You could argue that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the most overlooked basketball player based on his production. This is incredible, considering his great height and the fact that he played in Los Angeles for so many years. However, we’re not giving Karim his due in terms of a truly amazing career of hoops. He’s one of the top 10 players in NBA history, but he’s not talked about like other big names, even some of the lesser players. Let’s give Abdul-Jabbar the tools he deserves now with a look back at his career, which includes some truly impressive post-play work.
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Lew Alcindor dominates in high school
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Born in New York City, Abdul-Jabbar Ferdinand Louis Alcindor Jr. would come to be known as Lou Alcindor early in his life. Alcindor was already 6’8” by the time he was in middle school, so it’s probably no surprise that he was unstoppable in high school. His team went 79-2 in his career and won three league titles. However, Alcindor & Company also won the National High School Boys’ Title twice and were finalists once again.
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Alcindor goes to UCLA, making a record-breaking debut
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After high school, Alcindor went across the country to play for John Wooden at UCLA. Freshman wasn’t allowed to play at the time, so Leo didn’t make his debut until he was a sophomore. Then, in his first game, he dropped 56 points, an UCLA record.
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Dunking is banned in college, because of Alcindor
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Alcindor was great out of the gate, being named an All-American and Player of the Year during the 1967 season. After that season, dunking was banned by the NCAA. It is widely accepted that they banned immersion to try to stifle Alcindor’s dominance. Spoiler alert: It didn’t work.
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Alcindor dominates college, winning three titles with the Bruins
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All three seasons Alcindor played with the Bruins says UCLA finished the season as champions. In fact, UCLA went 88-2 in his time at the school, a game in which Alcindor was injured. He was named Player of the Year and an All-American in all three of his seasons as well.
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Alcindor converts to Islam and boycotts the Olympics
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During the summer of 1968, Alcindor decided to convert to Islam. It was at this time that he would adopt the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, although he did not begin to use it publicly until 1971. That summer, he also refused to play for Team USA in the 1968 Summer Olympics in protest of racism in the United States.
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Cream was drafted first overall by the Bucks and The Nets
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Abdul-Jabbar had many suitors after college. The Harlem Globetrotters offered him a $1 million contract, which he turned down. Cream was also drafted first overall in 1969 by both the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA and the New York Nets in the ABA. Abdul-Jabbar decided to sign with the Bucks and join the NBA.
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Abdul-Jabbar wins the Rookie of the Year award
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Cream hit the ground running in the NBA. Almost single-handedly, Abdul-Jabbar’s Bucks improved to 29 wins and finished second in the league in points per game and third in rebounds per game. Karim won Player of the Year, then in the playoffs he scored 46 points and 25 rebounds against 76.
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Karim wins the MVP title and title in his second season
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After Karim’s first season, the Bucks were traded for All-Star Oscar Robertson. The team improved to a league-best 66 wins as Abdul-Jabbar was named Most Valuable Player after averaging 31.7 points per game. Milwaukee dominated in the playoffs, losing only twice en route to the franchise’s first (and so far only) title. Abdul-Jabbar was also awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Finals.
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Other best Milwaukee players
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Abdul-Jabbar would stay in Milwaukee for a few more seasons, winning two MVP awards. That includes the season where he averaged 34.8 points per contest. Also during this time, he began wearing goggles after multiple eye injuries in his career. While Karim succeeded, and the team made the playoffs, the Bucks never won another title.
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Karim was traded to the Lakers
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Abdul-Jabbar was tired of being in the Midwest after several seasons with the Bucks. Karim wanted to move to Los Angeles or New York, and eventually the Bucks traded him to the Lakers for a four-player group.
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Abdul-Jabbar wins first-season MVP award in Los Angeles
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Kareem was his usual dominant self in his first season in Los Angeles. He led the league in points, blocks and rebounds on his way to winning a fourth MVP award. However, Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers missed the playoffs.
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Yes, another MVP for Kareem
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During the 1976-77 season, Cream was able to carry the Lakers to the best record in the NBA. He also won again the MVP award, a record-setting fifth MVP award. In the playoffs, Karim faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals, led by Karim’s UCLA teammate Bill Walton. Walton and the Blazers picked up the win, keeping the Lakers out of the NBA Finals.
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Abdul-Jabbar misses his only all-star game
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In the first game of the following season, Abdul-Jabbar punched Kent Benson in the face. This broke Benson’s jaw, but also broke Karim’s hand. While Abdul-Jabbar was not suspended, he missed two months due to his injury. This led Karim to miss the 1978 All-Star game, the only All-Star game he missed in his career.
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Magic Johnson joins the Lakers and starts a dynasty
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The Lakers added Magic Johnson, the first overall pick of 1979, and that changed the fortunes of the Lakers franchise. The combination of Magic and Cream has gone to the NBA Finals eight times, winning five championships.
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Karim wins his Player of the Year award for the sixth time
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During the Showtime Lakers’ dynastic run, Karim won his sixth MVP award in 1980. That was also the year the Lakers won their first championship with Abdul-Jabbar. These six players remain an NBA record.
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Abdul-Jabbar sets record for career points
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In 1984, Karim broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most career touchdowns. Obviously, Abdul-Jabbar kept adding to this record and to this day it remains his all-time NBA record 38,387 points. That is, until LeBron James has something to say about it we suppose.
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Karim wins the award for the best player in the finals
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During the 1984-85 season, Karim wasn’t the player he used to be. However, he still averaged 22 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Despite his advanced age, already in his late 30s, Abdul-Jabbar helped the Lakers to another title, this time winning the Finals MVP award.
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Abdul-Jabbar retires after losing the finals
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The Lakers won back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988, though by that point Karim was a veteran presence and support player for the Magic. He was in his forties and was getting by with cunning and his famous Heavenly Hook. Cream announced that he would retire after the 1988-89 season, when he was 42. The Lakers returned to the NBA Finals, but lost to the Pistons. However, Abdul-Jabbar remained true to his word and retired.
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Karim’s acting career
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Karim had a lot of interests outside of basketball, which includes acting. Most famously, Abdul-Jabbar played Roger Murdock in the comedy classic “Airplane!” He also appeared in the movie “Fletch”, the Bruce Lee movie “Game of Death”, and several TV shows, often playing himself.
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Abdul-Jabbar also has a successful writing career
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In addition to acting, Abdul-Jabbar has done writing work. We’re not just talking about diaries, either. He’s also written a historical non-fiction book, a comic about Mycroft Holmes, and was also on the writing staff of the “Veronica Mars” reboot. How many former NBA players can say that?
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Many of the best players, many titles, and a place in the Hall of Fame
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Needless to say, Karim is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He’s won six NBA titles, six MVPs, two Finals MVPs, and was named to the All-NBA First Team an astonishing 10 times. His number 33 has been retired by the Bucks, Lakers, and UCLA Bruins. In addition to all of that, Kareem was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2016. Abdul-Jabbar has had a huge impact on and off the field. However, he still feels he needs more love.