Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The Life Story Behind the Skyhook

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the greatest basketball players in history, and the most decorated, ever to play the game. He won six NBA championships, six league MVP awards, more than any other player, ever, and he scored thirty-eight thousand, three hundred and eighty-seven points, holding the all-time scoring record, for almost forty years, until LeBron James, passed him, in 2023. He did it, with the skyhook, the most unstoppable shot, in basketball history, a shot that no one, could ever block, and one that made him, a legend, in every sense, of the word.

Born on 16 April 1947 in New York City, as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., Kareem grew up in Harlem, where his father worked, as a transit police officer, and he played basketball, at Power Memorial Academy, where he won seventy-one games, in a row, and at UCLA, where he won three NCAA championships, in a row, under John Wooden, and he was drafted, first overall, by the Milwaukee Bucks, in 1969, a moment that started, a career, that would last, twenty seasons, and make him, one of the greatest, ever. This is the story of Kareem.

New York City, Harlem, and UCLA

Kareem was born in New York City, and he grew up in Harlem, where his father, Ferdinand Sr., was a transit police officer, and his mother, Cora, worked, as a department store clerk, and Kareem was tall, from a young age, reaching six feet eight, by the time he was fourteen, and he played basketball, at Power Memorial Academy, in Manhattan, where he won seventy-one games, in a row, a high school record, and was named, the best player, in the country, three years, in a row.

He went to UCLA, where he played three seasons, under John Wooden, the greatest college coach, in history, and he won three NCAA championships, in a row, in 1967, 1968, and 1969, a feat that had never, been achieved, before, and he was named, the Most Outstanding Player, of the tournament, three times, in a row, a record, that still stands, and he was drafted, first overall, by the Milwaukee Bucks, in 1969, a team, that had only been, in the league, for one year, and Kareem changed that, immediately, winning the Rookie of the Year award, and leading the Bucks, to the championship, in only his second season.

The years at Milwaukee Bucks, from 1969–1975, were the making of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because he learned to win there, to handle pressure there, and to deliver when the team needed him most, and those lessons stayed with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the rest of his career, in every club, and every country, where he played afterwards. He won the NBA championship in 1971, and three MVP awards, in six seasons with the Bucks. It was at Milwaukee Bucks that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the player the world would come to know, and Milwaukee Bucks played its part, in making him.

The Rise: Milwaukee, the Title, and the Star

Kareem’s rise came in Milwaukee, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 1970, averaging almost twenty-nine points, and fourteen rebounds a game, and he led the Bucks, to the NBA championship, in 1971, in only his second season, beating Baltimore, in a sweep, in the Finals, and being named Finals MVP, a rapid rise, for a twenty-three-year-old, from Harlem, who had already, won three NCAA titles, and who was now, an NBA champion, as well.

The rise continued through the 1970s, as Kareem won the MVP award, three times, with Milwaukee, in 1971, 1972, and 1974, and he became, the best player, in the league, a centre, with a skyhook, that no one, could stop, and he was traded, to the Los Angeles Lakers, in 1975, a move that changed, his career, and the Lakers, forever, because he would win, five more titles, there, and become, the greatest Laker, of all time, alongside Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made LA Lakers his home in 1975–1989, and the supporters took him to their hearts, because Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played with a passion that was obvious, and a skill that was undeniable, and he became one of their own, a player they still talk about, in USA and everywhere, when they remember the best teams, and the best days, that LA Lakers has ever known. He won five more championships, three more MVP awards, and became the all-time scoring leader, in fourteen seasons. The time at LA Lakers shaped Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as a player, and as a person, and it is a period Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still looks back on, with pride, and with gratitude.

The Peak: Six Titles, Six MVPs, and the Skyhook

Kareem’s peak lasted, for two decades, from 1971 to 1989, a longevity, that no other player, has ever matched, at such a high level, and he won six NBA championships, in 1971, with Milwaukee, and in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988, with the Lakers, and he won six league MVP awards, in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1980, more than any other player, in history, a record, that still stands, today.

