alcindor’s high school career at Power Memorial Academy. He led his team to an incredible 71 straight victories and three straight city championships while also setting New York City school records in scoring and rebounds. The team of Alcindor was named the #1 High School Team of the Century by the National Sports Writers in 2000.

Career in College – Alcindor enrolled at the University of California-Los Angeles after receiving his diploma in 1965. There, he continued his unmatched dominance and emerged as the finest player in the college game.

Alcindor, who coached the Bruins to three national titles from 1967 to 1969 under the famous John Wooden, was honored as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for those seasons.

History with the Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks, then in just their second season of existence, selected Alcindor with the first overall pick in the NBA draft in the spring of 1969. Alcindor adapted to the professional game with ease. He was voted Rookie of the Year and finished second in the league in scoring and rebounding.

Additionally, he significantly improved the fortunes of his franchise. The revamped Bucks, spearheaded by Alcindor at the hoop, improved to 56-26 after a disastrous 27-win campaign the year before.

All-Star guard Oscar Robertson was acquired by the Bucks. With 66 victories in the 1970–71 season, including a then-record 20 straight triumphs, Milwaukee went on to post the best record in the league. In addition to winning his first scoring title 31.7 PPG, Alcindor received his first of six NBA Most Valuable Player Awards. He had 2,596 total points, which was the most in the league. In the 1971 NBA Finals, the Bucks defeated the Baltimore Bullets 4-0 to win the championship. Alcindor averaged 27 points per game on 60.5 percent shooting in the series, and he was voted the Finals MVP after recording 27 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in Game 4.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Conversion to Islam

Alcindor converted to Islam shortly after the 1971 season concluded, taking the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which means “great, mighty servant.” Abdul-Jabbar once more guided the Bucks to the NBA finals in 1974, but they were defeated by the Boston Celtics.

History with the Los Angeles Lakers

Despite his success as a Buck on the court, Abdul-Jabbar found it difficult to find fulfillment in his personal life in Milwaukee. Abdul-Jabbar wanted a trade after the 1975 season ended and asked the Bucks’ management to send him to either New York or Los Angeles. Eventually, he was traded to the west for a group of guys, none of them were able to provide Milwaukee with what Abdul-Jabbar would provide the Lakers.

In the ensuing 15 seasons, Abdul-Jabbar made Los Angeles a recurrent victor. The powerful center led the Lakers to five league championships beginning with the 1979–80 campaign when he was partnered with young point guard Magic Johnson.

The Lakers dominated the NBA, defeating the Julius “Dr. J” Erving-led Philadelphia 76ers, Larry Bird-led Boston Celtics, and Isiah Thomas-led Detroit Pistons in championship games.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Stats

The first NBA player to play for 20 seasons, Abdul-Jabbar retired in 1989 as the league’s all-time top scorer with 38,387 points. His totals for his career were 1,560 games, 3,189 blocks, and 17,440 rebounds. In 1989, he also set records for most points scored, most shots blocked, and most MVP awards.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Post-playing Life

Working for the struggling New York Knicks and the famous Los Angeles Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar hasn’t moved too far from the sport he loves since he retired. He even worked as a coach for a year on the Arizona White Mountain Apache tribe, an experience he chronicled in the book A Season on the Reservation, published in 2000.

He has published several additional novels, including the Harlem Renaissance-focused On the Shoulders of Giants from 2007. Additionally, Abdul-Jabbar has served as a public speaker and commercial ambassador. Abdul-Jabbar received his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

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