Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Biography: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on April 16, 1947, is a retired American professional basketball player. He spent 20 seasons in the NBA, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. Before his professional career, he starred as a center for the UCLA Bruins in college basketball.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Biography
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player who spent 20 seasons in the NBA, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. As a dominant center, he earned a record six NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, was selected to a record 19 NBA All-Star Games, made 15 All-NBA Teams, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team 11 times.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Biography 2025 Details
| Born | April 16, 1947 New York City, New York, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Listed height | 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| High school | Power Memorial (New York City, New York) |
| College | UCLA (1966–1969) |
| NBA draft | 1969: 1st round, 1st overall pick |
| Drafted by | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Playing career | 1969–1989 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 33 |
| Coaching career | 1998–2011 |
| Category | Football Biographies |
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About Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American former basketball player. He played professionally for 20 seasons for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association, and played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins as a center.
Abdul-Jabbar Personal Life
A legend of the sport, Abdul-Jabbar was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and holds the record for the most NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, with six. Over his career, he earned 19 NBA All-Star selections, made 15 All-NBA Teams, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team 11 times. He won six NBA championships as a player and two more as an assistant coach, and was named NBA Finals MVP twice.
Abdul-Jabbar Achievements
He won six NBA championships as a player and added two more as an assistant coach, while also earning NBA Finals MVP honors twice. In 1996, he was recognized as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Lakers in 1975, where he played the final 14 seasons of his career and captured five additional championships. He played a crucial role in the Lakers’ iconic “Showtime” era. Throughout his two-decade career, his teams made the playoffs 18 times, advanced.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Wiki
- Born: 16 April 1947 (age 78 years), Harlem, New York, United States
- Dates joined: 1975 (Los Angeles Lakers), 1969 (Milwaukee Bucks), 1965 (UCLA Bruins men’s basketball)
- Spouse: Habiba Abdul-Jabbar (m. 1971–1978)
- Number: 33 (Los Angeles Lakers / Center), 33 (Milwaukee Bucks / Center), 33 (UCLA Bruins men’s basketball / Center)
- Children: Habiba Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr., Amir Abdul-Jabbar, Sultana Abdul-Jabbar, Adam Abdul-Jabbar
- Parents: Cora Lillian, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Sr.
Early Life
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was born in Harlem, New York City, as the only child of Cora Lillian, a department store price checker, and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a transit police officer and jazz musician. His mother, originally from North Carolina, moved to Harlem during the Great Migration, while his father was the son of Trinidadian immigrants. Among his notable relatives was his great-uncle, Dr. John Alcindor, a pioneering Black physician and activist.
When Kareem was three years old, his family relocated to the Dyckman Street housing projects in the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan. At birth, he was already notably large, weighing 12 lbs 11 oz (5.75 kg) and measuring 22½ inches (57 cm). He continued to grow rapidly and reached 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) by the age of nine. By eighth grade, he stood at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and could already dunk a basketball. During his teenage years, he often struggled emotionally due to constant attention and remarks about his unusual height.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: At a Glance
- Category: Richest Athletes › NBA Players
- Net Worth: $25 Million
- Birthdate: April 16, 1947 (78 years old)
- Birthplace: New York City
- Gender: Male
- Height: 7 ft 1 in (2.18 m)
- Profession: Basketball player, Actor, Author, Coach, Screenwriter, Producer
- Nationality: American
College Career
At UCLA, he quickly made headlines, scoring a record 56 points in his varsity debut—later breaking that with a 61-point game. During his college years, he won nearly every major basketball award and became the first recipient of the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1969. His dominance led to the NCAA banning the dunk. In 1968, he boycotted the U.S. Olympic basketball team and adopted his Islamic name after converting to Islam.
NBA Career
Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969 for $1.4 million, Kareem quickly became a standout, earning Rookie of the Year and leading the team to an NBA title in 1971. After requesting a trade, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975. The team flourished after Magic Johnson joined in 1979, and Kareem helped lead the Lakers to five more championships. He was named NBA MVP six times and was selected to the All-Star team 19 times.
Known for his signature skyhook shot, Kareem also wore goggles due to an eye condition and was an early adopter of yoga to maintain flexibility. He retired in 1989 with records for most games played and points scored.
Coaching
After retiring, Kareem hoped to transition into coaching, but his reserved personality limited opportunities. He held assistant roles with the Clippers and Sonics, coached the Oklahoma Storm to a USBL title, and later worked as a special assistant coach with the Lakers from 2005 to 2011.
Acting
Living in Los Angeles gave Kareem opportunities in film and TV. He’s best known for his roles in Airplane! and Game of Death with Bruce Lee. He’s also appeared on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Scrubs, and The Colbert Report, and contributed as a writer on Veronica Mars in 2018.
Writing
Kareem is a prolific and respected author. His works include the autobiography Giant Steps and Writings on the Wall, addressing race and politics. He’s co-authored the Mycroft Holmes historical mystery series and written about his mentor in Coach Wooden and Me. His books reflect his deep intellect, social awareness, and lifelong learning.
Personal Life
Kareem married Habiba Abdul-Jabbar and had three children before their divorce in 1978. He has two additional children from other relationships. He has written extensively about his life, basketball, and African-American history.
Real Estate
Kareem once owned a custom-built home on 3 acres in Kauai, Hawaii, tailored to his height and lifestyle. The 5,912-square-foot property included a guest house, pool pavilion, 50-foot waterfall pool, and private access to Secret Beach. He listed it for $5.9 million in 2013 and sold it for $4.8 million in 2015. Will and Jada Smith later acquired the property, merging it with their adjacent land to create a 7-acre estate, which they sold in 2017 for $12 million.
What is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Net Worth2025
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the legendary former NBA star, has a net worth of $25 million. Over a 20-year career, he earned countless accolades, including six NBA Championships and 19 All-Star selections. He held the record as the league’s all-time leading scorer until LeBron James surpassed him in February 2023. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history, Kareem has also found success off the court as an actor, author, and cultural commentator.
FAQs
Is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still rich?
His career numbers are amazing, and he leaves a fantastic legacy. He has a $25 million net worth thanks to his illustrious legacy. Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and he was the all-time leading scorer in NBA history until LeBron James broke his record.
Did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sell his trophies?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sold his four championship rings and three MVP trophies for $2.8 million. Then he donated all of the money to support youth education programs. Known for his unstoppable “skyhook,” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a graceful force on the court who held the NBA’s all-time scoring record for 38 years.
Has Kareem made a 3?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made 1 shot from beyond the arc in his career. StatMuse has season-level data for three-pointers going back to the 1979-80 season.
What age did Kareem retire?
When Abdul-Jabbar retired in 1989 at age 42, his career regular-season numbers were 24.6 points per game, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 blocked shots and a . 559 shooting percentage. He was first-team all-league 10 times and second-team five times.
How much was Kareem paid?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – $3m ($5.8m today) The man needs no introduction, but he might have needed a little extra cash during his storied run with the Lakers between 1976-89. Despite earning a lot for his time, even mid-level stars would walk away from his salary today.