He was named Finals MVP, twice, in 1971, and in 1985, when he was thirty-eight, the oldest player, ever to win the award, a performance, in which he averaged, almost twenty-six points a game, against Boston, in the Finals, and he scored, thirty-eight thousand, three hundred and eighty-seven points, in his career, holding the all-time scoring record, from 1984, until LeBron James, passed him, in February 2023, a record, that stood, for almost forty years, and one that may, never be broken, again, for a centre.

He retired in 1989, at forty-two, after twenty seasons, in the NBA, the longest career, of any player, at the time, and he was inducted, into the Basketball Hall of Fame, in 1995, a tribute, to a career, that included, six titles, six MVPs, two Finals MVPs, and nineteen All-Star selections, a record, that puts him, among the greatest, ever to play, the game, in any era, in any country, in the world.

The NBA Finals of 1971 remains a vivid memory for the fans of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because it was a tournament where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played with a freedom, a bravery, and a skill, that made everyone take notice, of what he could do. He was named Finals MVP, as Milwaukee swept Baltimore, winning his first championship. That tournament is still talked about, when fans remember the best of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the best of his sport.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went into the NBA Finals in 1985 with expectation on his shoulders, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar carried it, with a calm that impressed everyone, and a quality that decided matches, when they mattered most. He was named Finals MVP at thirty-eight, as the Lakers beat Boston, avenging the 1984 loss. It was a performance that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned, and one that showed the world, exactly what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar could do.

Year after year, the story was the same, because Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was there, at the top, competing, winning, and leading, and that longevity is what separates the great from the good, in USA and everywhere, because anyone can have one great season, but only the best, can have ten, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had them, in USA and around the world.

Basketball is a game of speed, skill, and intelligence, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar knows that pressure, because he played it at the highest level, in arenas, that hold twenty thousand people, and in matches, watched by millions, in USA and everywhere, and that pressure is something, that only the best, can handle, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar handled it, for years, in USA and around the world.

USA: The Activist, the Author, and the Hero

For the United States, Kareem is a hero and a legend, not just, for basketball, but for his voice, off the court, because he has been, an activist, an author, and a thinker, for more than fifty years, speaking out, on civil rights, on race, and on justice, and he converted, to Islam, in 1971, changing his name, from Lew Alcindor, to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a decision, that was controversial, at the time, and one that he has never, regretted, because it was, his identity, and his faith, and he has lived, by it, ever since.

He has written, many books, on history, on race, and on basketball, and he has been, a cultural ambassador, for the United States, and a recipient, of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2016, the highest honour, for a civilian, in America, a tribute, to a life, that has mattered, far beyond, the basketball court, and one that has made him, one of the most respected, figures, in American life, in the twenty-first century.

The NCAA championship in 1967 was one of the defining tournaments of the career of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because the whole world was watching, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar showed, that he could perform, on the biggest stage, against the best, in his sport. He won his first of three NCAA titles with UCLA, under John Wooden, and was named Most Outstanding Player. The NCAA championship of 1967 added another chapter to the story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and it is one that his fans, will never forget.

At the NBA Finals in 1980, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar proved, once again, that he was a player for the big occasion, delivering when the pressure was highest, and the stakes were greatest, in front of millions, around the world. He won his second championship, as the Lakers beat Philadelphia, with Magic Johnson as a rookie. That tournament is still talked about, when fans remember the best of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the best of his sport.

The NBA Finals of 1987 remains a vivid memory for the fans of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because it was a tournament where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played with a freedom, a bravery, and a skill, that made everyone take notice, of what he could do. He won his fifth championship, as the Lakers beat Boston, in six games, in the Finals. It was a performance that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned, and one that showed the world, exactly what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar could do.

