Legends: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

no NBA player has ever scored more points, blocked more shots, won more MVP awards, participated in more All Star Games, or played in more seasons than Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who retired from the game in 1989 at the age of 42.

Rookie of the Year, a member of six NBA championship teams, six time NBA MVP, two time NBA Finals MVP, 19 time All Star, two time scoring champion, and a member of the NBA 35th and 50th Anniversary All Time Teams are just a few of his incredible individual and team accomplishments. In addition, he held seven All Star records and eight playoff records. Abdul Jabbar was the player with the most success both individually and as a team.

Players ten years younger than Abdul Jabbar were unable to compete with him due of his rigorous physical training program of its time in the NBA.

Even though some players have subsequently imitated his exercise routine, no player has yet imitated his signature “sky hook. Even though Abdul Jabbar called the shot unsexy it ended up being one of the most potent tools in sports history. Abdul Jabbar was an all around player who gave the center position which had previously only been defined by size and strength grace, quickness, and mobility.

Even though Abdul Jabbar was a phenomenal player, he didn’t gain the adoration of basketball fans until the latter part of his career. He was a quiet man, unfriendly to the media, and occasionally distant. He formerly admitted to The Sporting News, Im the baddest among the bad guys.

However, Abdul-Jabbar started to open up at the end of his playing career, and as his career came to an end, coaches, players, and fans all showed their admiration for what he had accomplished in the game of basketball. In every arena in the league, Abdul-Jabbar received honors during his final season, 1988–89.
In a toast that was reported by Sports Illustrated, former Miami Heat coach Pat Riley, who worked with Abdul Jabbar for eight seasons in Los Angeles, famously remarked, Why judge anymore? Why pass judgment on a man who has overcome immense criticism, won championships, broken records, and carried a lot of responsibility? Lets celebrate him as the all time best player.

Two years after World War II ended, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. gave birth to Abdul Jabbar in New York city. He was the sole child of a severe father and an overly protective mother, whose passivity, according to some, Alcindor eventually came to dislike. Alcindor was by far the tallest student in the Harlem school system, and his peers thought he was kind of weird. He attended the now closed Power Memorial in New York and excelled in high school basketball before joining UCLA to play for John Woodens formidable Bruins.

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When Alcindor was selected first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1969 NBA Draft, the team was just in its second season. (The Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in the coin toss to claim the first selection their inaugural campaign was forgettable, finishing 27–55.) A new center with the ability to rule the league was long overdue. Bill Russell had recently left the Boston Celtics, and Wilt Chamberlain was nearly thirty five but still a productive player. In 1969–70, the Bucks went 56–26 and finished second in the Eastern Division with Alcindor leading the team. Alcindor quickly became well-known, finishing second in the league in scoring (28.8 points per game) and third in rebounds (14.5 per game). With ease, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year.

oscar Robertson, a 31 year old guard from the Cincinnati Royals, was acquired by the Bucks during the offseason in exchange for their NBA championship ticket. With a supporting cast that included a teenage Lucius Allen, Jon McGlocklin, Greg Smith, and Bobby Dandridge, Milwaukee won 66 games in a row in 1970–71, setting a league record. alcindor finished fourth in rebounding 16.0 rpg but earned his first NBA Most Valuable Player Award and scoring championship (31.7 ppg). Only the second NBA Finals sweep in league history was accomplished by Milwaukee, who finished 12-2 in the playoffs and easily defeated the Baltimore Bullets. It was Alcindor who won Finals MVP.

alcindor became an Islamic conversion prior to the 1971–72 season adopting the name kareem abdul Jabbar, which translates to noble powerful servant. He had some amazing years with Milwaukee and was undoubtedly do noble and strong player. He repeated as NBA Most Valuable Player 34.8 ppg and scoring champion in 1971–1972, and the Bucks won the division for the second time in four years. In just his fifth season in the NBA, Abdul-Jabbar won his third MVP Award in 1973–74. He also finished in the top five in four categories: field goal percentage (.539, second), blocked shots (283, second), scoring (27.0 ppg, third), and rebounding (14.5 rpg, fourth).

In 1974, Milwaukee made a comeback to the NBA Finals, but this time they fell short against the 6 foot 9 center Dave Cowens and his stable of guards, who were too fast for the 35 year old Robertson. The Bucks run of division titles came to an end when The Big O retired following the playoffs. The teams 38-44 record sent them to last place in the 1974–75 season.

Abdul Jabbar was unhappy despite his extraordinary success in Milwaukee, partly because there weren t many people who shared his cultural and religious views and wanted to leave. In 1975, Abdul-Jabbar asked to be transferred to the Lakers in exchange for Junior Bridgeman, Dave Meyers, Elmore Smith, and Brian Winters. Bucks General Manager Wayne Embry consented, sending Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers The second Abdul-Jabbar dynasty was about to take shape.

The fact that Chamberlain had retired two years prior contributed to the Lakers disappointing 30-52 record and last place result in 1974–75. Abdul Jabbars first season in Los Angeles had a 10-game turnaround that he contributed to. In just seven years in the NBA, he has already earned four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, thanks to his accomplishments (27.7 ppg, 16.9 rpg).

