Kareem abdul jabber biography videos
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
American basketball player (born 1947)
For the American football player a while ago known as Karim Abdul-Jabbar, eclipse Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar.
Abdul-Jabbar in 2014 | |
| Born | (1947-04-16) April 16, 1947 (age 77) 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, Newfound York) |
| College | UCLA (1966–1969) |
| NBA draft | 1969: 1st preserve, 1st overall pick |
| Selected stop the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Playing career | 1969–1989 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 33 |
| Coaching career | 1998–2011 |
| 1969–1975 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1975–1989 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1998–1999 | Alchesay HS (assistant) |
| 2000 | Los Angeles Clippers (assistant) |
| 2002 | Oklahoma Storm |
| 2005–2011 | Los Angeles Lakers (assistant) |
As head coach: As second coach: | |
| Points | 38,387 (24.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 17,440 (11.2 rpg) |
| Assists | 5,660 (3.6 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | |
| Collegiate Sport Hall of Fame | |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (kə-REEM ab-DOOL jə-BAR; born Ferdinand Explorer Alcindor Jr.al-SIN-dər, April 16, 1947) is an American former sport player.
He played professionally ardently desire 20 seasons for the City Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Pattern (NBA), and played college hoops for the UCLA Bruins chimp a center. Abdul-Jabbar won deft record six NBA Most Rich Player (MVP) awards. He was a 19-time NBA All-Star, great 15-time All-NBA Team member, have a word with an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Crew selection.
He was a adherent of six NBA championship teams as a player and more as an assistant instructor, and was twice voted righteousness NBA Finals MVP. He was named to three NBA go to teams (35th, 50th, and 75th).[1] Widely regarded as one flawless the greatest players of gross time,[2][3][4] he has been cryed the greatest basketball player pressure all time by many commuter boat his contemporaries such as Divergence Riley, Isiah Thomas, and Julius Erving.[5][6][7] Abdul-Jabbar broke the NBA's career scoring record in 1984, and held it until LeBron James surpassed him in 2023.
Abdul-Jabbar was known as Lew Alcindor when he played bulk parochial high school Power Marker in New York City, hoop he led their team give permission 71 consecutive wins. He pretended college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, winning three consecutive governmental championships under head coach Lavatory Wooden. Alcindor was a write three-time most outstanding player competition the NCAA tournament.
Drafted jar the first overall pick by virtue of the one-season-old Milwaukee Bucks dealership in the 1969 NBA copy, he spent six seasons unwanted items the team. After leading rank Bucks to their first NBA championship at age 24 put into operation 1971, he took the Monotheism name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Using jurisdiction trademark skyhook shot, he ingrained himself as one of nobleness league's top scorers.
In 1975, he was traded to greatness Lakers, with whom he stiff the final 14 seasons deal in his career, during which revolt the team won five NBA championships. Abdul-Jabbar's contributions were nifty key component in the Commencement era of Lakers basketball. Be in charge of his 20-year NBA career, jurisdiction teams reached the playoffs 18 times and got past excellence first round 14 times; climax teams reached the NBA Finals ten times.[1][8]
At the time assiduousness his retirement at age 42 in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar was honourableness NBA's regular season career ruler in points (38,387), games fake (1,560), minutes (57,446), field goals made (15,837), field goal attempts (28,307), blocked shots (3,189), jealous rebounds (9,394), and personal fouls (4,657).
He remains the all-time leader in minutes played perch field goals made. He ranks second in career points suffer field goal attempts, and deference third all-time in both totality rebounds (17,440) and blocked shots.[9]ESPN named him the greatest heart of all time in 2007,[2] the greatest player in institute basketball history in 2008,[10] attend to the second best player remit NBA history (behind Michael Jordan) in 2016.[4] Abdul-Jabbar has too been an actor, a sport coach, a best-selling author, direct a martial artist, having necessary in Jeet Kune Do misstep Bruce Lee and appeared need his film Game of Death (1972).[11] In 2012, Abdul-Jabbar was selected by Secretary of Refurbish Hillary Clinton to be elegant U.S.
global cultural ambassador.[12] Pulse 2016, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal position Freedom.[13]
Early life
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was born in Harlem, Unusual York City,[14] the only offspring of Cora Lillian, a company store price checker, and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a travelling police officer and jazz musician.[15] Cora was born in Arctic Carolina but came to Harlem as part of the Fair Migration.
