Kareem is the all-time leading scorer in the NBA. ESPN has crowned him the best player in the NBA, coming only after Michael Jordan. His signature move, “Skyhook” is inscribed in the history of basketball. His fans consider him the greatest basketball player of all time. The legendary basketball player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, certainly needs no introduction. In this article, you will read about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar net worth, career, education, family, and more.
A former professional NBA (National Basketball Association) player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is touted as the greatest basketball player. An institution in himself, he is currently leading his life as an actor, author, and coach.
Table of Contents
Who is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Here is an overview of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:
| Name | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| Birth Name | Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. |
| Date of Birth | April 16, 1947 |
| Place of Birth | Harlem, New York, US |
| Age | 76 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Religion | Born Roman Catholic, converted to Islam |
| Education | Power Memorial Academy, University of California, Los Angeles |
| Profession | Former Basketball Player, Actor, Author, and Coach |
| Height | 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m) |
| Weight | 225 lbs (102 kg) |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Spouse | Habiba Abdul-Jabbar |
| Children | 5 (Habiba, Sultana, Kareem Jr., Amir, and Adam) |
| Net Worth | $25 Million |
Kareem Abdul Jabbar Bio
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born in a Roman Catholic Family on April 16, 1947, in Harlem, New York, US. His birth name was Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.
Jabbar’s father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., was a transit police officer, fire safety inspector, and jazz musician. His mother, Cora Lewis, was a department store price checker. Kareem had a brother, Harry, and a sister, Barbara.
Their family belongs to Yoruba. They migrated from St. Croix, a Caribbean Island. Alcindor, a French farmer, brought the family to the United States of America. He migrated from Trinidad and Tobago. The family took on the farmer’s name.
Kareem was large and heavy when he was born. By the time he reached the eighth grade, he was already 6 feet 8 inches tall. He had always been the tallest among the children of his age.
After taking high school and college by storm with his height and extraordinary skills on the basketball court, he caught the fancy of the NBA. In 1969, the Milwaukee Bucks picked him in the 1969 NBA Draft. He continued playing with the team till 1975 and later played for Los Angeles Lakers till 1989.
Kareem’s career, spanning twenty seasons, is divided between the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. He spent six seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and remaining with the Los Angeles Lakers.
After his retirement, he took the responsibility as an assistant coach. However, his life took an unexpected turn, and he ventured into acting and writing.
He converted to Islam in the early 1960s and renounced this name publicly in 1971. Currently, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar age is 76 years.
Education
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went to the Power Memorial Academy as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. He was known as Lew Alcindor. He later went to the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduated with a degree in history.
Early Years of Basketball
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a shining star since his high school days. His height largely contributed to his game and started to dunk when he was only 12. He played for his parochial high school and led his team to victory 71 times consecutively. He also created a 79-2 record. His team won the New York Catholic Championship three times. Moreover, his team also won the National High School Basketball Championships.
His phenomenal performance on the court contributed to several wins for his team. He won many honors, and was nicknamed “The Tower from Power”.
Jerry Norman, the then assistant coach of UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), noticed this 6 feet 8 inches sensation. Impressed by his excellent winning record, he included Kareem in the college basketball team.
Kareem proved his prowess while playing in the college basketball team. He scored record 56 points in his first game. Later, he broke his own record by scoring 61 points in a single game. His record is still intact.
He won three national championships consecutively under coach, John Wooden. His team, UCLA Bruins, won 88 matches. Of the two games they lost, Kareem did not play one due to an injury.
Before his stint with the varsity team, he had already demonstrated his talent playing on the freshman team. In the 1965 exhibition game, he scored 31 points, as well as 21 rebounds, and led his team to victory by 75-60. His team created history by beating two-time national defending, top-ranking varsity team.
He won all the major sports honor in his college. In 1969, he was named the first Naismith College Player of the Year. ESPN, in 2007, named him the greatest college basketball player ever.
The Golden Period of Kareem’s Career
As, back then, one was allowed to join NBA only after graduating from college, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had to wait a little longer to join the team. However, his talent and height were no short of any NBA player.
As if success was waiting for him to join the NBA, he became a star the moment he was drafted. In his first season with Milwaukee Bucks, he reached an average of 28 points per game and 14.5 RPG. He was recognized as the “Rookie of the Year”.
In 1972, Kareem became the first NBA player to win the MVP title twice, consecutively. He was named the MVP, Most Valuable Player, of the league. In the same season, his average was 34.8 points per game.
