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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Known For Acting
Birthday Apr 17, 1947 (78)
Birthplace Harlem, New York City, New York, USA
Popularity 1 (history)
Updated Mar 25, 2026
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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 ma ... rked 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

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Filmography

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

2022

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

John Bronco

John Bronco

2020

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Weapons

Weapons

2007

as P.J.

I Tried

I Tried

2007

as Sin

Whitepaddy

Whitepaddy

2006

as Hank

BASEketball

BASEketball

1998

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Slam Dunk Ernest

Slam Dunk Ernest

1995

as Archangel

Forget Paris

Forget Paris

1995

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

D2: The Mighty Ducks

D2: The Mighty Ducks

1994

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Hoodwinked

Hoodwinked

1989

as Man at Sal's House

Troop Beverly Hills

Troop Beverly Hills

1989

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Fletch

Fletch

1985

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Airplane!

Airplane!

1980

as Roger Murdock

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

1979

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Game of Death

Game of Death

1978

as Hakim

No data available

Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War

Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War

2022

Executive Producer

The Vernon Johns Story

The Vernon Johns Story

1994

Producer

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Matrix

as Blind Man

Episodes: 13

First Aired: Mar 01, 1993

The Stand

as Monster Shouter

Episodes: 2

First Aired: May 08, 1994

Guys with Kids

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 12, 2012

Tales from the Darkside

as The Djinn, Jan Bin Jan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1984

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 11, 1993

The Simpsons

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 17, 1989

21 Jump Street

as Wesley Williams

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 12, 1987

Everybody Loves Raymond

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1996

Man from Atlantis

as Thark

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1977

DAVE

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 04, 2020

Billions

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 17, 2016

The Big Bang Theory

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 2007

The Crazy Ones

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 2013

Fresh Off the Boat

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 04, 2015

Boston Common

as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 21, 1996

The Stand

as The Monster

Episodes: 0

First Aired: May 08, 1994

Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers

as Self

Episodes: 10

First Aired: Aug 15, 2022

Muhammad Ali

as Self

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Sep 19, 2021

They Call Me Magic

as Self

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Apr 22, 2022

The Colbert Report

as Self

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Oct 17, 2005

The Daily Show

as Self

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jul 22, 1996

The Critic

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 26, 1994

Diff'rent Strokes

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Nov 03, 1978

Basketball: A Love Story

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 18, 2018

Dancing with the Stars

as Self - Contestant

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jun 01, 2005

Bill Russell: Legend

as Self - Basketball Hall of Fame

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Feb 08, 2023

Martin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 27, 1992

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

as Himself

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1990

The Loop

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 15, 2006

Mannix

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1967

The Celebrity Apprentice

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 08, 2004

Identity

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 18, 2006

Full House

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1987

Emergency!

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 22, 1972

Stingray

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 14, 1985

StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 20, 2015

Amen

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 27, 1986

Matrix

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 01, 1993

Good Mythical Morning

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 09, 2012

Bustin' Loose

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 1987

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 26, 2003

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 01, 2009

The Oscars

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 19, 1953

Basketball: A Love Story

as Self (archive footage)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 2018

Shut Up and Dribble

as Self (archive footage)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 03, 2018

O.J.: Made in America

as Self (archive footage)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 11, 2016

Good Sports

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 10, 1991

New Girl

as Himself

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 2011

Dear...

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 05, 2020

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 17, 2014

Beat Shazam

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: May 25, 2017

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 12, 2022

Night Court

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 17, 2023

Los Anillos de Pau

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 06, 2024

The Jim Jefferies Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 06, 2017

Celebrity Family Feud

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 21, 2015

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 01, 1962

The Arsenio Hall Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 09, 2013

To Tell the Truth

as Self - Panelist

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 14, 2016

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

as Self - Guest

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 16, 2009

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 9 9 9
2024 6 11 21 7
2024 7 19 31 9
2024 8 12 23 6
2024 9 8 14 3
2024 10 11 19 5
2024 11 9 14 6
2024 12 8 13 4
2025 1 7 12 4
2025 2 6 12 2
2025 3 5 8 1
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 2 3 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 1 0
2025 8 1 2 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 1 0
2025 11 0 2 0
2025 12 0 1 0
2026 1 1 2 0
2026 2 1 2 0
2026 3 1 2 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 700 501
2025 2 560 451
2026 3 726 714

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