Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born April 16, 1947 in New York City, New York) was a successful high school, collegiate, and professional NBA basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points. Today, he is a successful coach, author, and part-time actor.

Professional athletics

The Harlem Globetrotters offered him $1 million to play them, but he declined.

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On a coin-flip with the Phoenix Suns, he would be the number one pick in the 1969 NBA Draft pick. The winner of the coin-flip was the Milwaukee Bucks, where he would play five seasons.

Related Topics:
Phoenix Suns - NBA Draft - Milwaukee Bucks

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While at UCLA Abdul-Jabbar converted to Islam. He took his Arabic name in 1971, publicly announcing it on May 1 of that year, one day after the Bucks completed a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Bullets (known today as the Washington Wizards) in the NBA Finals. However, he has repeatedly denied any connections to the Nation of Islam, having been converted by a Turkish imam of the Hanafi school of thought, under whom he studied at UCLA.

Related Topics:
Islam - Arabic - 1971 - May 1 - Washington Wizards - Nation of Islam - Turkish - Imam - Hanafi

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was also notable for his physical fitness regimen. While in LA, he started doing yoga in 1976 to improve his flexibility. He was also a pupil of the kung fu master Bruce Lee, studying Lee's Jeet Kune Do style.

Related Topics:
Yoga - 1976 - Kung fu - Bruce Lee - Jeet Kune Do

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Abdul-Jabbar was famous for his "Skyhook" shot, which was notoriously difficult to defend against. He averaged over 24 points and 10 rebounds over his career, and maintained a solid level of play well into his late 30s. He was named to the All-Star team even in his final season. After a then-record 20 pro seasons, Abdul- Jabbar retired from the game in 1989, leaving a legacy of professionalism, class, and success.

Related Topics:
Skyhook - 1989

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