Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bucks Prime (1971-74) · 1971–1974
Abdul-Jabbar's elite Inside Scoring (95) and elite Scoring (93) define this era.
Trophy Case
1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988
Won with Milwaukee (1971) and the Showtime Lakers (5×)
1971, 1985
1971 with the Bucks (Kareem dominated), 1985 at age 38 with the Lakers
1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980
6× MVP — most in NBA history. Won across two decades.
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989
19 selections — second most in history, across three decades
1971, 1972
2 titles — the skyhook was the most unstoppable shot ever
The Story
The Skyhook
The single most unstoppable shot in basketball history. Kareem perfected the skyhook to such a degree that defenders simply had no answer. It was released from such a height, with such touch, that blocking it was a physical impossibility. He used it to score 38,387 points — a record that stood for nearly four decades.
Two Decades of Dominance
Six championships. Six MVPs. Two Finals MVPs. Nineteen All-Star selections across 20 seasons. Kareem was the most consistent force the NBA has ever seen — dominant from his first game in 1969 to his last in 1989. He won titles in the '70s and '80s with completely different teammates and styles.
Renaissance Man
Author, filmmaker, cultural commentator, martial artist (trained with Bruce Lee), and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. Kareem built a post-basketball life as rich and accomplished as his playing career. He proved that the "dumb jock" stereotype was not just wrong but insulting.
Athlete-Intellectual
Kareem was one of the first athletes to use his platform for social justice, converting to Islam, boycotting the 1968 Olympics, and writing extensively about race and culture. He authored multiple books, including works on Black history and jazz. His intellectual legacy rivals his athletic one.
The Airplane! Cameo Debate
Kareem's role as co-pilot Roger Murdock in the movie Airplane! is iconic. To this day, fans approach him quoting the movie. The running joke — where he insists he's NOT Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — is considered one of the greatest athlete cameos in film history. Some say he was actually the best actor in the entire movie.
Rumored · Never confirmed
The Journey
The Most Dominant Prep Player Ever
Power Memorial Academy · New York, NY
Then known as Lew Alcindor, he led Power Memorial to a 71-game winning streak and three New York City Catholic championships. Averaged 33 PPG as a senior standing 7'1". Recruited by over 100 colleges. Changed the landscape of high school basketball forever — the NCAA banned dunking largely because of him.
33
ppg
71
win streak
UCLA's Unstoppable Force
UCLA · Los Angeles, CA
Led UCLA to three consecutive NCAA Championships (1967-69), going 88-2 over three varsity seasons. Named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player all three years. Averaged 26.4 PPG and 15.5 RPG. The NCAA's ban on dunking — dubbed "The Lew Alcindor Rule" — forced him to develop the skyhook, which became the most unstoppable shot in basketball history.
26.4
ppg
15.5
rpg
3
ncaa titles
20 Seasons, Six Rings, One Skyhook
Milwaukee Bucks / Los Angeles Lakers · Milwaukee / Los Angeles
Selected 1st overall by Milwaukee in 1969. Won his first championship and MVP in just his second season. Traded to the Lakers in 1975 and formed the backbone of the Showtime dynasty with Magic Johnson. Won five more championships in LA. Six-time MVP — the most in NBA history. Retired as the all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points (record stood for 34 years until LeBron broke it in 2023).
6
mvps
19
all star
2
finals mvps
6
championships
The Most Accomplished Player in History
Basketball Hall of Fame · Springfield, MA
Inducted in 1995. Career averages of 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG across 20 seasons. The skyhook remains the most unblockable shot ever created. Beyond basketball, became a celebrated author, historian, and cultural ambassador. Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.
24.6
career ppg
11.2
career rpg
Signature Moments
The Skyhook Is Born
After the NCAA banned dunking specifically because of Lew Alcindor, he developed the skyhook — a sweeping one-handed shot released from above his head that was virtually unblockable. It became the most lethal weapon in basketball history, accounting for a huge portion of his record 38,387 career points.
The NCAA tried to limit him. He responded by inventing an even more unstoppable shot.
38,387 — The Scoring Record
Kareem passed Wilt Chamberlain to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer with a trademark skyhook. The record stood for 39 years until LeBron James broke it in 2023. At the time, it seemed like a record that would last forever.
The longevity required to amass 38,387 points across 20 seasons is almost incomprehensible.
Game 6 Goggles — 1980 Finals
Kareem dominated Games 1-5 of the 1980 Finals, averaging 33 PPG, but sprained his ankle in Game 5. His absence in Game 6 set the stage for Magic Johnson's legendary center performance. Kareem had already won Finals MVP before the series ended.
Even when absent, Kareem's shadow loomed over the biggest moments.
6 MVPs — The Most Ever
Kareem won six MVP awards — more than anyone in NBA history. He won them across two decades, two teams (Bucks and Lakers), and two different eras of basketball. No one has matched it. Jordan had 5. LeBron had 4. Russell had 5. Kareem stands alone.
Six MVPs means the league considered you the best player alive six separate times across a 10-year span. Unmatched.
The UCLA Dynasty — 88-2
Before the NBA, Kareem (then Lew Alcindor) led UCLA to three consecutive NCAA championships, going 88-2 over three varsity seasons. He was so dominant that the NCAA banned the dunk — a rule literally created because of him. It didn't matter. He invented the skyhook instead.
The NCAA literally changed the rules because of one player. His response was to create the most unstoppable shot in basketball history.
Career Numbers
Career PPG
20 seasons
24.6
Career RPG
Also LeBron (7.5) — elite for a center across 20 seasons
11.2
Career BPG
Also Hakeem (3.1) — Kareem's skyhook was unblockable
2.6
Career Points
2nd all-time
38387
Games Played
20 seasons
1560
Near 0%
Skyhook Block Rate
The skyhook was blocked an estimated 2-3 times in his entire career — the most unguardable shot in NBA history
39
Years Holding Scoring Record
Held the all-time scoring record for 39 years (1984-2023) — longer than most players' entire lives
6
Career MVPs
6 career MVPs — the most in NBA history. Won his first at 24 and his last at 33, spanning an entire decade of dominance
Season Stats · Bucks Prime (1971-74)
Engine Attributes
Other Eras
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