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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

16 April 1947 – present

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., is an American former basketball player who won three NCAA titles at UCLA and six NBA championships with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. A six-time NBA Most Valuable Player known for his skyhook shot, he was the league's all-time leading scorer from 1984 until 2023 and has since worked as an author and commentator.

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Life events

Born in New York City
16 April 1947

Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. in Harlem and raised in the Inwood neighbourhood of Manhattan.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles
1965

Chose UCLA and coach John Wooden after a widely followed high school career at Power Memorial Academy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Won three consecutive NCAA championships with UCLA
1967 – 1969

The Bruins took the national title in each of his three varsity seasons and he was named tournament most outstanding player each year.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Selected first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks
1969

Taken with the first pick of the 1969 NBA draft and named Rookie of the Year in his first season.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Won his first NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks
1971

The Bucks swept the Baltimore Bullets in the finals in his second season, and he was named finals MVP.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Adopted the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1971

Announced the name he had taken on converting to Islam, having become a Muslim while at university.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
1975

Moved to Los Angeles, where he played the remaining fourteen seasons of his career and won five more titles.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became the NBA's all-time leading scorer
5 April 1984

Passed Wilt Chamberlain's career total of 31,419 points with a skyhook against the Utah Jazz in Las Vegas.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Retired from professional basketball
1989

Ended a twenty-season career with 38,387 regular-season points, a record that stood until 2023.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
22 November 2016

Received the medal from President Barack Obama for his basketball career and his work as a writer and cultural ambassador.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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