People's Basketball Hall of Fame: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Photo credit: SI Kids

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (or Lew Alcindor, depending on which era of his career/life you're talking about) is one of the few players outside of #23 for Chicago that has a legit claim to the title of GOAT. How, you ask? Just ask such legendary figures as Julius Erving, Isiah Thomas, George Gervin, and Pat Riley. The reason I believe he is often overlooked in the GOAT discussion is because he wasn't exactly known for being a people person, which I think is absolute crap. Even from an early age, it became obvious to those watching him that he would be special. At Power Memorial HS in New York, he scored 2,067 points in 3 years (a record at the time) and his teams went 79-2, ranked #1 nationally his junior year and #2 his senior year. He continued onto UCLA, where he dominated the defending national champion varsity in his first scrimmage there. After sitting out his freshman season due to NCAA rules at the time, the Bruins went 88-2 in his 3 years on the varsity, which included 3 straight national titles. After his sophomore season in 1967, his dominance led the NCAA to ban dunking in an effort to slow him down. Instead, it only made him a more well-rounded player because it forced him to develop his now legendary skyhook. After graduating, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, immediately turning the team around. In his second year, the Bucks acquired Oscar Robertson, and the duo won a title together in 1971, with Lew winning Finals MVP, as well as league MVP and the scoring title. Not long after, he changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to complete his conversion to Islam. While Kareem remained dominant over the next few years, winning 2 more MVPs in 1972 and 1974, the Bucks fell short of the title, coming closest in 1974, when they lost in 7 games to Boston. Soon, Kareem wanted to move to New York, his home, or Los Angeles, where he played at UCLA, as he felt uncomfortable in Milwaukee. In June 1975, the Bucks granted his wish, trading him to the Lakers. In his first two years there, he won back to back MVPs in 1976 and 1977, but again the Lakers fell short. Into his thirties, Kareem seemed to be slowing down, until a young, energetic guard by the name of Earvin Johnson was drafted by the Lakers in 1979. What followed was a decade of basketball that resulted in another MVP for Kareem in 1980, 5 NBA titles, and a Finals MVP in 1985, becoming the NBA's all time leading scorer in the process. In the end, even if Kareem Abdul-Jabbar doesn't get the recognition and respect he deserves, he certainly has the raw numbers to back up any claims.

Kareem resources