Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.; April 16, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Abdul-Jabbar has a scene in which a little boy looks at him and remarks that he is in fact Abdul-Jabbar—spoofing the appearance of football star Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch as an airplane pilot in the 1957 drama that served as the inspiration for Airplane!, Zero Hour!.
The 1965–66 UCLA Bruin team was the preseason #1.
On November 27, 1965, the freshman team, led by Alcindor, defeated the varsity 75–60 in the first game in the new Pauley Pavilion.
Now tall, he made his debut as a sophomore in 1966 and received national coverage: Sports Illustrated described him as "The New Superstar" after he scored 56 points in his first game, which set a UCLA single-game record.
UCLA player Willie Naulls introduced Alcindor and teammate Lucius Allen to athletic booster Sam Gilbert, who convinced the pair to remain at UCLA. The dunk was banned in college basketball after the 1967 season, primarily because of Alcindor's dominant use of the shot.
Washington State, February 25, 1967) He is represented in the top ten in a number of other school records, including season and career rebounds, second only to Bill Walton. ==Professional career== ===Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)=== The Harlem Globetrotters offered Alcindor $1 million to play for them, but he declined and was picked first in the 1969 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, who were in only their second season of existence.
The rule was not rescinded until the 1976–77 season, which was shortly after Wooden's retirement. During his junior year, Alcindor suffered a scratched left cornea on January 12, 1968, in a game against Cal when he was struck by Tom Henderson in a rebound battle.
He studied Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee. ===Game of the Century=== On January 20, 1968, Alcindor and the UCLA Bruins faced coach Guy Lewis's Houston Cougars in the first-ever nationally televised regular-season college basketball game, with 52,693 in attendance at the Astrodome.
Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on the game and used the headline: "Lew's Revenge: The Rout of Houston." ===Conversion to Islam and 1968 Olympic boycott=== During the summer of 1968, Alcindor took the shahada twice and converted to Sunni Islam from Catholicism.
He boycotted the 1968 Summer Olympics by deciding not to try out for the United States Men's Olympic Basketball team, who went on to easily win the gold medal.
Drafted with the first overall pick by the one-season-old Bucks franchise in the 1969 NBA draft, Alcindor spent six seasons in Milwaukee.
He completed his studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history in 1969.
Washington State, February 25, 1967) He is represented in the top ten in a number of other school records, including season and career rebounds, second only to Bill Walton. ==Professional career== ===Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)=== The Harlem Globetrotters offered Alcindor $1 million to play for them, but he declined and was picked first in the 1969 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, who were in only their second season of existence.
He was also chosen first overall in the 1969 American Basketball Association draft by the New York Nets.
It would make me feel like a flesh peddler, and I don't want to think like that." Alcindor's presence enabled the 1969–70 Bucks to claim second place in the NBA's Eastern Division with a 56–26 record (improved from 27–55 the previous year).
On February 21, 1970, he scored 51 points in a 140-127 win over the SuperSonics.
Milwaukee went on to record the best record in the league with 66 victories in the 1970–71 season, including a then-record 20 straight wins.
Individually, while Abdul-Jabbar was not the dominant center he had been in the 1970s, he experienced a number of highlight moments.
After leading the Bucks to its first NBA championship at age 24 in 1971, he took the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
He adopted the Arabic name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, though he did not begin using it publicly until 1971.
On May 1, 1971, the day after the Bucks won the NBA championship, he adopted the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (كريم عبد الجبار, Karīm Abd al-Jabbār), its translation roughly "noble one, servant of the Almighty [i.e., servant of Allah]".
He had a strained relationship in his final year with Donohue after the coach called him a nigger. ==College career== Alcindor was one of only four players who started on three NCAA championship teams; the others all played for Wooden at UCLA: Henry Bibby, Curtis Rowe and Lynn Shackelford. Alcindor did not play during his first year at UCLA (because freshmen were ineligible until 1972), though his prowess was already well known.
His 1,111 defensive rebounds remains the NBA single-season record (defensive rebounds were not recorded prior to the 1973–74 season).
In 1974, Abdul-Jabbar won his third MVP Award in five years and was among the top five NBA players in scoring (27.0 ppg, third), rebounding (14.5 rpg, fourth), blocked shots (283, second), and field goal percentage (.539, second). During a pre-season game before the 1974–75 season, Abdul-Jabbar was bumped hard and had his eye scratched; this angered him enough to punch the basket support stanchion and broke his hand.
