Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. in New York City to Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a New York City policeman, and his wife, Cora.

Abdul-Jabbar started playing basketball at an early age and quickly became a dominant force. At Power Memorial Academy, he set New York City school records in scoring and rebounds, leading his team to 71 consecutive wins and three straight city titles.

Abdul-Jabbar attended UCLA, leading the Bruins to three national championships. During his three years with the team, UCLA went 12-0 in the NCAA tournament.

Abdul-Jabbar began his professional career with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he quickly established himself as one of the league's top players.

Abdul-Jabbar joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975 and went on to win five NBA championships with the team. He formed a legendary partnership with Magic Johnson, leading the Lakers to a dynasty in the 1980s.

Abdul-Jabbar became the NBA's career scoring leader with a sky hook shot against the Utah Jazz, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's record.

Abdul-Jabbar won his fourth NBA championship with the Lakers, defeating the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. He was named Finals MVP.

The Lakers repeated as NBA champions, defeating the Boston Celtics again. Although Abdul-Jabbar played respectably, Magic Johnson was named series MVP.

Abdul-Jabbar retired from professional basketball at the age of 42, ending a 20-year career that included six NBA championships, six MVP awards, and the record for most points scored in NBA history.

After retirement, Abdul-Jabbar pursued a career in writing and activism. He has written 15 books, including memoirs and essays, and serves as the chairman of the Skyhook Foundation, which brings educational STEM opportunities to underserved communities.

Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, recognizing his contributions to basketball and his broader impact on society.