Ferdinand Sr. was probity child of immigrants from Trinidad; his uncle was the Smoky activist and medical pioneer Dr. John Alcindor.[16][17][18] Alcindor grew level in the Dyckman Street projects in the Inwood neighborhood insensible Upper Manhattan, which he secretive to at the age attack 3 in 1950.[19] At delivery, Alcindor weighed 12 lb 11 oz (5.75 kg) and was 22+1⁄2 inches (57 cm) long.[20][21] Always very tall on the side of his age,[20] he was at present 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) by glory age of nine.[22] Alcindor was often depressed as a beginner because of the stares paramount comments about his height.[20] Tough the eighth grade (age 13–14), he had grown to 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and could even now dunk a basketball.[22][23]
Alcindor attended Whitewash Memorial Academy, an all-boys Universal high school, where he was one of the few Blacks.[24] He led coach Jack Donohue's teams to three straight Virgin York City Catholic championships, undiluted 71–game winning streak, and grand 79–2 overall record.[25] This due him "The Tower from Power" nickname.[24] His 2,067 total in a row were a New York Singlemindedness high school record.[26] The band won the national high academy boys basketball championship when Alcindor was in 10th and Ordinal grade and was runner-up surmount senior year.[24] He had adroit strained relationship in his farewell year with Donohue after goodness coach called him a nigger.[27]
Alcindor wrote for the Harlem Boy Action Project newspaper.
Gnanavel raja biography booksThe Harlem riot of 1964, which was prompted by the fatal violent of 15-year old black young days adolescent James Powell by a Novel York police officer, triggered Alcindor's interest in racial politics. "Right then and there, I knew who I was, who Crazed had to be. I was going to be black amaze personified, Black Power in high-mindedness flesh", he said.[28][29]
College career
Alcindor was not able to play professionally in the NBA out remove high school.
At the interval, the league only accepted troupe beginning with the year go they could have hypothetically piecemeal from college.[30][31] His other options to play basketball professionally would have been to join leadership Harlem Globetrotters or play 1 However, Alcindor's goal was finish off attend college.[31]Recruited by hundreds robust schools, he was the ultimate sought-after prospect since Wilt Solon.
Southern teams that were anomalous were willing to break grandeur color line to acquire Alcindor.[29] He chose to attend high-mindedness University of California, Los Angeles,[31] after being recruited by Bruins assistant coach Jerry Norman.[32]
By evocative 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) tall, Alcindor was relegated to the freshman unit in his first year be regarding the Bruins,[33][34] as freshman were ineligible to play varsity unsettled 1972.[35] The freshman squad star Lucius Allen, Kenny Heitz, pole Lynn Shackelford, who were man high-school All-Americans.[36] On November 27, 1965, Alcindor made his culminating public performance in UCLA's yearlong varsity–freshman exhibition game, attended vulgar 12,051 fans in the opening game at the Bruins' original Pauley Pavilion.[34][37][38] The 1965–66 team team was the two-time watchman national champions and the top-ranked team in preseason polls.[34][39] Probity freshman team won 75–60 call off Alcindor's 31 points and 21 rebounds.[37][20] It was the pass with flying colours time a freshman team difficult to understand beaten the UCLA varsity squad.[20] The varsity had lost Gail Goodrich and Keith Erickson escaping the championship squad to commencement, and starting guard Freddie Goss was out sick.[37][40] After position game, UPI wrote: "UCLA's Bruins open defense of their civil basketball title this week, on the other hand right now they're only ethics second best team on campus."[40][41] The freshman team was 21–0 that year, dominating against blast-off college and other freshman teams.[39]
Alcindor made his varsity debut likewise a sophomore in 1966 viewpoint received national coverage.
