Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about Lew Alcindor

Professional basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s photo sourced from Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about Lew Alcindor

Lew Alcindor, a professional basketball player who spent 20 seasons in the NBA, was also known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his later years. Given his achievements and what he contributed to his team’s success, he is recognized as one of the greatest basketball players to ever grace the court. Lew is one of the most accomplished and lauded sportsmen in sporting history, and what sets him apart from other basketball players is how long he has been playing and how well he consistently performed.

The 7’2″ athlete contributed significantly to his team’s success and, during his playing career, elevated basketball to new heights. Lew Alcindor was well-known for his distinctive sky hook and quickness. He had established a record for the most points ever scored by an NBA player when he decided to retire. Here are 10 unbelievable facts about Lew Alcindor.

1. Alcindor weighed more than an average child at birth

Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., the only child of Cora Lillian, a department store price checker, and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a transit police officer and jazz musician, was born in Harlem, New York City. The average weight of a baby born between 37 and 40 weeks is between 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams) and 8 pounds, 13 ounces (4,000 grams).

Alcindor weighed 12 lb. 11 oz. (5.75 kg) and measured 22+12 inches (57 cm) at birth. He was always an unusually tall young man for his age. He grew up in the Dyckman Street projects of Upper Manhattan’s Inwood neighbourhood, which he moved to when he was three years old.

2. He had already grown to 6 ft. 8in by the age of 13

Kareem and an exhibition at Ferro C. Oeste. photo by Marcelo Figueras – Wikimedia commons

Boys’ height measurements for the 13-year-old age group typically fall between 4 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 6 inches. For boys in this age range, the average height is 5 feet 1 inch. Lew’s growth spurt, however, was unique compared to everyone else’s, and it even led to his depression as a teenager. He was already 5 feet 8 inches tall when he was nine.

Alcindor experienced a lot of depression as a teen as a result of the comments and looks regarding his height. He reached 6 ft. 8 in (2.03 m) in height by the eighth grade (age 13–14) and was able to slam dunk a basketball.

3.  Alcindor led his high school team to a 71-game winning streak

Basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) photo by Malcolm W. Emmons – Wikimedia commons

Lew Alcindor led the Jack Donohue-coached Power Memorial Academy team to three consecutive New York City Catholic championships, a 71-game winning streak, and an overall record of 79-2. In Lew’s tenth and eleventh grades, the Power Memorial Academy basketball team won the national high school boys’ basketball championships.

In his senior year, the team finished in second place. He set a New York City high school record for most points scored with 2,067, demonstrating his record-breaking basketball abilities.

Check out: 30 Best High School Basketball Players of all time.

4. He won the Helms Foundation Player of the Year award three times

Basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) photo by Malcolm W. Emmons – Wikimedia commons

The Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year award was given to the most outstanding men’s college basketball player in the United States on an annual basis. Alcindor was a three-time national player of the year (1967-1969), a three-time unanimous first-team All-American (1967-1969), a representative of three NCAA basketball champion teams (1967, 1968, and 1969), the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Tournament three times, and the first-ever Naismith College Player of the Year in 1969.

He was the only player in history to receive the Helms Foundation Player of the Year award three times one in 1966-1967, 1967-1968 and 1968-1969. 

5. Alcindor was picked first overall in the 1969 NBA draft

Professional basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar photo by Frank Bryan – Wikimedia commons

Lew Alcindor declined an offer of $1 million to play for the Harlem Globetrotters and instead proclaimed eligibility for the 1969 NBA draft. He was picked first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks got the chance to have the first overall pick from a coin toss with Phoenix Suns.

The New York Nets also chose him first overall in the 1969 American Basketball Association draft. Lew rejected the Nets’ offer because it was too low ending up signing and joining the Bucks. The Nets however tried raising their bid but Lew had already decided to join Milwaukee Bucks.

6. He changed his name from Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Lew was 24 years when he changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. After leading the Milwaukee Bucks to its first championship in 1971, he adopted the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar translating to “servant of Allah”.

He has been quoted to have gotten inspiration from Malcolm X who was also Muslim. Lew is said to have changed his name in 1968 but it was only after 1971 that he came public with it. 

7. Lew Alcindor won a record six NBA MVP awards

Professional basketball players Wes Unseld (left) and Kareem Abdul Jabbar (right) photo sourced from Wikimedia commons

All six of Kareem’s MVP awards came within 10 years of his career. In 1971 and 1972, Kareem won back-to-back MVP awards with the Milwaukee Bucks, helping Milwaukee to a championship. Before leaving for the Lakers in 1975, he won a second MVP while playing with the Bucks in 1974.

After moving to Los Angeles, Kareem earned two MVP awards in his first two seasons with the Lakers but was unable to lead them to the postseason success they desired. Kareem led the Lakers to an NBA title in 1980 earning him yet another MVP award. Kareem ended a remarkable career with a total of six MVP awards.

8. He held the record for most points in the NBA for 39 years

Until LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers broke it on February 7, 2023, his 38,387 career points were the NBA record. For almost 39 years, Abdul-Jabbar held the record for the longest period in league history. By surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James now holds the 39-year record for most points scored in an NBA game.

When he retired from the NBA at the age of 42 in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar held the record for the most points (38,387), games played (1,560), minutes (57,446), field goals made (15,837), field goal attempts (28,307), blocked shots (3,189), defensive rebounds (9,394), and personal fouls (57,446) in NBA history. 

Find out: Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about LeBron James.

9. He was selected as a U.S global ambassador by Hillary Clinton in 2012

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar photo by U.S. Department of State from the United States – Wikimedia commons

Abdul-Jabbar was chosen by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to represent the United States as a worldwide cultural ambassador in 2012. Abdul-Jabbar was appointed a cultural ambassador for the United States to encourage education, and racial tolerance, fostering possibilities for improved understanding through people-to-people diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding among young people worldwide.

10. Lew was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 by President Barack Obama in recognition of his greatness on the court and societal contributions after his playing days were over.

Read more: 60 Best College Basketball Players of all times.