Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on 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.
Airplane!
(Roger Murdock)
I Tried
(Sin)
Game of Death
(Hakim)
The Iceman
(Self)
Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon
(Self)
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
(Self)
Stand
(Self (archive footage))
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault
(Self)
Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey
(Self)
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
The GREATEST : Bruce Lee
(Comentador)
The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear
(Self)
Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War
(Self - Narrator (voice))
Bully Smart for Kids
(Self)
Los Angeles Lakers: 1984-1985 NBA Champions Return To Glory
(Himself)
Los Angeles Lakers: '87 The Drive For Five
(Himself)
O.J.: Made in America
(Self (archive footage))
Forget Paris
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
All New Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
(Self (archive footage))
Bruce Lee in G.O.D.
(Himself / Hakim)
A Night to Die For
(Self)
The Game of Death
(Hakim / Mantis)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Kareem: Minority of One
(Self)
Fletch
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Slam Dunk Ernest
(Archangel)
BASEketball
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Troop Beverly Hills
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Hoodwinked
(Man at Sal's House)
D2: The Mighty Ducks
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
The Black List: Volume One
(Self)
Kobe Doin' Work
(Self)
Ask Max
(Himself)
Kobe Bryant's Muse
(Self (archive footage))
Detroit Pistons: 1988-1989 NBA Champions - Motor City Madness
(Self - Los Angeles Lakers)
Be Water
(Self - Student / Friend)
The Curse of the Dragon
(Self)
On the Shoulders of Giants
(Self - Narrator)
1968
(Self)
Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution
(Self - Narrator (voice))
The Journey of the African-American Athlete
(Self)
John Bronco
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Weapons
(P.J.)
Whitepaddy
(Hank)
A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
(Self)
All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
(Self)
Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America
(Self)
Undefeated: The Roger Brown Story
(Himself)
Philadelphia 76ers 1983 - That Championship Feeling
(Self)
Saving OurSelves: BET COVID-19 Relief Effort
(Self - Co-Host)
Martin
(Dr. Skyhook)
Tales from the Darkside
(The Djinn, Jan Bin Jan)
Saved by the Bell: The New Class
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
The Simpsons
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice))
21 Jump Street
(Wesley Williams)
The Critic
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice))
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
(Himself)
Everybody Loves Raymond
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Diff'rent Strokes
Mannix
The Celebrity Apprentice
Man from Atlantis
(Thark)
Identity
Full House
Emergency!
Stingray
The Colbert Report
(Self)
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
(Self)
Amen
The Stand
(Monster Shouter)
Matrix
Good Mythical Morning
(Self)
DAVE
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Bustin' Loose
The Daily Show
(Self)
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
(Self)
The Oscars
(Self)
Basketball: A Love Story
(Self (archive footage))
Basketball: A Love Story
(Self)
Shut Up and Dribble
(Self (archive footage))
O.J.: Made in America
(Self (archive footage))
Good Sports
New Girl
(Himself)
Muhammad Ali
(Self)
Dancing with the Stars
(Self - Contestant)
Billions
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Dear...
(Self)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
(Self)
Beat Shazam
(Self)
They Call Me Magic
(Self)
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Night Court
Los Anillos de Pau
The Jim Jefferies Show
(Self)
Celebrity Family Feud
(Self)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
(Self)
The Arsenio Hall Show
(Self)
Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers
(Self)
The Big Bang Theory
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
To Tell the Truth
(Self - Panelist)
Scrubs
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Bill Russell: Legend
(Self - Basketball Hall of Fame)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
(Self - Guest)
The Crazy Ones
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Fresh Off the Boat
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Boston Common
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Guys with Kids
(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