In October 1974, he requested a trade to either the New York Knicks or Los Angeles. ===Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989)=== In 1975, the Lakers acquired Abdul-Jabbar and reserve center Walt Wesley from the Bucks for center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters, and rookie "blue chippers" Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman.
In 1975, he was traded to the Lakers, with whom he played the final 14 seasons of his career and won five additional NBA championships.
In October 1974, he requested a trade to either the New York Knicks or Los Angeles. ===Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989)=== In 1975, the Lakers acquired Abdul-Jabbar and reserve center Walt Wesley from the Bucks for center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters, and rookie "blue chippers" Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman.
In the 1975–76 season, his first with the Lakers, he had a dominating season, averaging 27.7 points per game and leading the league in rebounding, blocked shots, and minutes played.
The rule was not rescinded until the 1976–77 season, which was shortly after Wooden's retirement. During his junior year, Alcindor suffered a scratched left cornea on January 12, 1968, in a game against Cal when he was struck by Tom Henderson in a rebound battle.
He missed one game in the 1986–87 season when his eyes dried out and swelled. In the 1976–77 season, Abdul-Jabbar had another strong performance.
Later in his career, he bulked up to about , to be able to withstand the strain of playing the highly physical center position into his early 40s. While in Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar started doing yoga in 1976 to improve his flexibility, and was notable for his physical fitness regimen.
Although Abdul-Jabbar dominated the series statistically, Walton and the Trail Blazers (who were experiencing their first-ever run in the playoffs) swept the Lakers, behind Walton's skillful passing and leadership. Two minutes into the opening game of the 1977–78 season, Abdul-Jabbar punched Milwaukee Bucks player Kent Benson in retaliation for an overly aggressive elbow; the punch broke Benson's jaw and Abdul-Jabbar's hand.
He missed the 1978 NBA All-Star Game – the only time he missed an All-Star Game during his career. Abdul-Jabbar's play remained strong during the next two seasons, being named to the All-NBA Second Team twice, the All-Defense First Team once, and the All-Defense Second Team once.
The Lakers, however, continued to be stymied in the playoffs, being eliminated by the Seattle SuperSonics in both 1978 and 1979. In 1979, the Lakers acquired first overall draft pick Magic Johnson.
Lakers | 11 || || 42.5 || .607 || || .725 || 17.7 || 4.1 || 1.7 || 3.5 || 34.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 1978 | style="text-align:left;"| L.A.
He earned his fourth MVP award, but missed the post-season for the second straight year. Once he joined the Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar began wearing his trademark goggles (he briefly ditched them in the 1979–80 season).
The Lakers, however, continued to be stymied in the playoffs, being eliminated by the Seattle SuperSonics in both 1978 and 1979. In 1979, the Lakers acquired first overall draft pick Magic Johnson.
The trade and draft paved the way for a Laker dynasty as they went on to become the most dominant team of the 1980s, appearing in the finals eight times and winning five NBA championships.
Among them were his record sixth MVP award in 1980, four more All-NBA First Team designations, two more All-Defense First Team designations, the 1985 Finals MVP, and on April 5, 1984, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record for most career points.
He credited Bruce Lee with teaching him "the discipline and spirituality of martial arts, which was greatly responsible for me being able to play competitively in the NBA for 20 years with very few injuries." After claiming his sixth and final MVP in 1980, Abdul-Jabbar continued to average above 20 points in the following six seasons, including 23 points per game in his 17th season at age 38.
Lakers | 8 || || 45.9 || .579 || || .839 || 12.6 || 4.8 || 1.0 || 4.1 || 28.5 |- | style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 1980† | style="text-align:left;"| L.A.
Lakers | 3 || || 44.7 || .462 || || .714 || 16.7 || 4.0 || 1.0 || 2.7 || 26.7 |- | style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 1982† | style="text-align:left;"| L.A.
He says, "There is no way I could have played as long as I did without yoga." In 1983, Abdul-Jabbar's house burned down.
Lakers | 14 || || 35.2 || .520 || || .632 || 8.5 || 3.6 || 1.0 || 3.2 || 20.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 1983 | style="text-align:left;"| L.A.
