
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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.
117 acting credits
Acting · 117

The Simpsons
1989

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962

The Daily Show
1996

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009

Late Show with David Letterman
1993

The Colbert Report
2005

Mannix
1967

The Big Bang Theory
2007

Scrubs
2001

Dancing with the Stars
2005

New Girl
2011

Billions
2016

Good Mythical Morning
2012

The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022

Fresh Off the Boat
2015

Full House
1987

21 Jump Street
1987

Emergency!
1972

Everybody Loves Raymond
1996

The Merv Griffin Show
1962

Game of Death
1978

Martin
1992

Tales from the Darkside
1984

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990

The Oscars
1953

Celebrity Family Feud
2015

Saved by the Bell: The New Class
1993

To Tell the Truth
2016

DAVE
2020

Basketball: A Love Story
2018

The Celebrity Apprentice
2004

The Bachelorette
2003

Airplane!
1980

Night Court
2023

The Critic
1994

The Stand
1994

Amen
1986

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
2009

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
2022

Man from Atlantis
1977

Boston Common
1996

StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
2015

Stingray
1985

The Crazy Ones
2013

The Jim Jefferies Show
2017

Beat Shazam
2017

The Arsenio Hall Show
2013

Dear...
2020

Bill Russell: Legend
2023

Guys with Kids
2012

Shut Up and Dribble
2018

Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers
2022

O.J.: Made in America
2016

Muhammad Ali
2021

Good Sports
1991

They Call Me Magic
2022

Jerry West: The Logo
2026

Matrix
1993

Fletch
1985

BASEketball
1998

John Candy: I Like Me
2025

Troop Beverly Hills
1989

D2: The Mighty Ducks
1994

Diff'rent Strokes
1978

Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey
2000

Forget Paris
1995

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault
1996

How Bruce Lee Changed the World
2009

O.J.: Made in America
2016
Identity
2006

The Visitor
1979

Bustin' Loose
1987

The Luckiest Guy in the World
2023

Slam Dunk Ernest
1995

Stand
2023

Weapons
2007

The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear
2010

Be Water
2020

A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks
2021

Los Anillos de Pau
2024

The Final Game of Death
2023

Detroit Pistons: 1988-1989 NBA Champions - Motor City Madness
1989
Saving OurSelves: BET COVID-19 Relief Effort
2020

Kareem: Minority of One
2015

A Night to Die For
1995

All New Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
1990

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
1979

The Journey of the African-American Athlete
1996

Bruce Lee in G.O.D.
2000

The Unbeatable Bruce Lee
2001

The Black List: Volume One
2008

Hoodwinked
1989

Kobe Bryant's Muse
2015

The Curse of the Dragon
1993

1968
2018

Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon
1994

The Game of Death
1974
All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular
1985

Los Angeles Lakers: '87 The Drive For Five
1987

On the Shoulders of Giants
2011

Ask Max
1986

I Tried
2007

Kobe Doin' Work
2009

John Bronco
2020

The Iceman
2023

Whitepaddy
2006

Game of Death Redux
2019

The GREATEST : Bruce Lee
1998
Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America
2021

Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War
2022

Undefeated: The Roger Brown Story
2013
Los Angeles Lakers: 1984-1985 NBA Champions Return To Glory
2007

Reflections on 'the Little Dragon'
2001

Philadelphia 76ers 1983 - That Championship Feeling
1991

Bully Smart for Kids
1995

Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution
2020