Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 79 years old, born on April 16, 1947. Over a twenty-year NBA career and decades of cultural activism, he reshaped what professional longevity looks like in professional sports.
The competitor page gets his current age wrong, listing him as 60 years old while publishing in 2026—a glaring inaccuracy that misses his historic career milestones, exact age calculations, and the precise chronological timeline of his achievements. Let's look at the real milestones that defined his life in basketball and beyond.
Early Life and Collegiate Dominance
Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. in Baltimore, Maryland, Kareem displayed uncommon athletic gifts early. By his high school years at Power Memorial Academy in New York City, he led his team to a 71-game winning streak and three consecutive city championships.
His transition to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) under coach John Wooden cemented his status as a generational prospect.
- 1965–1969: Played varsity basketball at UCLA, as freshmen weren't eligible at the time.
- 1967–1969: Won three consecutive NCAA national championships, earning the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award in each run.
- 1969: Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history and was selected first overall in the NBA draft.
Professional NBA Career Timeline
Entering the league in the fall of 1969 with the Milwaukee Bucks, Alcindor immediately transformed professional basketball. He captured the NBA Rookie of the Year award averaging 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. In 1971, he led Milwaukee to their first NBA championship and officially embraced the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975, he anchored the "Showtime" era alongside Magic Johnson, capturing five more championships before retiring in 1989 at age 42.
- 1971: Won his first NBA Championship and regular-season MVP award with the Milwaukee Bucks.
- 1975: Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, beginning a fourteen-season run in Southern California.
- 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988: Won five additional NBA championships with the Lakers.
- 1984: Surpassed Wilt Chamberlain to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a record he held for nearly four decades until LeBron James broke it in 2023.
- 1989: Retired from the NBA at the age of 42, holding records for most MVP awards (6) and All-Star selections (19).
The Evolution of the Unstoppable Skyhook
No element of Abdul-Jabbar's game defines his longevity quite like the skyhook. Mastered in middle school and refined throughout his professional career, the shot required an extension of his 7-foot-2-inch frame that made it virtually impossible to block.
As physical speed naturally declined in his mid-30s, he relied on flawless footwork, supreme basketball IQ, and the unblockable arc of the skyhook. It allowed him to remain a primary offensive option well into his late 30s, averaging over 20 points per game during his sixteenth season.
Post-Retirement Activism and Cultural Impact
Life after basketball didn't slow Abdul-Jabbar down. He transitioned into writing, coaching, and cultural commentary, focusing heavily on education, civil rights, and healthcare advocacy.
- 1990s–2000s: Authored numerous New York Times best-selling books focusing on African American history, Harlem Renaissance figures, and his personal experiences.
- 2012: Appointed by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a U.S. cultural ambassador.
- 2016: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in recognition of his athletic and civic contributions.
- 2023: Published personal reflections and continued advocating for youth education through the Skyhook Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar today?
He is 79 years old. He was born on April 16, 1947.
How many NBA championships did Kareem win?
He won six NBA championships during his career—one with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971 and five with the Los Angeles Lakers between 1980 and 1988.
When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retire from basketball?
He retired at the end of the 1988–1989 NBA season at the age of 42 after playing 20 professional seasons.
Who broke Kareem's all-time scoring record?
LeBron James surpassed Kareem's long-standing regular-season scoring record of 38,387 points on February 7, 2023, during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Learn more about the historic transition through official NBA history records.