Among them were his record sixth MVP award in 1980, four more All-NBA First Team designations, two more All-Defense First Team designations, the 1985 Finals MVP, and on April 5, 1984, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record for most career points.
Among them were his record sixth MVP award in 1980, four more All-NBA First Team designations, two more All-Defense First Team designations, the 1985 Finals MVP, and on April 5, 1984, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record for most career points.
Lakers | 21 || || 36.5 || .555 || || .750 || 8.2 || 3.8 || 1.1 || 2.1 || 23.9 |- | style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 1985† | style="text-align:left;"| L.A.
He missed one game in the 1986–87 season when his eyes dried out and swelled. In the 1976–77 season, Abdul-Jabbar had another strong performance.
The Lakers made the NBA Finals in each of Abdul-Jabbar's final three seasons, defeating Boston in 1987, and Detroit in 1988.
The Lakers made the NBA Finals in each of Abdul-Jabbar's final three seasons, defeating Boston in 1987, and Detroit in 1988.
Lakers | 18 || 18 || 31.1 || .530 || .000 || .795 || 6.8 || 2.0 || .4 || 1.9 || 19.2 |- | style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 1988† | style="text-align:left;"| L.A.
Over his 20-year NBA career, his teams succeeded in making the playoffs 18 times and got past the first round 14 times; his teams reached the NBA Finals on 10 occasions. At the time of his retirement at age 42 in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA's all-time leader in points scored (38,387), games played (1,560), minutes played (57,446), field goals made (15,837), field goal attempts (28,307), blocked shots (3,189), defensive rebounds (9,394), career wins (1,074), and personal fouls (4,657).
Many Lakers fans sent and brought him albums, which he found uplifting. On June 28, 1989, Abdul-Jabbar was 42 years old when he announced that he would retire at the end of the season after 20 years in the NBA.
Lakers | 24 || 24 || 29.9 || .464 || .000 || .789 || 5.5 || 1.5 || .6 || 1.5 || 14.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 1989 | style="text-align:left;"| L.A.
I was way too suspicious and I paid a price for it." Since he began lobbying for a coaching position in 1995, he has managed to obtain only low-level assistant and scouting jobs in the NBA, and a head coaching position only in a minor professional league. Abdul-Jabbar has worked as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Seattle SuperSonics, helping mentor, among others, their young centers, Michael Olowokandi and Jerome James.
In 1996, he was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
He made the NBA's 35th Anniversary Team, and was named one of its 50 greatest players of all time in 1996.
Abdul-Jabbar also served as a volunteer coach at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona, in 1998. In 2016, he performed a tribute to friend Muhammad Ali along with Chance the Rapper.
Abdul-Jabbar was the head coach of the Oklahoma Storm of the United States Basketball League in 2002, leading the team to the league's championship that season, but he failed to land the head coaching position at Columbia University a year later.
ESPN named him the greatest center of all time in 2007, the greatest player in college basketball history in 2008, and the second best player in NBA history (behind Michael Jordan) in 2016.
ESPN named him the greatest center of all time in 2007, the greatest player in college basketball history in 2008, and the second best player in NBA history (behind Michael Jordan) in 2016.
In 2012, Abdul-Jabbar was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be a U.S.
Former Lakers coach Pat Riley once said, "Why judge anymore? When a man has broken records, won championships, endured tremendous criticism and responsibility, why judge? Let's toast him as the greatest player ever." Isiah Thomas remarked, "If they say the numbers don't lie, then Kareem is the greatest ever to play the game." Julius Erving in 2013 said, "In terms of players all-time, Kareem is still the number one guy.
He's the guy you gotta start your franchise with." In 2015, ESPN named Abdul-Jabbar the best center in NBA history, and ranked him No.
ESPN named him the greatest center of all time in 2007, the greatest player in college basketball history in 2008, and the second best player in NBA history (behind Michael Jordan) in 2016.
In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. ==Early life== Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.
Abdul-Jabbar also served as a volunteer coach at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona, in 1998. In 2016, he performed a tribute to friend Muhammad Ali along with Chance the Rapper.
Abdul-Jabbar's only recognized rookie card became the most expensive basketball card ever sold when it went for $501,900 at auction in 2016.
Until Jayson Tatum in 2018, Alcindor would be the only rookie to record 10 or more games of 20+ points scored during the playoffs. The next season, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard Oscar Robertson.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05