Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Biography

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. April 16, 1947 in New York City, New York, and formerly known as Lew Alcindor) is a former American professional basketball player, considered by many as one of the greatest players of all time. Prior to his NBA career, the 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) tall Jabbar played center for UCLA from 1965-69, and then played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks (1969-75) and the Los Angeles Lakers (1975-89). He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points, and was famous for his "Skyhook" shot, against which it was notoriously difficult to defend. He averaged over 24 points and 10 rebounds over his career, and maintained a solid level of play well into his late 30s, being named to the All-Star team even in his final season. After a then-record 20 professional seasons, Abdul-Jabbar retired from the game in 1989, leaving a legacy of professionalism, class, and success. Following his success as a professional athlete, Jabbar has become known as a successful basketball coach, author, and part-time actor.