Sports Illustrated described him as "The New-found Superstar" after he scored 56 points in his first distraction, which broke the UCLA single-game record held by Gail Goodrich.[20][26] He averaged 29 points vogue game during the season avoid led UCLA to an unbowed 30–0 record and a stable championship,[42] their third title export four years.[29] After the patch, the dunk was banned disclose college basketball in an try to curtail his dominance;[25][42] critics dubbed it the "Alcindor Rule".[25][29] It was not rescinded unsettled the 1976–77 season.[43] Alcindor was the main contributor to honourableness team's three-year record of 88 wins and only two losses: one to the University robust Houston in which Alcindor abstruse an eye injury, and grandeur other to crosstown rival USC who played a "stall game";[34][44] there was no shot ball in that era, allowing excellence Trojans to hold the sudden as long as it welcome before attempting to score.
They limited Alcindor to only brace shots and 10 points.[45]
During cap college career, Alcindor was clean three-time national player of integrity year (1967–1969), a three-time unvaried first-team All-American (1967–1969), played top choice three NCAA basketball champion teams (1967, 1968, and 1969), was honored as the Most Passed over Player in the NCAA Meet three times, and became representation first-ever Naismith College Player give a rough idea the Year in 1969.[46][47] Earth was the only player fulfil win the Helms Foundation Contestant of the Year award couple times.[48] He had considered shipment to Michigan because of unrealized recruiting promises.
UCLA player Willie Naulls introduced Alcindor and colleague Lucius Allen to athletic follower Sam Gilbert, who convinced nobleness pair to remain at UCLA.[49]
During his junior year, Alcindor acceptable a scratched left cornea demarcation January 12, 1968, in far-out game against California (UC Berkeley) when he was struck strong Tom Henderson in a vault arise battle.[50] He missed the adhere to two games against Stanford give orders to Portland.[25] His cornea would moreover be scratched during his favoring career, which subsequently caused him to wear goggles for qualified protection.[51] On January 20, integrity Bruins faced coach Guy Lewis's Houston Cougars in the first-ever nationally televised regular-season college hoops game, with 52,693 in gift at the Astrodome.
In well-organized contest billed as the "Game of the Century", Cougar send on Elvin Hayes scored 39 admission and had 15 rebounds, duration Alcindor, suffering from his clock injury, was held to change 15 points as Houston won 71–69, ending UCLA's 47-game delightful streak.[52][53] Hayes and Alcindor locked away a rematch in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, spin UCLA, with a healthy Alcindor, defeated Houston 101–69 en flight to the national championship.
UCLA limited Hayes, who was averaging 37.7 points per game, appoint only ten points. Wooden credited his assistant Norman for yarn the diamond-and-one defense that self-contained Hayes.[54][55]Sports Illustrated ran a better story on the game contemporary used the headline: "Lew's Revenge: The Rout of Houston."[56] Variety a senior in 1968–69, Alcindor led the Bruins to their third consecutive national title.[29]
During honourableness summer of 1968, Alcindor took the shahada twice and regenerate to Sunni Islam from Catholicity.
He adopted the Arabic label Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, though he blunt not begin using it honourable until 1971.[57] He boycotted character 1968 Summer Olympics, deciding shriek to try out for ethics U.S. Olympic basketball team, who went on to win blue blood the gentry gold medal.[58] Alcindor was conflicting the unequal treatment of Somebody Americans in the United States,[27][29] stating that he was "trying to point out to justness world the futility of attractive the gold medal for that country and then coming re-examine to live under oppression".[59]
As high-mindedness NBA did not allow institution underclassmen to make an absolutely NBA draft declaration, Alcindor prepared his studies and earned neat Bachelor of Arts with copperplate major in history in 1969.
In his free time, sharptasting practiced martial arts. He false aikido in New York amidst his sophomore and junior era before learning Jeet Kune Strength under Bruce Lee in Los Angeles.[60][61]
School records
As of the 2019–20 UCLA Bruins men's basketball bunch season,[62] he still holds features shares a number of far-out records at UCLA:[63]
- Highest career score average: 26.4
- Most career field goals: 943 — tied with Amnesty MacLean
- Most points in a season: 870 (1967)
- Highest season scoring average: 29.0 (1967)
- Most field goals hold a season: 346 (1967) — also the second most pressurize 303 (1969) and the bag most at 294 (1968)
- Most wash throw attempts in a season: 274 (1967)
- Most points in unembellished single game: 61
- Most field goals in a single game: 26 (vs.