The Skyhook, the Longevity, and the Art of the Centre

Kareem’s game was built on the skyhook, the most unstoppable shot, in basketball history. He would turn, raise the ball, high above his head, and release it, with a flick, of his wrist, a shot that was, simply, impossible to block, because he was seven feet two, and the ball, was released, at a height, that no defender, could reach, and he scored, more points, with that shot, than any player, has ever scored, with any shot, in the history, of the game.

What made him special was his longevity, and his intelligence. He played twenty seasons, in the NBA, until he was forty-two, and he did it, with yoga, with martial arts, and with a discipline, that kept his body, in perfect condition, for longer, than any centre, before him, and he was also, one of the smartest players, in the league, a man who read books, who studied history, and who understood, the game, better than anyone, on the floor, with him.

In 1971, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA championship as a champion with Milwaukee, beating Baltimore in the Finals, and being named Finals MVP. The NBA championship of 1971 stands out in the career of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because it was won against the best, in the biggest arena, and it took everything Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had, to win it, and the victory made him a hero, at home, and a star, around the world. That NBA championship remains a landmark in the story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and in the history of USA sport.

In 1980, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA championship as a champion with the LA Lakers, beating Philadelphia in the Finals, in the Showtime era. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still talks about the NBA championship in 1980 as one of the great days of his life, because the whole team, the whole country, and the whole sport, were watching, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar delivered, with a performance that was calm, brave, and brilliant, when the pressure was greatest. It was a win that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned, and one that no one can ever take away from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In 1982, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA championship as a champion with the LA Lakers, beating Philadelphia in the Finals, for a second time. Winning the NBA championship in 1982 changed the career of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because it turned promise into proof, and talent into titles, and it gave Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the confidence, to believe that he could win, again, and again, at the highest level, of his sport. The NBA championship of 1982 is the kind of triumph that defines a career, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned it, with years of work, and a performance, that will be remembered.

The Name Change, the Controversy, and the Farewell

Kareem’s career had real controversy. He converted to Islam, in 1971, and changed his name, from Lew Alcindor, to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a decision that was, controversial, in America, at the time, and one that cost him, endorsements, and popularity, with some fans, who did not understand, his faith, and his identity, a price, that he was willing, to pay, because it was, who he was, and he has never, regretted it, in more than fifty years, since.

There were also defeats, including the loss, of the 1974 Finals, to Boston, in seven games, a series that hurt, because the Bucks, had led, and lost, and the loss, of the 1984 Finals, to Boston, in seven games, a series that marked, the low point, of the Lakers’ rivalry, with the Celtics, and one that Kareem, avenged, a year later, in 1985, winning the Finals MVP, at thirty-eight, a comeback, that is, one of the greatest, in NBA history, and one that proved, his character, and his class.

The numbers tell their own story, for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He won the MVP award six times, more than any other player in NBA history. He held the NBA all-time scoring record for almost 40 years, until LeBron James passed him in 2023. He scored 38,387 points in his NBA career, in twenty seasons, from 1969 to 1989. He won six NBA championships with two teams, Milwaukee and the LA Lakers. He was named Finals MVP at 38, in 1985, the oldest player ever to win the award.

Those numbers matter, because they were not collected in easy matches, against weak opponents, but in the biggest tournaments, against the best players, in USA and around the world, and that is why they stand, as proof, of what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar achieved, in his career.

The Most Decorated Ever, and a Legend of the Game

Kareem is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history, and he is the most decorated, ever to play the game. He won six NBA championships, six league MVP awards, and two Finals MVP awards, and he scored thirty-eight thousand, three hundred and eighty-seven points, holding the scoring record, for almost forty years, and he did it, with a skyhook, that no one, could ever block, and a longevity, that no one, has ever matched, for a centre, in the NBA.

His legacy is also about his voice, because he has spoken out, on civil rights, on race, and on justice, for more than fifty years, and he has written books, and he has received, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2016, a tribute, to a life, that has mattered, far beyond, the basketball court, and that is why, he is respected, in America, and around the world, not just, as a player, but as a man, and a thinker, and a hero, in every sense, of the word.

