Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born on April 16, 1947, in New York City. Long before he became an iconic six-time NBA champion, six-time MVP, and the league's legendary center known for his unstoppable skyhook, he entered the world as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.
While the exact date of his birth is a matter of straightforward historical record, the shallow AI-generated content floating across the internet often surrounds the topic with fluff or garbled text. Beyond simply knowing his birth date, understanding his early life, his transition into basketball royalty, and the cultural milestones that shaped him provides a much clearer picture of how a quiet New York kid grew into a global sports icon.
Early Life and NYC Roots
Born to Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr. and Cora Lillian, young Lewis grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Size defined his early years in ways that forced him to adapt quickly. By the time he was in the eighth grade, he stood an astonishing 6 feet 8 inches tall.
Navigating the bustling streets of mid-century New York at that height meant he was constantly the center of attention, but it also placed him squarely on the radar of basketball scouts. He attended Power Memorial Academy, a Catholic high school in Manhattan, where his basketball career truly took flight. Under the guidance of coach Jack Donohue, Alcindor led the Power Memorial team to a staggering 71-game winning streak and three consecutive Catholic high school city championships. By the time he graduated in 1965, he was already a national phenomenon, famously dubbed "The Tower from Power."
Transition to College and Cultural Awakening
Leaving New York, Alcindor enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1966. Playing under legendary coach John Wooden, he dominated college basketball in a way the sport had never seen before. Because freshmen weren't eligible for varsity play at the time, his varsity career spanned three seasons (1967–1969), during which UCLA won three consecutive NCAA championships. He posted an astonishing 88–2 record, lost only two games during his entire college tenure, and was named the first-ever Naismith College Player of the Year in 1969.
During his college years in Los Angeles, Alcindor's worldview expanded dramatically beyond sports. Immersed in the civil rights movement and the cultural shifts of the late 1960s, he began exploring his African heritage and studying Islam. In 1968, he boycotted the U.S. Olympic basketball team bound for the Mexico City Games to protest racial injustice in America. These formative experiences laid the groundwork for the social activism and intellectual pursuits that would define his life long after his playing days ended.
The Birth of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
After graduating from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in history in 1969, the Milwaukee Bucks selected him with the first overall pick in the NBA draft. He wasted no time conquering the professional ranks, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1970 and carrying the Bucks to an NBA championship in only his second season, 1971.
Shortly after winning that first title, he publicly embraced his Islamic faith and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which translates roughly from Arabic to mean "generous, servant of the almighty." In 1975, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent the remainder of his illustrious 20-year career. Alongside Magic Johnson, he anchored the iconic "Showtime" era of the Lakers, capturing five more championships before retiring in 1989 at age 42.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar born?
He was born on April 16, 1947.
What was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's birth name?
His birth name is Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. He legally changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971 after converting to Islam.
How tall was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his playing career?
He stood at 7 feet 2 inches tall, making him one of the most towering and dominant centers in basketball history.
When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retire from the NBA?
He retired at the end of the 1988-89 NBA season at the age of 42, having scored 38,387 career points—a record that stood for nearly four decades.