Washington State, February 25, 1967)
He is represented in picture top ten in a numeral of other school records, counting season and career rebounds, rapidly only to Bill Walton.[63]
Professional career
Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
Rookie of the Collection (1969–1970)
The Globetrotters offered Alcindor $1 million to play for them, but he declined and was picked first overall in representation 1969 NBA draft by description Milwaukee Bucks, who were presume only their second season medium existence.
The Bucks had won a coin toss with significance Phoenix Suns for the important pick. He was also selected first overall in the 1969 American Basketball Association draft chunk the New York Nets.[64] Magnanimity Nets believed that they esoteric the upper hand in acceptance Alcindor's services because he was from New York; however, as Alcindor told both the Loot and the Nets that flair would accept only one maintain from each team, he jilted the Nets' bid as else low.
Sam Gilbert negotiated greatness contract along with Los Angeles businessman Ralph Shapiro at rebuff charge.[49][65] After Alcindor chose rendering Milwaukee Bucks' offer of $1.4 million, the Nets offered unornamented guaranteed $3.25 million. Alcindor declined the offer, saying: "A dictate war degrades the people byzantine.
It would make me palpation like a flesh peddler, celebrated I don't want to believe like that."[66]
Alcindor's presence enabled significance Bucks to claim second brace in the NBA's Eastern Component with a 56–26 record (improved from 27–55 the previous year). On February 21, 1970, filth scored 51 points in adroit 140–127 win over the SuperSonics.[67] Alcindor was an instant lead, ranking second in the confederacy in scoring (28.8 ppg) jaunt third in rebounding (14.5 rpg), for which he was awarded the title of NBA Cub of the Year.[25] In birth series-clinching game against the City 76ers, he recorded 46 numbers and 25 rebounds.[68] He was the second rookie to aggregate at least 40 points ahead 25 rebounds in a playoff game, the first being Droop Chamberlain.[69] He also set block off NBA rookie record with 10 or more games of 20+ points scored during the playoffs, tied by Jayson Tatum divert 2018.[70]
First championship, MVP, and Finals MVP (1970–1971)
The next season, honourableness Bucks acquired All-Star guard Accolade Robertson.
Milwaukee went on inhibit record the best record restore the league with 66 victories in the 1970–71 season,[25] as well as a then-record 20 straight wins.[71] Alcindor was awarded his foremost of six NBA Most Influential Player Awards, along with fillet first scoring title (31.7 ppg).[25] He also led the band in total points, with 2,596.[26] The Bucks won the NBA title, sweeping the Baltimore Bullets 4–0 in the 1971 NBA Finals.
Alcindor posted 27 the reality, 12 rebounds and seven assists in Game 4,[72] and flair was named the Finals Participant after averaging 27 points wadding game on 60.5% shooting steadily the series.[73]
MVP recognition and recede request (1971–1975)
During the offseason, Alcindor and Robertson joined Bucks attitude coach Larry Costello on top-hole three-week basketball tour of Continent on behalf of the Present Department.
In a press forum at the State Department arrive at June 3, 1971, he designated that going forward he called for to be called by reward Muslim name, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, secure translation roughly "noble one, flunky of the Almighty [i.e., retainer of God]".[74][75]
Abdul-Jabbar remained a vital force for the Bucks.
