Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. (born April 16, 1947) in New York City, grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Harlem in a family of Trinidadian descent, raised in the Catholic tradition and imbued with values such as honor and dignity. An only child, he was quickly marked by his exceptional height: from elementary school onward, he played with the tallest kids, and at fourteen, already over two meters (6'7"), he was able to dunk. His adolescence was punctuated by episodes of social confrontation and learning the art of street basketball, which forged his competitive spirit.
Abdul-Jabbar distinguished himself early on at Power Memorial Academy, where he set records for points and rebounds, leading his team to 71 consecutive victories and three New York State high school championships. This period is unanimously recognized as one of the greatest high school basketball careers in history. In 1965, he entered UCLA under the tutelage of John Wooden and dominated the sport, winning three consecutive NCAA titles from 1967 to 1969 and being named the tournament MVP each time. His impact on the game was so significant that the NCAA temporarily banned the dunk during his time there.
In 1969, Abdul-Jabbar was the first overall pick in the NBA draft and joined the Milwaukee Bucks. In his first season, he distinguished himself with impressive statistics (28.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists) and was named Rookie of the Year. In 1971, he led the Bucks to the NBA title—the franchise's only championship—and won his first MVP award. It was also during this period that he converted to Islam, taking the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, publicly affirming his spiritual choice at a time when American society was still experiencing significant racial tensions.
Abdul-Jabbar then joined the Los Angeles Lakers, where his career reached legendary proportions. He won five more NBA titles, bringing his total to six, and accumulated six MVP awards. He participated in 19 All-Star Games, was a two-time league scoring champion, and holds the career scoring record (38,387 points). His accolades also include two Finals MVP awards and a multitude of individual and team accolades. He holds eight playoff records and seven All-Star Game records, and was named to the NBA's 35th and 50th Anniversary Teams.
Technically, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar revolutionized basketball by inventing, perfecting, and popularizing the "sky hook," a unique move that no one has equaled: a curling arm shot, difficult to block and incredibly effective, which became his signature weapon. He is also recognizable by his protective goggles, which he adopted after an eye injury during his college years.
His renown extends far beyond the world of sports: Abdul-Jabbar dedicated his life to the fight for civil rights and the promotion of African American culture, writing several books and regularly participating in public debate. Adored for his athletic achievements, respected for his strength of character and social activism, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remains, for many, the greatest legend in basketball history—a champion with universal values and an icon whose influence endures far beyond the court.
Photos
Movies (62)
Jerry West: The Logo
2026 · Self / Self (Archive Footage)
John Candy: me agrado
2025 · Self (archive footage)
The Final Game of Death
2023 · Mantis
The Iceman
2023 · Self
Stand
2023 · Self (archive footage)
Glass Onion: Un misterio de Knives Out
2022 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War
2022 · Self - Narrator (voice), Executive Producer
Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America
2021 · Self
Una Elección De Armas: Inspirados Por Gordon Parks
2021 · Self
John Bronco
2020 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Saving OurSelves: BET COVID-19 Relief Effort
2020 · Self - Co-Host
Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution
2020 · Self - Narrator (voice)
Be Water
2020 · Self - Student / Friend
Game of Death Redux
2019 · Mantis
1968
2018 · Self
O.J.: Made in America
2016 · Self (archive footage)
Kareem: Minoría De Uno
2015 · Self
Kobe Bryant's Muse
2015 · Self (archive footage)
Undefeated: The Roger Brown Story
2013 · Himself
On the Shoulders of Giants
2011 · Self - Narrator, Writer
The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear
2010 · Self
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
2009 · Self
Kobe Doin' Work
2009 · Self
The Black List: Volume One
2008 · Self
I Tried
2007 · Sin
Los Angeles Lakers: 1984-1985 NBA Champions Return To Glory
2007 · Himself
Weapons
2007 · P.J.
Whitepaddy
2006 · Hank
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee
2001
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'
2001
Bruce Lee in G.O.D.
