Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 17, 1947 (age 79)
- Birthplace
- Harlem, New York City, New York, USA
Biography
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Jerry West: The Logo
Movie · as Self / Self (Archive Footage)
John Candy: I Like Me
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Kobe: The Making of a Legend
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
Los Anillos de Pau
TV · 1 ep
The Iceman
Movie · as Self
Stand
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Final Game of Death
Movie · as Mantis
Night Court
TV · 1 ep
Bill Russell: Legend
TV · as Self - Basketball Hall of Fame · 2 eps
The Luckiest Guy in the World
TV · as Self · 4 eps
Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War
Movie · as Self - Narrator (voice)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Movie · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
They Call Me Magic
TV · as Self · 4 eps
The Jennifer Hudson Show
TV · 1 ep
Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers
TV · as Self · 10 eps
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
Movie · as Self
Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America
Movie · as Self
Muhammad Ali
TV · as Self · 4 eps
Be Water
Movie · as Self - Student / Friend
Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution
Movie · as Self - Narrator (voice)
John Bronco
Movie · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Saving OurSelves: BET COVID-19 Relief Effort
Movie · as Self - Co-Host
DAVE
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
Dear...
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Game of Death Redux
Movie · as Mantis
1968
Movie · as Self
Basketball: A Love Story
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
Shut Up and Dribble
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
Beat Shazam
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Jim Jefferies Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies
TV · as Self · 3 eps
O.J.: Made in America
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
O.J.: Made in America
TV · as Self (archive footage)
Billions
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
To Tell the Truth
TV · as Self - Panelist · 1 ep
Kareem: Minority of One
Movie · as Self
Kobe Bryant's Muse
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Celebrity Family Feud
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Fresh Off the Boat
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Undefeated: The Roger Brown Story
Movie · as Himself
The Arsenio Hall Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Crazy Ones
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
Good Mythical Morning
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Guys with Kids
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 2 eps
On the Shoulders of Giants
Movie · as Self - Narrator
New Girl
TV · as Himself · 1 ep
The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear
Movie · as Self
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
Movie · as Self
Kobe Doin' Work
Movie · as Self
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
The Black List: Volume One
Movie · as Self
I Tried
Movie · as Sin
Los Angeles Lakers: 1984-1985 NBA Champions Return To Glory
Movie · as Himself
Weapons
Movie · as P.J.
The Big Bang Theory
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
Whitepaddy
Movie · as Hank
Identity
TV · 1 ep
The Colbert Report
TV · as Self, Self (uncredited) · 2 eps
Dancing with the Stars
TV · as Self - Contestant · 2 eps
The Celebrity Apprentice
TV · 1 ep
The Bachelorette
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'
Movie
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee
Movie
Scrubs
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey
Movie · as Self
Bruce Lee in G.O.D.
Movie · as Himself / Hakim
The GREATEST : Bruce Lee
Movie · as Comentador
BASEketball
Movie · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault
Movie · as Self
The Journey of the African-American Athlete
Movie · as Self
Everybody Loves Raymond
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
The Daily Show
TV · as Self · 3 eps
Boston Common
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
Bully Smart for Kids
Movie · as Self
Forget Paris
Movie · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
A Night to Die For
Movie · as Self
Slam Dunk Ernest
Movie · as Archangel
Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon
Movie · as Self
D2: The Mighty Ducks
Movie · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Critic
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice) · 2 eps
The Stand
TV · as Monster Shouter · 2 eps
The Curse of the Dragon
Movie · as Self
Saved by the Bell: The New Class
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
Matrix
TV · 1 ep
Late Show with David Letterman
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Martin
TV · as Dr. Skyhook · 1 ep
Philadelphia 76ers 1983 - That Championship Feeling
Movie · as Self
Good Sports
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
All New Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Best of the Martial Arts Films
Movie · as Self
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
Hoodwinked
Movie · as Man at Sal's House
Troop Beverly Hills
Movie · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Detroit Pistons: 1988-1989 NBA Champions - Motor City Madness
Movie · as Self - Los Angeles Lakers
The Simpsons
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice) · 1 ep
Los Angeles Lakers: '87 The Drive For Five
Movie · as Himself
21 Jump Street
TV · as Wesley Williams · 1 ep
Full House
TV · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · 1 ep
Bustin' Loose
TV · 1 ep
Ask Max
Movie · as Himself
Amen
TV · 1 ep
Fletch
Movie · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
Movie · as Self
Stingray
TV · 1 ep
The Hero Who Couldn't Read
Movie · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Olympic Gala
Movie
Tales from the Darkside
TV · as The Djinn, Jan Bin Jan · 1 ep
Los Angeles Lakers 1982 NBA Champions - Something to Prove
Movie · as Himself
Airplane!
Movie · as Roger Murdock
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
Movie · as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Visitor
Movie · as Basketball player (uncredited)
Game of Death
Movie · as Hakim
Diff'rent Strokes
TV · as Mr. Wilkes · 2 eps
Man from Atlantis
TV · as Thark · 1 ep
The Game of Death
Movie · as Hakim / Mantis
Emergency!
TV · as Man Stuck in Car · 1 ep
Mannix
TV · 1 ep
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Merv Griffin Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Oscars
TV · as Self · 1 ep