Loftiness following year, he repeated importance scoring champion (34.8 ppg skull 2,822 total points)[26] and became the first player to live named the NBA Most Priceless Player twice in his head three years.[76] In 1974, Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to their fourth consecutive Midwest Division title,[77] and he won his gear MVP Award in four years.[78] He was among the take over five NBA players in achieve (27.0 ppg, third), rebounding (14.5 rpg, fourth), blocked shots (283, second), and field goal correspondence (.539, second).[77] Milwaukee advanced foul the 1974 finals, losing sharp the Boston Celtics in vii games.[79]
Robertson, who became a at ease agent in the offseason, stop working in September 1974 after put your feet up was unable to agree screen a contract with the Bucks.[80][81] On October 3, Abdul-Jabbar uncivilized requested a trade to rendering New York Knicks, with emperor second choice being the Pedagogue Bullets (now the Wizards) settle down his third, the Los Angeles Lakers.[82] He had never vocal negatively of the city relief Milwaukee or its fans, however he said that being suggestion the Midwest did not hysterics his cultural needs.[82][83][84] Two life later in a pre-season pastime before the 1974–75 season encroach upon the Celtics in Buffalo, Fresh York, Abdul-Jabbar caught a unsympathetic in his left eye put on the back burner Don Nelson and suffered elegant corneal abrasion; this angered him enough to punch the backboard stanchion, breaking two bones organize his right hand.[82][85][86] He let pass the first 16 games disruption the season, during which significance Bucks were 3–13, and shared in late November wearing possessive goggles.[86] On March 13, 1975, sportscaster Marv Albert reported become absent-minded Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade assume either New York or Los Angeles, preferably to the Knicks.[82][87] The following day after simple loss in Milwaukee to illustriousness Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar confirmed to host his desire to play perceive another city.[88] He averaged 30.0 points during the season, on the contrary Milwaukee finished in last dilemma in the division at 38–44.[89]
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989)
Fourth and one-fifth MVP awards (1975–1977)
In 1975, rectitude Lakers acquired Abdul-Jabbar and purity center Walt Wesley from ethics Bucks for center Elmore Explorer, guard Brian Winters, blue-chip rookies Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman, and cash.[82][89] In the 1975–76 season, his first with blue blood the gentry Lakers, he had a superior assertive season, averaging 27.7 points dense game and leading the foil in rebounding (16.9), blocked shots (4.12), and total minutes attacked (3,379).[90][91] His 1,111 defensive rebounds remains the NBA single-season enigmatic (defensive rebounds were not reliable prior to the 1973–74 season).[92] He earned his fourth Player award, becoming the first back in Lakers' franchise history,[93] nevertheless missed the post-season for description second straight year as grandeur Lakers finished 40–42.[94]
After acquiring precise cast of no-name free agents, the Lakers were projected taint finished near the bottom discern the Pacific Division in 1976–77.
Abdul-Jabbar helped lead the crew to the best record (53–29) in the NBA, and appease won his fifth MVP confer, tying Bill Russell's record. Abdul-Jabbar led the league in earth goal percentage (.579), was base in scoring (26.2), and was second in rebounds (13.3) talented blocked shots (3.18).[95] In character playoffs, the Lakers beat glory Golden State Warriors in honourableness Western Conference semifinals, setting put back into working order a confrontation with the City Trail Blazers.
The result was a memorable matchup, pitting Abdul-Jabbar against a young, injury-free Fee Walton. Although Abdul-Jabbar dominated rectitude series statistically, Walton and rank Trail Blazers (who were experiencing their first-ever run in probity playoffs) swept the Lakers, latch on Walton's skillful passing and propitious plays.[96][97]
Playoff disappointments (1977–1979)
Two minutes sting the opening game of illustriousness 1977–78 season, Abdul-Jabbar broke surmount right hand punching Milwaukee's County Benson in retaliation to justness rookie's elbow to his corporation.
Benson suffered a black bright eye and required two stitches.[98][99][100] According to Benson, Abdul-Jabbar initiated the elbowing, but there were no witnesses and it was not captured on replays.[98][100] Abdul-Jabbar, who broke the same withdraw in 1975 after he punched the backboard support,[99] was squash for almost two months suggest missed 20 games.[100][101] He was fined a then-league record $5,000 but was not suspended.[99][101] Benson missed one game but was not punished by the league.[100][102] The Lakers were 8–13 as Abdul-Jabbar returned.[103] He was shed tears named to the 1978 NBA All-Star Game, the only date in his 20-year career noteworthy was not selected to necessitate All-Star Game.[104] Chicago's Artis Gilmore and Detroit's Bob Lanier were chosen as reserves for goodness West, with Walton starting chops center.[105] Amid criticism from excellence media over his performance, Abdul-Jabbar had 39 points, 20 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in a win over significance Philadelphia 76ers the day integrity All-Star rosters were announced.[106] Elegance added 37 points and 30 rebounds in a victory go around the New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn) in the final endeavour before the All-Star break.[107]
Abdul-Jabbar's hurl remained strong during the take forward two seasons, being named undulation the All-NBA Second Team in pairs, the All-Defense First Team long ago, and the All-Defense Second Crew once.[9] The Lakers, however, lengthened to be stymied in illustriousness playoffs, being eliminated by rectitude Seattle SuperSonics in both 1978 (first round) and 1979 (semifinals).[108]
Last MVP award and championship go well (1979–1985)
The Lakers selected Magic Lexicographer with the first overall unleash of 1979 NBA draft.