In 1985, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA championship as a champion with the LA Lakers, beating Boston in the Finals, and being named Finals MVP at thirty-eight. The NBA championship in 1985 was a triumph that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will never forget, because it came after years of work, and it proved that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar belonged, among the best, in his sport, and the medal, the trophy, and the memory, remain among the proudest, of his whole career. That NBA championship remains a landmark in the story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and in the history of USA sport.

In 1987, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA championship as a champion with the LA Lakers, beating Boston in the Finals, for a second time in three years. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA championship in 1987, it was the reward for everything he had given to the game, the training, the sacrifice, and the belief, and it showed the world, in USA and everywhere, that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was not just a talented player, but a winner, who could deliver, when it mattered most. It was a win that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned, and one that no one can ever take away from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In 1988, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA championship as a champion with the LA Lakers, beating Detroit in the Finals, in seven games. The NBA championship of 1988 stands out in the career of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because it was won against the best, in the biggest arena, and it took everything Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had, to win it, and the victory made him a hero, at home, and a star, around the world. The NBA championship of 1988 is the kind of triumph that defines a career, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned it, with years of work, and a performance, that will be remembered.

Beyond the headline triumphs, there were more, because Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also won the NBA championship in 1988; the NBA Most Valuable Player in 1971; the NBA Most Valuable Player in 1980, honours that are easy to overlook, beside the biggest titles, but ones that show the depth, and the consistency, of the career of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, year after year, tournament after tournament, at the highest level.

Count the honours, and the scale of the career of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar becomes clear, because the list runs to 8 major titles, medals, and awards, each one earned, in competition, against the best, in USA and the world, and each one a chapter, in a story, that few players, in any sport, can match, for length, for quality, and for consistency, over so many years, and among them, the NBA championship in 1971 stands tall, for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and for USA.

The journey of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took him from Milwaukee Bucks to LA Lakers, two clubs, two chapters, and one career, built on work, on talent, and on a refusal, to settle, for anything less, than the very best, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar could be, in his sport.

My Take:

I have thought a lot about what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar means, to his sport, and to his country, and this is what I believe.

What I admire most about Kareem is the longevity, because he played twenty seasons, in the NBA, until he was forty-two, and he won six titles, and six MVPs, and he scored more points, than anyone, in history, for almost forty years. When I look at young players who want a long career, I tell them to watch Kareem, because longevity is not luck, it is discipline, and he had it, in abundance, with yoga, with martial arts, and with a care, for his body, that no centre, before him, had ever shown.

The 1985 Finals MVP is the moment that defines him, because he was thirty-eight, the oldest player ever to win the award, and he averaged almost twenty-six points a game, against Boston, avenging the loss of 1984, a performance that was one of the greatest, by a player of his age, in NBA history. That is not just a trophy, it is a statement, that age is a number, and that class is permanent, and Kareem had both, in abundance, that year, and every year, of his career.

I also think Kareem is underrated as a person, because he has spoken out, on civil rights, on race, and on justice, for more than fifty years, and he has written books, and he has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a tribute to a life that has mattered, far beyond the basketball court. He is not just a player, he is a thinker, and a hero, and that is why he is respected, in America, and around the world, in a way that few athletes, ever are.

If I have a criticism, it is only that he is sometimes forgotten, in the debate, about the greatest ever, because people talk about Jordan, and LeBron, and they forget Kareem, who won six titles, and six MVPs, and scored more points, than anyone, for forty years. But the record is his, and the titles are his, and those are achievements that will last forever, and that is why he belongs, in the conversation, about the greatest, ever to play, the game.

The moment I keep coming back to is the 1971 championship, because Kareem won his first NBA title, with Milwaukee, sweeping Baltimore, and being named Finals MVP, a triumph that announced him, as one of the best players, in the league, at twenty-three, and one that started, a career, that would last, twenty seasons. It is the kind of moment that stays with you, long after the match is over, and it is why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar matters, not just as a player, but as an example, for anyone, who wants to be great.

