Abdul-Jabbar converted to Islam at age 24 and changed his name from Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Abdul-Jabbar married Habiba Abdul-Jabbar, with whom he had three children, but the marriage was tumultuous and ended in divorce in 1978.

Despite the divorce, Abdul-Jabbar and his ex-wife maintained an amicable relationship as co-parents. He later had relationships with other women, including Cheryl Pistono.