Jerry West was appointed as the Lakers coach the following season, and he led the club to a league-best 53-29 record which put them back in first place For the fifth time in eight years, Abdul Jabbar (26.2 points per game, 13.3 rebounds per game 579 field goal percentage, and 261 blocks) tied the record set by Celtics great Bill Russell by being selected Most Valuable Player But the championship-bound Portland Trail swept the Lakers in the conference finals blazers, who had a fearsome big man of their own in Bill Walton.

the Lakers finished in the center of their division in each of the next two years despite Abdul-Jabbars best efforts. despite missing 20 games in 1977–78 due to a broken hand sustained in a fight with Milwaukee rookie Kent Benson during the season’s opening game, he kept up his impressive stats. Despite the potential of young players like Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon, Los Angeles was mired in mediocrity.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a 6-foot-9 point guard from Michigan State, was chosen by the Lakers in the first round of the 1979 NBA Draft with a first-round pick acquired from the Utah Jazz. With Johnson’s arrival, a decade that would yield five more championship rings for Abdul-Jabbar began. With their “Showtime” blitzkrieg fast break, the Lakers won nine division titles in the final 10 years of Abdul-Jabbar’s career.

for the following six seasons, Abdul-Jabbar averaged at least 20 points per game. Years of beating and fighting for position started to wear him down, and his rebounding average fell to between 6 and 8. Even though most players had retired by the time he was in his late 30s he was still remarkably fit, muscular, and able to play 32 to 35 minutes a game.

Magic Johnson pronounced him “the most beautiful athlete in sports to writer Gary Smith. During the latter part of his career, Abdul-Jabbar’s exercise regimen gained even more significance. He meditated before every game to lower his stress levels, and he practiced yoga and martial arts to maintain the strength and flexibility of his arms and legs.

In a Las Vegas game against the Utah Jazz on April 5, 1984, Abdul-Jabbar experienced what was possibly his best moment. After receiving a pass from Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar spun around and threw his signature sky-hook in the direction of the basket. with the shot drawing nothing but net Abdul-Jabbar recorded his 31,420th career point, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain to become the NBAs all time top scorer.

the Lakers spent ten seasons (1979–80 to 1988–89) in the NBA Finals, making eight trips. They defeated the Detroit Pistons once, as well as Boston and Philadelphia twice apiece, to win five titles. For Abdul-Jabbar, the Boston series in 1985 was possibly the most fulfilling. Many onlookers believed the leagues senior center, who was 38 years old, to be washed up. They appeared to be correct in Game 1 as Abdul-Jabbar only managed 12 points and three rebounds against Robert Parish. In a game that became known as the Memorial Day Massacre, the Celtics easily defeated the opposition 148-114.

abdul-Jabbar participated in intense practice sessions that lasted more than an hour including sprinting drills, and watched hours of game films over the course of the following two days. Riley tried to talk Abdul Jabbar into taking a break several times, but to no avail.

In the second game, the Lakers defeated Abdul-Jabbar 109-102 thanks to his 30 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists, and three blocked shots. The series was eventually won by Los Angeles in six games. Abdul-Jabbar averaged 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks in the Lakers’ four wins. Abdul-Jabbar pulled down a rebound, drove the length of the court and swished a sky hook in one iconic sequence. Even so, he dove for a dropped ball. Riley stated to Sports Illustrated, What you saw was passion Finals MVP was Abdul-Jabbar.

According to Jabbar, his championship in 1985 might have been the sweetest of his six. The victory took place on the Boston Garden floor, defeating the specters of the venue and the Celtics a squad that had beaten the Lakers just the previous season and numerous more times throughout Russell’s rule.

The Lakers defeated Boston once more in 1986–1987 to win the NBA Championship. While Abdul-Jabbar put in a solid performance, Magic Johnson emerged as the series MVP. For the first time in his career, Abdul-Jabbar’s point total dropped below 20 points per game (17.5 ppg) during the regular season. He inked a deal to play for two more years at the age of 40. After defeating Detroit the next year, the Lakers became the first team to repeat since the 1968–69 Celtics as NBA champions.

The Lakers faced the Pistons again in The Finals during Abdul-Jabbars last season (1988–89). Despite Abdul-Jabbar’s season-high 24 points and 13 rebounds in Game 3, Los Angeles was swept because both Byron Scott and Magic Johnson were sidelined with hamstring injuries. Abdul-Jabbar finished with seven points and three rebounds in his last game. He averaged a career low 10.1 points in the regular season and shot below 500 from the field for the first time (475).

With Abdul-Jabbars retirement, the NBA came to an end to an era. With 38,387 points (24.6 ppg) 17,440 rebounds (11.2 rpg) 3189 blocks, and a.559 field goal % over the course of a career spanning 20 years and 1,560 games, he finished the game as the games all time scorer, a record that may never be topped. He scored ten or more goals in 787 consecutive games.

Abdul-Jabbar told the Orange County Register a few years after he retired, The 80s made up for all the abuse I took during the 70s. I survived all of my detractors Everyone regarded me as a venerable institution by the time I retired. Indeed, things do change.

After retirement, Abdul-Jabbar has written multiple books, pursued a career in entertainment, and functioned as a “basketball ambassador,” taking on roles as broadcaster and coach in addition to aiding in the fight against hunger and illiteracy.

in May 2021, the NBA established the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Award, and in 1995, Abdul Jabbar was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The new yearly award honors a contemporary NBA player who pursues social justice initiatives something that Karim Abdul-Jabbar did both during and after his playing career.