2000 · Himself / Hakim
Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey
2000 · Self
The GREATEST : Bruce Lee
1998 · Comentador
BASEketball
1998 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault
1996 · Self
The Journey of the African-American Athlete
1996 · Self
Bully Smart for Kids
1995 · Self
Slam Dunk Ernest
1995 · Archangel
Olvídate De París
1995 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
A Night to Die For
1995 · Self
Los campeones 2
1994 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon
1994 · Self
The Vernon Johns Story
1994 · Producer
Bruce Lee La Maldicion del Dragon 1993
1993 · Self
Philadelphia 76ers 1983 - That Championship Feeling
1991 · Self
All New Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
1990 · Self (archive footage)
The Best of the Martial Arts Films
1990 · Self
Hoodwinked
1989 · Man at Sal's House
Detroit Pistons: 1988-1989 NBA Champions - Motor City Madness
1989 · Self - Los Angeles Lakers
Troop Beverly Hills
1989 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Los Angeles Lakers: '87 The Drive For Five
1987 · Himself
Ask Max
1986 · Himself
All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
1985 · Self
Fletch
1985 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Olympic Gala
1984
The Hero Who Couldn't Read
1984 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Los Angeles Lakers 1982 NBA Champions - Something to Prove
1982 · Himself
Airplane!
1980 · Roger Murdock
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
1979 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Visitor
1979 · Basketball player (uncredited)
Game of Death
1978 · Hakim
The Game of Death
1974 · Hakim / Mantis
TV shows (63)
Kobe: The Making of a Legend
2025 · Self (archive footage)
Los Anillos de Pau
2024
The Luckiest Guy in the World
2023 · Self
Bill Russell: Leyenda
2023 · Self - Basketball Hall of Fame
Corte Nocturna
2023
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
LA Lakers: El Legado
2022 · Self
Me dicen Magic
2022 · Self
Muhammad Ali
2021 · Self
Dear...
2020 · Self
DAVE
2020 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Shut Up and Dribble
2018 · Self (archive footage)
Basketball: A Love Story
2018 · Self (archive footage), Self
Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies
2017 · Self
The Jim Jefferies Show
2017 · Self
Beat Shazam
2017 · Self
To Tell the Truth
2016 · Self - Panelist
O.J.: Made in America
2016 · Self (archive footage)
Billions
2016 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Celebrity Family Feud
2015 · Self
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
2015 · Self
Los Huang: Un sueño americano
2015 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014 · Self
Locos al ataque
2013 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Arsenio Hall Show
2013 · Self
Guys with Kids
2012 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Good Mythical Morning
2012 · Self
New Girl
2011 · Himself
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Self - Guest
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
2009 · Self
La Teoría del Big Bang
2007 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Identity
2006
The Colbert Report
2005 · Self, Self (uncredited)
Dancing with the Stars
2005 · Self - Contestant
Verónica Mars
2004 · Co-Producer, Writer
The Celebrity Apprentice
2004
The Bachelorette
2003 · Self
Scrubs
2001 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Todo el mundo quiere a Raymond
1996 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Daily Show
1996 · Self
Boston Common
1996 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
La Danza de la Muerte
1994 · Monster Shouter
El Crítico
1994 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice)
Saved by the Bell: The New Class
1993 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Late Show with David Letterman
1993 · Self
Matrix
1993
Martin
1992 · Dr. Skyhook
Good Sports
1991 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
El Príncipe del Rap en Bel-Air
1990 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Los Simpson
1989 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice)
Bustin' Loose
1987
Full House
1987 · Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
21 Jump Street
1987 · Wesley Williams
Amen
1986
Stingray
1985
Tales from the Darkside
1984 · The Djinn, Jan Bin Jan
Diff'rent Strokes
1978 · Mr. Wilkes
Man from Atlantis
1977 · Thark
Emergency!
1972 · Man Stuck in Car
Mannix
1967
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
The Oscars
1953 · Self