Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.) was born on April 16th, 1947 and is currently 77 years old. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. Abdul-Jabbar attended the University of California, Los Angeles.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a former basketball player who is considered one of the best to ever play the game. He played center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks.
While playing for the UCLA Bruins in college, he won three straight national championships under legendary coach John Wooden. He made his varsity debut as a sophomore in 1966, gaining national attention when
Sports Illustrated described him as “The New Superstar” after he scored 56 points in his first game, breaking the UCLA single-game record previously held by Gail Goodrich. That season, he averaged 29 points per game and led UCLA to a perfect 30-0 record and a national championship.
In an effort to curtail his dominance, college basketball instituted “The Alcindor Rule,” which banned dunks. This rule wasn’t rescinded until the 1976-77 season. During his time in college, he contributed significantly to the team’s impressive record of 88 wins and just 2 losses.
Kareem won 6 NBA championships as a player and an additional 2 as an assistant coach. He was named NBA Finals MVP on two occasions. He established himself as one of the league’s top scorers, utilizing his trademark skyhook shot. Kareem broke the NBA’s career scoring record in 1984, a record he held until 2023, when it was surpassed by LeBron James.
Over his 20-year career, his teams made the playoffs 18 times, advancing past the first round 14 times and reaching the NBA Finals ten times. In 2007, ESPN named him the best center, and in 2016, he was ranked the second-best player in NBA history (behind Michael Jordan) as well as the best college basketball player.
Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court is the first memoir for young readers penned by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
At one time, Lew Alcindor was just another kid from New York City, facing typical problems. He struggled to please a strict father, fit in, and overcome his shyness, which made him feel socially awkward. However, with his talent for basketball and an unmatched team of supporters, he transformed into Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
From a childhood marked by prejudice and racism to a record-smashing career on the basketball court, his life was shaped by coaches who guided him on the path to greatness while teaching him right from wrong. Influential figures such as coaches John Wooden and Jack Donahue, as well as Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali, played crucial roles in his life, inspiring him to become an advocate for social change and advancement.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Awards & Accolades
Abdul-Jabbar's book, Mycroft Holmes was nominated for the Alex Awards, Best Book, in 2016.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: F.A.Q
When was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Born? How old is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born on April 16th, 1947. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is currently 77 years old.
Where was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Born?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA and is American.
What was the first book Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote?
The first book written by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was Giant Steps: The Autobiography of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, published in 1983.
What was the most recent book Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote?
His most recently released work was Black Cop's Kid: An Essay (a short story) on September 28th, 2021.
Will there be any more books by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar does not have any upcoming books with a set publication date within the next few months at this time.
How many books has Kareem Abdul-Jabbar written?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has written 16 books excluding contributions to anthologies. 3 books in the Mycroft Series, 2 books in the Streetball Crew Series, 11 books in the Non-Fiction Books.