In 1975, he joined Los Angeles Lakers. He won five NBA championships with this team. In 1985, he was again recognized as the Most Valuable Player in the series against the Celtics. He was 38 years old at that time.
Captain Skyhook
At 7 feet 2 inches, there was no stopping for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His height made him achieve what only a handful of people could achieve. His signature move, Skyhook, can be attributed to his height.
Kareem would raise the ball to 16 feet before releasing it. No defender could block this shot without a goaltending violation. Soon, this move became his signature move.
The move was so accurate that the committee had to ban it to keep the match even. Kareem achieved 55% field goal accuracy; courtesy: Skyhook.
Achievements and awards
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has had a very rewarding 20 seasons. Before joining the NBA, was the greatest player in high school and college football.
He has won six championships and is the all-time leading scorer of the NBA with 38,387 points. In 1980, he was honored with the All-star Game MVP. He made it to the All-Defensive team 11 times and was a member of the first US Olympic Men’s Basketball “Dream Team”. His team won the gold medal in Barcelona’s summer Olympics.
In 1985, he won the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year award. He registered his name in the Hall of Fame in 1995. In 1996, he grabbed a spot among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
He was appointed America’s Global Cultural Ambassador by Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, in 2012. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, America’s highest civilian award, in 2016. Barack Obama appointed him to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.
Career after retirement
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired from basketball with his head high and with many recognitions, titles, and awards. But he did not stop even after retiring from the court.
Kareem retired as an assistant coach but navigated through other career paths too. He ventured into acting and writing, which was an unexpected twist to his career.
In 1972, he appeared in Bruce Lee’s Game of Death. He later appeared in movies, including Forget Paris, Airplane, Beverly Hills, Big Russell: Legend, A Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, comedy series Living Colors, documentaries like On the Shoulders of Giants, and more. In most of his movies, he played himself.
Talking about his work as an author, he wrote books mainly on his life and activism. His first book was Giant Steps, his autobiography, co-authored by Peter Knobler. He has written many books on African-American History. Many of his books have been New York Bestsellers.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Net Worth
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most celebrated basketball players. He has had a very successful and rewarding career on the court, and now, after his retirement, he is still doing great work.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was among the highest-paid players in NBA. During the peak of his career, he would earn $7 million per year. He got a whopping $3 Million in the final season with Los Angeles Lakers. Moreover, he also had many endorsements in his hands, such as Converse, Pioneer, Coca-Cola, etc. Currently, he is earning a great deal of money from his books and movies. Besides, he has his hands in many businesses like real estate investments.
Most of what he has today has come from his career as a basketball player, salaries, and endorsements. As of 2023, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar net worth is around $30 Million.
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Net Worth 2023 | $30 Million |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Net Worth 2022 | $28 Million |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Net Worth 2021 | $26 Million |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Net Worth 2020 | $24 Million |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Net Worth 2019 | $22 Million |
A great philanthropist
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar believes in giving back to the community. His association with many charitable organizations and causes is a testimony to it.
He never shies away from showing his support for educational and social causes. Several of his initiatives are associated with health and wellness among the young generation. He also constantly works to promote basketball. He often donates his money to relevant causes.
Being of African-American descent, Kareem is a strong advocate of racial equality. He has always been vocal about system racism and discrimination. He uses his status to create awareness on social justice.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar Wife
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar met his ex-wife Habiba Abdul-Jabbar at UCLA during his senior year. They met during a Lakers game. Habiba was known as Janice Brown back then. They fell in love and got married. Hkareem abdul jabbar wifeowever, their relationship hit a rough patch, and they eventually got divorced in 1978. The couple had three children together.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar Children
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has five children. He has three children, Habiba, Sultana, and Kareem Jr., with his ex-wife Habiba Abdul-Jabbar. He has two more sons; Amir (with Cheryl Pistono) and Adam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired basketball player. He currently works as a coach, author, and actor.
2. When was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar born?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born on 16 April 1947 in Harlem, New York.
3. What is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar age?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 76 years old.
4. What is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar net worth?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar net worth is around $25 Million in 2023.
5. Who is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wife?
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s ex-wife. The couple divorced in 1978.
6. How many times did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar win the NBA Championship?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won the NBA Championship six times.
7. What is the height and weight of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 7 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 102 kg.
Final thoughts
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar net worth and career graph reflects that he is a living legend. His phenomenal basketball career has inspired one and all. His post-playing career is equally rewarding. Moreover, with his philanthropic work, he is trying to bring light to the life of the less fortunate. He created, is creating, and will always create a positive impact on the world.