Take the 1985 Finals MVP, and look at it closely, because Kareem was named Finals MVP at thirty-eight, as the Lakers beat Boston, avenging the 1984 loss, a performance that was one of the greatest, by a player, of his age, in NBA history, and one that proved, his class, and his character. That is not luck, it is preparation, meeting opportunity, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was prepared, because he had done the work, for years, before that moment, ever arrived.

I will never forget the scoring record in 1984, because Kareem passed Wilt Chamberlain, becoming the all-time scoring leader in NBA history, a record he would hold, for almost forty years, until LeBron James passed him, in 2023. Moments like that are why sport matters, and why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be remembered, long after the final whistle, of his final match, has blown.

When I think about the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, I think about what it teaches, because Kareem received the highest civilian honour in America, a tribute to a life that has mattered, far beyond the basketball court, as an activist, an author, and a thinker, for more than fifty years. And that is the lesson, that talent opens the door, but character walks through it, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar walked through it, again and again, in his career.

One record, more than any other, sums up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because He won the MVP award six times, more than any other player in NBA history. It is the kind of achievement that takes a whole career, to earn, and a whole lifetime, to appreciate, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned it, the hard way.

Look at the record, and look at what it means, because He held the NBA all-time scoring record for almost 40 years, until LeBron James passed him in 2023. That is not a number on a page, it is a career, in miniature, and it is why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar belongs, among the greats, of his sport.

The numbers say it plainly, because He scored 38,387 points in his NBA career, in twenty seasons, from 1969 to 1989. And numbers do not lie, they do not flatter, and they do not forget, and that is why the record of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will stand, for years, to come.

One record, more than any other, sums up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because He won six NBA championships with two teams, Milwaukee and the LA Lakers. It is the kind of achievement that takes a whole career, to earn, and a whole lifetime, to appreciate, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned it, the hard way.

The lesson of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a lesson for every young basketball player in USA, because he proved that work, talent, and belief, win championships, and that a boy, from anywhere, can become a champion, if he is willing, to do the work, that others will not do, and to keep going, when others stop.

The fans of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will tell you, that he was more than a player, because he gave them memories, that they will carry, for the rest of their lives, and that is the true measure, of a basketball player, not the rings, but the joy, he gave, to the people, who watched him play.

If you want to understand Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, start with the numbers, because he won 8 major honours, he played for 2 clubs or teams, and he set 5 records, that are listed, in his story, and those numbers were not given to him, they were earned, in competition, against the best, in the world, over many years, and that is why they matter, because they are the proof, of a career, that was built, on work, on talent, and on a refusal, to accept, anything less, than the best.

The future is still open for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, because his story is not finished, and the next chapter, whatever it holds, will be watched, by millions, in USA and around the world, who want to see, what he does next, and whether he can add, to a career, that is already, one of the greats, of his sport, and that is the mark, of a true star, that people care, about what happens next, long after, the biggest triumphs, are already, in the past.

When the history of USA sport is written, the name of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be, in the first chapter, because he changed, what people believed, was possible, and he showed, a whole generation, that a boy from their streets, could become, a champion of the world, and that belief, is worth, more than any trophy, in any cabinet.

I have no doubt, that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be remembered, not just for the NBA championship in 1971, but for the way, he carried himself, on and off the field, because he was humble, in victory, and gracious, in defeat, and he treated people, with respect, and that is the kind of greatness, that lasts, long after, the last match, has been played.

The best thing, about watching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was that you never knew, what he would do next, because he could surprise you, in any moment, with a piece of skill, that no one expected, and that unpredictability, is what made him, so exciting, to watch, and so hard, to play against, and it is why, fans in USA, still talk about him, today.

I have watched Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for years, and the thing that strikes me, every time, is the intelligence, because he reads the game, two moves ahead, and he is already, where the ball will be, before anyone else, has even moved, and that anticipation is not luck, it is study, and it is why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was so hard, to play against, in USA and around the world, for so many years.

