| When he retired at the age of 42, he took | | | | Named 1st Team All-American 3 Times (67,68 & |
| with him records for most points scored by an | | | | 69), selected as Player of the Year in 1967 |
| NBA player, most blocked shots, most MVP | | | | and 1969 by The Sporting News, United Press |
| awards, most appearances in All-Star games, | | | | International, the Associated Press and the |
| and most seasons played. To put it simply, | | | | U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar composed the most | | | | Named Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA |
| impressive personal and team accomplishments | | | | Tournament in 1967, 1968 and 1969. Finished |
| in the history of the NBA! He was named | | | | lording over the NCAA he then took his game |
| Rookie of the Year, was a member of 6 NBA | | | | to the NBA. |
| championship teams, was a six-time NBA MVP, | | | | |
| was named NBA Finals MVP twice, was selected | | | | He was drafted as the first pick in the 1969 |
| the All-Star team 19 times, league scoring | | | | NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks |
| champion twice, and selected as a member of | | | | were a young team in only in it's second |
| the NBA 35th and 50th Anniversary All-Time | | | | season. In his first year Alcindor averaged |
| Teams. And, no one was too amazed as Kareem | | | | 28.8 points (2nd in the NBA) and 14.5 |
| had been a dominant force in basketball since | | | | rebounds (3rd) to lead the Bucks to an |
| his high school days. | | | | improved record of 56-26. They would reach |
| | | | the Eastern Division finals only to be beaten |
| Kareem's first or original name was Ferdinand | | | | by the Knicks. Lew was awarded the League's |
| Lewis Alcindor (he would later change it to | | | | Rookie of the Year Award. |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). He went by Lew | | | | |
| Alcindor. His basketball dominance began in | | | | After acquiring the legendary Oscar |
| high school, where he led Power Memorial High | | | | Robertson, the Milwaukee Bucks went on to |
| School to a 72 game winning streak and an | | | | become a dominant team and recorded 66 |
| overall record of 96 and 6. As a sophomore at | | | | victories in the 70-71 season. Alcindor was |
| Power Memorial, he averaged 19 points and 18 | | | | awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player Award |
| rebounds for an undefeated team. His high | | | | and his first NBA Scoring Title. The Bucks |
| school team was unbeaten in Alcindor's junior | | | | went on to dominate in the playoffs, going 12 |
| season as well. The next year, for the first | | | | and 2. They swept the Baltimore Bullets in 4 |
| time in 72 games, they lost a game to DeMatha | | | | games in the NBA finals. He had won his first |
| Catholic High School (of Maryland), 46-43. It | | | | NBA title and was named NBA Finals MVP. It |
| was the only loss for Power in 3 years. In | | | | was after this series that he announced that |
| 1965 Lew Alcindor finished his high school | | | | his legal name was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which |
| career with 2,067 points and 2,002 rebounds, | | | | translates to "noble, servant of the powerful |
| both of which are New York City records. | | | | one". |
| Kareem was the greatest high school | | | | |
| basketball player of his time. | | | | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went on to win the NBA |
| | | | Most Valuable Player award during the 71-72, |
| He chose UCLA to continue with his basketball | | | | and 72-73 seasons. In 1974 the Bucks were |
| development, and once again, he was a | | | | once again in the NBA Finals, but would lose |
| dominant force in college. Back in those | | | | to the Boston Celtics. Kareem asked for a |
| days, freshmen were not eligible to play | | | | trade during the 74-75 season. In 1975, the |
| varsity, but in a exhibition game, with 31 | | | | Lakers acquired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and |
| points, 21 rebounds and 7 blocked shots | | | | reserve center Walt Wesley from the Bucks for |
| Alcindor led his freshman team to a victory | | | | center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters, and |
| over UCLA's 2- time NCAA Championship varsity | | | | rookies Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman. |
| team, 75-60. During his first ever varsity | | | | |
| game (66-67), Lew Alcindor set a UCLA scoring | | | | Kareem won the MVP award in the 75-76 season, |
| record with 56 points. He averaged 29 points | | | | but the Lakers failed to reach the playoffs. |
| and 15.5 rebounds with a .667 shooting | | | | He again was named MVP in 76-777 when the |
| percentage for the year as UCLA went 30-0. | | | | Lakers made the playoffs, only to be stopped |
| They would end the season with a victory in | | | | by the eventual champion Portland Trail |
| the NCAA Championships against University of | | | | Blazers. In 1979 the Lakers drafter Earvin |
| Dayton, 79-64. Lew Alcindor would go on to | | | | "Magic" Johnson, and this would begin a run |
| lead UCLA to 2 more NCAA Championships; he | | | | of Championships. The Lakers would go on to |
| won a national title every year in varsity | | | | win the 5 NBA titles in the next 10 years. |
| basketball in college! Alcindor finished his | | | | All the while Kareem was putting up dominant |
| UCLA career with 3 National Championships, | | | | performances game in ad game out. |