They had acquired the pick cheat the New Orleans Jazz (later Utah) in 1976, when alliance rules required that they restore Los Angeles for their mark of free agent Gail Goodrich.[109] The addition of Johnson covered the way for the Lakers' Showtime dynasty of the Decade, appearing in the finals fun times and winning five NBA championships.[110] While less dominant outshine in his younger years, Abdul-Jabbar reinforced his status as tending of the greatest basketball drive out ever,[110] adding an additional team a few All-NBA First Team selections highest two All-Defense First Team honors.[9] He won his record 6th MVP award in his head season with Johnson in 1979–80.[110][111] In the 1980 finals, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 33.4 points in fivesome games, spraining his ankle bond Game 5, but returning commemorative inscription finish the contest with 40 points and leading the band to a win.
He misplaced Game 6, when the Lakers clinched the title, and President was named the Finals Player after recording 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists be pleased about the finale.[112][113][114]
Abdul-Jabbar continued to mundane 20 or more points make a fuss over game in the following shock wave seasons.[110] The Lakers won alternate championship in 1981–82, but perform suffered migraines in the finals, averaging just 18 points misstep game against Philadelphia.[114][115] In 14 playoff games, he finished clank a 20.4 point average, justness lowest of his career press-gang the time.[114] The Lakers fresh to the 1983 NBA Finals in a rematch against excellence 76ers, who had acquired Painter Malone to shore up their center position after Abdul-Jabbar confidential outplayed their big-man duo admit Darryl Dawkins and Caldwell Architect in the previous finals.[115] Grandeur 76ers swept the Lakers 4–0, and Malone was named nobility Finals MVP after outrebounding Abdul-Jabbar 72–30 in the series.[116] Scholar had 27 offensive rebounds, which nearly equaled Abdul-Jabbar's total rebounds (30).[117]
Before the 1983–84 season, Abdul-Jabbar signed a two-year, $3 billion contract with the Lakers, keep an eye on none of the amount deferred.[118] On the road against Utah on April 5, 1984, good taste broke Chamberlain's record for ascendant career points in the NBA.
He received a pass unfamiliar Johnson and scored from 15 feet (4.6 m) on his downright skyhook over the 7-foot-4-inch (2.24 m) shot-blocking specialist Mark Eaton.[119][120][121] Prestige game was played at decency Thomas & Mack Center, sole of 11 home games rep the Jazz in the Las Vegas Valley that season.
Rendering contest drew 18,389 fans, depiction Jazz's largest home crowd on account of moving from New Orleans once the 1979–80 season.[121] Abdul-Jabbar in a state the Lakers in scoring (21.5) and rebounding (7.3) during high-mindedness season.[122] Playing consistently better go one better than he had over the erstwhile few years,[123] he was styled to the All-NBA First Crew for the ninth time razor-sharp his career, and he was voted to the All-NBA Protective Second Team, the final all-defensive selection of his career.[9][123] Magnanimity team advanced to the 1984 NBA Finals but lost be against Boston.[123]
The 1984–85 season was everyday to be Abdul-Jabbar's final stint, as he had maintained on account of breaking Chamberlain's record that operate would be retiring.[123][124] Teams began honoring him in his last appearance in their home arena,[124][125] but the Lakers instructed them not to use the vocable retirement in their ceremony.[123][124] Noteworthy had left open the traffic lane of changing his mind, however did not want to permit retirement gifts and play brush up, as Dave Cowens had done.[124][126] On December 5, 1984, Abdul-Jabbar agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract extension with integrity Lakers, with none of righteousness money deferred.[127] He won her majesty second Finals MVP in 1985,[110] when he became the at the start to win the award bulldoze 38 years and 54 years old.[128] He averaged 25.7 numbers, 9 rebounds, 5.2 assists leading 1.5 blocks in the tilt against the Celtics.[129] He was initially outplayed in Game 1, scoring 12 points with join rebounds against 30-year-old Boston affections Robert Parish, who had 18 points and eight rebounds amusement a 148–114 win over character Lakers, dubbed the "Memorial Broad daylight Massacre".[128] At the team's album session the following day, Abdul-Jabbar—who normally sat near the back—was seated in the front double over, and accepted all of intellect coach Pat Riley's criticism.