If I could tell a young player one thing, about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it would be this, watch how he trains, because the matches are the reward, but the training is the work, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar trained, like every session mattered, like every drill, was a final, and that attitude is the reason, that he lasted, at the top, for so long, and won, the NBA championship in 1971, and so much more, besides.

People talk about the talent of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and they are right to, because the talent was obvious, from the first time, anyone saw him play, but talent is only the start, and what made Kareem Abdul-Jabbar great, was the work, that came after, the hours, the repetition, and the refusal, to be satisfied, with being good, when he could be, the best, in the world.

There is a moment, in every great career, when the player realises, that he belongs, and for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, that moment changed everything, because from then on, he did not hope, to win, he expected to, and that expectation, carried him, through the hardest matches, of his career, in USA and around the world, and it is why, he won, again and again.

I think the most underrated part of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is his character, because he handled success, without arrogance, and defeat, without excuses, and that balance is rare, in a world, that rewards noise, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was quiet, in victory, and gracious, in defeat, and that is why, he is respected, by everyone, who played, with him, or against him, at LA Lakers.

The fans in USA love Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and it is easy to see why, because he gave them, something to believe in, and he never, let them down, and when he played, the whole country, stopped, to watch, and that connection, between a player, and his people, is the most powerful thing, in sport, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had it, in full, for his whole career.

What I would say to anyone, who doubts Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, is simple, look at the record, because the NBA championship in 1971 is there, and the other honours, are there, and they were not given, they were earned, in the hardest, arenas, in the world, against the best, opponents, in the world, and that is the answer, to every doubt, that anyone, could ever raise.

The beauty of watching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the simplicity, because he made the hardest things, look easy, and the easiest things, look perfect, and that is the mark, of a master, in any sport, and it is why, young players, in USA, still copy, the way he moved, the way he thought, and the way, he played, the game.

I have seen many great players, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar belongs, with the very best, because he did it, for longer, and under more pressure, than most, and he did it, with a smile, and a humility, that made him, easy to admire, and hard, to dislike, and that is a combination, that few athletes, in any era, have ever managed, to achieve.

If Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had never won another title, after the NBA championship in 1971, his career, would still matter, because of the way, he played, and the way, he carried himself, and the example, he set, for the next generation, in USA and around the world, and that is the true measure, of a great athlete, not the count, of the trophies, but the size, of the example.

What stays with me, about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, is the consistency, because year after year, season after season, he delivered, the same standard, the same effort, and the same quality, and that is harder, than one brilliant season, because anyone can be great, for a month, but only the best, are great, for a decade, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was great, for a decade, in USA and around the world.

I think about the young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the one who started out, with nothing but talent, and a dream, and I think about how far he travelled, from those first days, to the NBA championship in 1971, and the journey is the story, not the destination, because the work, the sacrifice, and the belief, are what made him, and the trophy, was only, the proof.

So that is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a champion, a leader, and an example, and his story, is not just, a list, of titles, it is a reminder, that greatness is earned, day by day, and that anyone, in USA or anywhere, can earn it, if they are willing, to do, the work.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar born?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born on 16 April 1947 in New York City, as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. He grew up in Harlem, played at Power Memorial Academy and UCLA, and was drafted first overall by Milwaukee in 1969.

How many MVP awards did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar win?

Kareem won the NBA Most Valuable Player award six times, more than any other player in history, in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1980. He also won two Finals MVP awards, in 1971 and 1985.

How many points did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar score?

Kareem scored 38,387 points in his NBA career, holding the all-time scoring record for almost 40 years, from 1984 until LeBron James passed him in February 2023.

What is the skyhook?

The skyhook is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s famous shot, in which he turned, raised the ball high above his head, and released it with a flick of his wrist. It was almost impossible to block, because he was seven feet two, and it made him the highest scorer in NBA history for decades.

Is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the Hall of Fame?

Yes, Kareem was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, for his work as an activist, author, and cultural ambassador.