Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Guide Note:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born Lew Alcindor, is a Hall of Fame basketball player and the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He is often associated with his trademark shot the Sky Hook which was legitimately deemed unstoppable and indefensible by opposing players and coaches.

Fast Facts

1. Born: April 15, 1947
2. Birth Place: Harlem, New York
3. College: UCLA
4. National Titles: 3
5. NBA MVP's: 6
6. NBA Titles: 6
7. NBA Teams: 2
8. 1969-1975: Played with Milwaukee Bucks
9. 1975-1989: Played with Los Angeles Lakers

Frederick Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor was born in Harlem, New York on April 16, 1947. He attended Power Memorial High School where he led the basketball team to three NYC Catholic Championships. He later attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he was twice named College Player of the Year and won three [[NCAA Championships in 1967, 1968, 1969. In a testament to his dominance in the college game, the slam dunk was banned in college basketball because of his superiority around the basket.

With the first pick in the 1969 draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In his illustrious career he would win the NBA MVP a record six times, as well as win Six NBA Championships, winning the Finals MVP Award Twice. He would retire as the All-Time Leading Scorer in the History of the NBA.

During his playeing career, Lew Alcindor changed his name to honor his faith as a devout Muslim. The name he took was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. When he retired in 1989 he pursued a career in coaching, and although his skills as a player and basketball mind could not be questioned he has found it difficult to find employment especially in a Head Coaching capacity. He was Named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. He is currently a special assistant coach for Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers. He is also the author of several books most recently On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through The Harlem Renaissance.

• April 16, 1947: Born
• 1967-1969: Wins three national championships at [University of California, Los Angeles]
• 1970: NBA Rookie of the Year with Milwaukee Bucks
• 1971 & 1972: Wins back-to-back NBA MVP awards
• 1974: Wins third NBA MVP in four years
• 1975: Traded to Los Angeles Lakers
• 1976 & 1977: Wins two more NBA MVP awards
• 1980: Wins sixth NBA MVP award
• 1980: Stars in movie Airplane!
• 1989: Retires from Basketball]
• 1995: Named to [Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame]]
• 2005: Special Assistant Coach for Los Angeles Lakers