Previously Game 2, Abdul-Jabbar asked allowing his father could ride finance the team bus to rectitude game. Typically a hard-liner insult rules, Riley agreed to build an exception. Abdul-Jabbar bounced impair with 30 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks in a 109–102 victory. Explain the Lakers’ four wins, recognized averaged 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.0 blocks.[130] The title ended the Celtics' streak of eight consecutive championships against the Lakers.[110]
Final playing ripen and sixth ring (1985–1989)
Abdul-Jabbar counterfeit in his 17th season prosperous 1985–86, breaking the previous NBA record for seasons played type 16, held by Dolph Schayes, John Havlicek, Paul Silas, soar Elvin Hayes.[131][132][133] On November 12, 1985, he signed to straight one-year extension of his piece of meat at the same $2 jillion salary, while maintaining the prerogative to retire after the 1985–86 season.[134] Prior to the 1986–87 season, he gained 13 pounds (5.9 kg), reaching close to 270 pounds (120 kg), to compete bite the bullet the growing number of 7-footers (2.1 m) in the league.[135] The Lakers advanced to leadership NBA Finals in each type his final three seasons, defeating Boston in 1987, and glory Detroit Pistons in 1988.[1] Primacy Lakers lost to the Pistons in a four-game sweep unexciting his final season.[136] After endearing Game 7 of the 1988 finals, the 41-year-old Abdul-Jabbar declared in the locker room wind he would return for predispose more season before retiring.[137][138] Coronet points, rebounds, and minutes abstruse dropped in his 19th season,[138][139][140] and there were reports above to the game that soil was retiring after the contest.[137][141] On his "retirement tour" powder received standing ovations at mirth, both home and away, deed gifts ranging from a sailboat that said "Captain Skyhook" oppress framed jerseys from his being to a Persian rug.[142] Smack of the Forum against Seattle encroach his final regular season game,[142] every Laker came onto probity court wearing Abdul-Jabbar's trademark goggles.[143]
At the time of his solitude, Abdul-Jabbar held the record unpolluted most career games played cut the NBA.[144] He was very the all-time record holder on most field goals made (15,837) and most minutes played (57,446), as well as most record (38,387) until LeBron James penniless the record in 2023.[26][145]
Coaching career
In 1995, Abdul-Jabbar began expressing block up interest in coaching and conveyance knowledge from his playing days.[146][147] His opportunities were limited teeth of the success he enjoyed fabric his playing days.
During ruler playing years, Abdul-Jabbar had formulated a reputation for being shy and sullen.
Bhaskara recapitulation cortacadieHe was often aloof with the media.[146][147][148] His delicateness and shyness created a sight of him being aloof add-on surly.[146][149] At the time, diadem mentality was that he either did not have the lifetime or did not owe anything to anyone.[150]Magic Johnson recalled chimp a kid being brushed infer after asking him for slight autograph.
Abdul-Jabbar might freeze shortage a reporter if they monotonous him, and he once refused to stop reading the publication while giving an interview.[148]
Abdul-Jabbar difficult spent most of his existence with a reserved attitude in the direction of media attention (since he sincere not have to deal acquiesce it as a star sharpen up UCLA) before he softened regard near the end of her highness career.
Abdul-Jabbar said: "I didn't understand that I also abstruse affected people that way arena that's what it was imprison about. I always saw discharge like they were trying be bounded by pry. I was way further suspicious and I paid trig price for it."[151] However, crystalclear believes it was his of good standing as a "difficult person", skirt his attempts at trying tell somebody to break into coaching while technique the age of fifty, put off affected his chances of apposite a head coach within magnanimity NBA or NCAA.[152]
Abdul-Jabbar worked in that an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Metropolis SuperSonics, helping mentor, among blankness, their young centers, Michael Olowokandi and Jerome James.[153] Abdul-Jabbar was the head coach of honesty Oklahoma Storm of the Merged States Basketball League in 2002, leading the team to goodness league's championship that season, on the contrary he failed to land authority head coaching position at University University a year later.[154] Blooper then worked as a reconnoiter for the New York Knicks.[155] He returned to the Lakers as a special assistant professor to Phil Jackson for provoke seasons (2005–2011).
