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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Timeline
(April 16, 1947 – Present)This timeline chronicles the life of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.), one of basketball's greatest players. It covers his record-breaking college career at UCLA under John Wooden, his transformation from Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after converting to Islam, his legendary NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, the development of his signature skyhook shot, his six NBA championships and six MVP awards, and his post-retirement work as an author, activist, and cultural ambassador. More Less
Early Life and College
Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. in New York City
Apr 16, 1947
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. is born in Harlem, New York City, the only child of Cora and Ferdinand Alcindor Sr., a police officer and jazz musician. He would grow up to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Image source: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Attends Power Memorial Academy
Sep 1961
Alcindor enrolls at Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan, where he becomes the dominant force in high school basketball, leading the Panthers to a 71-game winning streak and multiple city championships.
Leads Power Memorial to national prominence
1964 - Mar 1965
As a towering center, Alcindor leads Power Memorial to an unprecedented run of dominance in New York high school basketball, earning national attention as the most recruited player in America.
Enrolls at UCLA under coach John Wooden
Oct 1965
Alcindor chooses UCLA to play for legendary coach John Wooden. Due to NCAA freshman eligibility rules at the time, he plays for the freshman team, which soundly defeats the varsity squad.
Image source: UCLA Bruins men's basketball
Varsity debut: 56-point performance against USC
Dec 3, 1966
In his first varsity game, Alcindor scores 56 points against USC, setting a UCLA single-game scoring record that still stands and announcing his arrival as college basketball's premier player.
Image source: 1966–67 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team
Wins first NCAA championship with UCLA
Mar 25, 1967
UCLA wins the NCAA championship over Dayton, beginning an era of total dominance. Alcindor is named Most Outstanding Player as the Bruins finish the season 30-0.
NCAA bans dunking, partly in response to Alcindor
Apr 1967 - 1976
The NCAA institutes a rule prohibiting dunking, often called the 'Lew Alcindor rule.' Alcindor responds by perfecting the skyhook shot, an unblockable shot that becomes his signature move.
Image source: Slam Dunk (manga)
Back-to-back NCAA championships with UCLA
Mar 23, 1968 - Mar 21, 1969
UCLA wins consecutive national championships in 1968 and 1969 with Alcindor anchoring the team. He finishes his college career with three titles, three Final Four Most Outstanding Player awards, and an 88-2 record as a starter.
Image source: 1969 NCAA University Division basketball tournament
Post-Basketball Life
Converts to Islam and takes name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1968 - 1971
Influenced by Malcolm X's autobiography, Alcindor converts to Sunni Islam and eventually adopts the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971, publicly announcing the change after winning his first NBA championship.
Publishes memoir 'Giant Steps'
1999
Abdul-Jabbar publishes his autobiography 'Giant Steps,' co-written with Peter Knobler, offering reflections on his life, faith, activism, and basketball career.
Key Facts
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on April 16, 1947, in New York City, and converted to Islam in 1968, officially changing his name in 1971.
- He led UCLA to three consecutive NCAA championships (1967–1969) under coach John Wooden and was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament each year.
- He played 20 NBA seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975) and Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989), winning six NBA championships—one with the Bucks and five with the Lakers.
- His signature 'skyhook' shot is considered one of the most unstoppable moves in basketball history, and he held the NBA's all-time scoring record with 38,387 points for nearly four decades until LeBron James passed it in 2023.
- A record six-time NBA MVP, he was also a 19-time All-Star and later became a bestselling author, social activist, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Source
This Kareem Abdul-Jabbar timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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