Trivia

Studied the martial art of Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee, with whom KAJ co-starred in "Game of Death".

The NCAA outlawed the dunk shot because of his dominance at center for UCLA.

Grandparents are originally from Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.

When he appeared on "Celebrity Jeopardy!", the camera had to be moved back 5 feet from its usual position, in order to keep all three contestants in frame; this was due to KAJ's height.

Holds the NBA record for Most Valuable Player awards with six.

Began wearing goggles on the court due to corneal erosion syndrome, a condition where the eye cornea doesn't produce moisture and begins to dry out.

Diagnosed with leukemia in December, 2008.

NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points.

Holds NBA career records for most minutes (57,446), most field goals made (15,837) and most field goals attempted (28,307). [He held the record for most points (38,387) until February 7, 2023 when LeBron James broke eclipsed his total.] First player in NBA history to play 20 seasons. Led NBA in scoring (1971-1931.7 ppg, 1972-1934.8 ppg). Led NBA in rebounding (1976-1916.9 rpg). Led NBA in blocked shots (1975, 1976, 1979, 1980). NBA MVP (1971-1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980). NBA Rookie of the Year (1970). All NBA First Team (1971-1974, 1976-1977, 1980-1981, 1984, 1986). NBA All-Defensive First Team (1974-1975, 1979-1981). NBA Finals MVP (1971, 1985).

Coached the Oklahoma Storm of the United States Basketball League in 2002, leading them to the league championship before resigning.

He stood at 6 feet 8 inches tall by the time he was fourteen.

Enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Only college player to win three Player of the Year awards.

He is considered one of the greatest basketball players in history.

Retired from the NBA in 1989.

His father, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Senior, was a transit police officer in New York City.

NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980). NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996).

He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, by President Barack Obama, in a live televised ceremony held in the East Room of the White House, on November 22, 2016, along with twenty other recipients, the the largest, and final Medal of Freedom ceremony of Obama's presidency. At this ceremony, the twenty-one recipients, in alphabetical order, included: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elouise Cobell (posthumous award given to her son), Ellen DeGeneres, Robert De Niro, Richard Garwin, Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, Frank Gehry, Margaret Hamilton (as Margaret H. Hamilton), Tom Hanks, Rear Admiral Grace Hopper (posthumous award given to her niece), Michael Jordan, Maya Lin, Lorne Michaels, Newton Minow, Eduardo Padron (as Eduardo Padrón), Robert Redford, Diana Ross, Vin Scully, Bruce Springsteen, and Cicely Tyson.

Played for the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Milwaukee Bucks (1969-1970 thru 1974-1975) and Los Angeles Lakers (1975-1976 thru 1988-1989).

B.A. from U.C.L.A. (1969)

Assistant coach for the NBA Los Angeles Clippers, (2000).

Played in 18 NBA All-Star Games (1970-1977, 1979-1989).

Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team prior to the beginning of 2021-2022 season.

Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament wrote a song about him based on the urban myth that he lost all of his money investing in hotels for tall people. The song, entitled "Sweet Lew," appears on the album "Lost Dogs."

Graduate of Power Memorial High School, New York City.

Played for UCLA (1965-1969). The Sporting News College Player of the Year (1967, 1969). Three-time First Team All-America (1967-1969). Two-time National Player of the Year (1967, 1969). Three-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (1967-1969). Naismith Award winner (1969). Leading scorer in UCLA history. Led NCAA with .667 field goal percentage (1967) and .635 field goal percentage (1969).

Has 5 children: sons Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr. (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor III), Adam (born 1991; with Julye Olds - now Julye Buckley), and Dr. Amir Abdul-Jabbar (born 1984; with Cheryl Pistano); daughters Habiba (born 1972) and Sultana Abdul-Jabbar (born April 1979).

Has an I.Q. of 131.

In college, played under the name Lew Alcindor.

Is a best-selling author for his work in writing.

Cousin of Rose Swann.

Uncle of Thomas Swann.