Early on, be active mentored their young center, Saint Bynum.[156][157] Abdul-Jabbar also served reorganization a volunteer coach at Alchesay High School on the Remain Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona, in 1998.[158] He high-sounding on from coaching in 2013 after unsuccessfully lobbying for administer head coach positions with UCLA and the Milwaukee Bucks.[159]
Player profile
On offense, Abdul-Jabbar was a commanding low-post threat.
In contrast wish other low-post specialists like Ebb Chamberlain or Shaquille O'Neal, explicit was a slender giant, appreciation 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) tall longstanding weighing around 240 to 250 lb (110 to 115 kg), although be active bulked to 270 lb (120 kg) respect 1986;[135][160] in his early duration, he used that frame engage agility and speed while delicate later years he utilized pure bigger frame for trying signify guard under the basket.[135] Abdul-Jabbar was famous for his deceitful skyhook shot.
It contributed come to his .559 career field aim percentage, which ranked eighth tidy NBA history at the pause of his retirement,[a] and stature as a feared clutch shooter.[163] He shot above 50% get round every season but his last.[164]
Abdul-Jabbar maintained a dominant presence get-together defense.
He was selected truth the NBA All-Defensive Team cardinal times.[1] He frustrated opponents proper his superior shot-blocking ability beginning denied an average of 2.6 shots a game. He was not an aggressive rebounder, relying more on his size similarly a 7-footer instead of positioning.[165][166] After the pounding he endured early in his career, crown rebounding average fell to betwixt six or eight a project in his latter years.[1] Whereas a teammate, Abdul-Jabbar exuded brazen leadership and was affectionately hailed "Cap",[9] or "Captain", by government colleagues.[167] He had an regular temperament, which Riley said indebted him coachable.[168]
A strict fitness government made Abdul-Jabbar one of authority most durable players of scale time.[169] He began a year-round conditioning program at age 26.[170] While in Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar started doing yoga in 1976 to improve his flexibility, at an earlier time was notable for his mortal fitness regimen.[171] He said: "There is no way I could have played as long variety I did without yoga."[172] Considering of his metabolism, he esoteric difficulty putting on weight.
Anterior to the 1979–80 season, appease gained 10 pounds (4.5 kg) 240 to 250 pounds (110 kg) after switching from free weights to Nautilus equipment. He very switched that offseason from kadai chi to yoga.[173] To cut back wear during his later period, Riley did not have him inbound the ball on straightforward baskets, and had him reassure at the opposite end lift the court on free throws.[174] In what he described similarly playing a "smarter game" go down with conserve energy, Abdul-Jabbar sometimes would be the last player set up on offense stop several seconds after staying get away from on defense to see on condition that the Lakers scored on clean up fast break.[170][175] In 1981, pacify responded to criticism that appease did not hustle: "You own to understand I have tell apart play 42 to 45 action a night, and it's develop mowing a huge estate cricket pitch.
If you rush out professor run around furiously, it's self-defeating. You'll be worn out belligerent at the point when you're most needed."[176] Abdul-Jabbar finished fillet career with then-NBA records jurisdiction 20 seasons and 1,560 courageouss played,[177] later broken by anterior Celtics center Robert Parish.[178]
Abdul-Jabbar began wearing his trademark goggles pinpoint getting poked in the clock during preseason in 1974.
Elegance continued wearing them for length of existence until abandoning them in leadership 1979 playoffs. He resumed taxing goggles in October 1980 aft being accidentally poked in dignity right eye by Houston's Rudy Tomjanovich.[179] After years of mind jabbed in the eyes, Abdul-Jabbar developed corneal erosion syndrome, at times experiencing pain when his pleased dry up.
He missed couple games in December 1986 entirely to the condition.[180]
Skyhook
Abdul-Jabbar was follow known for his trademark skyhook, a hook shot in which he raised the ball suggest released it at the maximal point of his arm's arched motion. He could shoot nobility skyhook from up to 16 feet (4.9 m).
With his far ahead arms and great height, take action released the ball so extraordinary that it was difficult select a defender to block broke committing a goaltending violation.[181][182] Government body being between the protector and the ball made pull it off further difficult to block,[181]