Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr, is a former professional basketball player who played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the LA Lakers. Abdul-Jabbar played center and was primarily known for his signature skyhook shot. In the NBA, the skyhook is a slight improvement of the hook shot, where he raises the ball and releases it at the highest point of his arm’s arching motion.
During his best players, he can shoot the ball up from 16 feet, making it difficult for other players to block his shots. In addition, he was an outstanding blocker and was one of the earliest players to show dunking skills. During his career with the Bucks and Lakers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA Championships and was a record six-time league MVP.
College career
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born in Harlem, New York City, and at an early age, he already showed a passion for the game. He started playing the game in high school under the guidance of coach Jack Donahue. His team, the Power Memorial Academy, won three straight New York Catholic championships. During this time, he earned the name ‘the Tower from Power’.
Since he could not play professionally after high school, he later attended the University of California, Los Angeles. On November 27, 1965, Abdul-Jabbar first appeared in UCLA’s varsity freshman exhibition game. The Bruins team was a top-ranked college team, and it started the journey of Abdul-Jabbar to be recognized as one of the best college players.
During his college years, Abdul-Jabbar was a three-time national player of the year and a three-time unanimous first-team All-American for 1967-69. In addition, he played for three NCAA basketball champions and was the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA three times. Abdul-Jabbar was also the first Naismith College Player of the Year (1969).
Professional career
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar started his professional career in the NBA in 1969. At that time, he was offered to join the Globetrotters for $1 million but declined. Instead, he was drafted first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, a team in its second year in the league. According to reports, the Bucks won the first pick over the Phoenix Suns on a coin toss. The Nets drafted Abdul-Jabbar but reportedly asked for offers from both teams, and the Bucks won.
After the draft, he received an offer worth $1.4 million. Immediately after, the Nets offered a higher amount but declined. During his first season, the Bucks were second in the Eastern Division, and he became an instant star. He was a consistent scorer for the team, and due to his efforts, he earned the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
During the 190-71 season, the Milwaukee Bucks signed All-Star guard Oscar Robertson, which improved the team’s standing. The Bucks then went on to win more games and established the best record in the NBA with 66 wins. During this season, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned his first NBA Championship and was also the MVP and the NBA Finals MVP. On March 13, 1975, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar formally requested to play for another city.
In 1975, the LA Lakers decided to acquire the services of Walt Wesley and Abdul-Jabbar. During his first season with the Lakers, he dominated the league, averaging 27.7 points per game, and was also the leader in rebounding and blocked shots. In addition, Abdul-Jabbar collected 1,111 defensive rebounds, which still stands as an NBA record. In his first season with the Lakers, he ordered his fourth MVP award, the first player from the team to do so. However, from 1977 to 1979, the Lakers team struggled, preventing him from fully showcasing his talents.
But starting 1979, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the rest of the Lakers bounced back. One of the crucial developments of this era was when the team acquired Magic Johnson as the first pick during the 1979 NBA Draft. Together with Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers made NBA history again by appearing in the Finals eight times. Also, this was when the tandem of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson started the ‘Showtime dynasty’, an electrifying show of basketball skills on the floor.
Post NBA career
After his NBA career, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has become active in socio-cultural works and helping the government with his causes. In January 2012, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that Abdul-Jabbar had accepted the invitation to become a cultural ambassador of the US. During his stint as a cultural ambassador, he traveled to Brazil to promote youth education. Former President Barack Obama also appointed Abdul-Jabbar to be part of the Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. He was also a member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
