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Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem. Obstfeld, Raymond. Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court. Free press, 2017.

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When Lew Alcindor was a child in New York City, he struggled with his height and feeling different.

Quote 1

"I was nine years old but already five foot eight" (25)

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Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, he faced racial discrimination from an early age, things like being called racial slurs and feeling unwelcome in certain places.

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This is the Link to outside world for #2.

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The Gotham Center for New York City History

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Basketball and Black Pride: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Resident Organizing in New York City Public Housing - The Gotham Center for New York City History

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Basketball and Black Pride: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Resident Organizing in New York City Public Housing By Nick Juravich In the summer of 1968, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - known at the time as Lew Alcindor, and just barely twenty-one years old - ​was already a basketball legend. Impossibly tall and inc

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While initially shy and uncomfortable with his height, Kareem found that basketball gave him confidence. The game allowed to use his size to his advantage rather than seeing it as a burden.

Quote 2

"At nine years old, I had found the shot that made me feel like an athlete, that made me feel I was in control of this gangly body that so far had done nothing but isolate me from others" (29)

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#4 Developing a Relationship with His Father

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#4 Developing a Relationship with His Father

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His father, Ferdinand Alcindor, was a quiet but disciplined man who worked as a transit police officer and jazz musician. Though not very expressive, he played a crucial role in shaping Kareem's sense of discipline and commitment.

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His high school coach at Power Memorial Academy, Jack Donohue introduce discipline and helped him shape his game.

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Under Donohue, he led his team to an incredible undefeated season and also led his team to multiple championships.

Quote 3

"We finished the season undefeated, then won the city championship for the second year in a row" (106)

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At UCLA, he played under legendary coach John Wooden, who became a lifelong mentor.

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Lew was influenced by people like Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, he later began questioning his identity.

Quote 4

"I instantly felt connected to the evolution portrayed. Like them, I had started in the dark about who I was, being the person everyone expected me to be without really knowing who I wanted to be" (113)

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He converted to Islam, changing his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to reflect his faith and heritage.

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This is the Link to outside world for #9.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on being Muslim from the Sixties to today

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In the spring of 1966, while a freshman at UCLA, I read “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” and when I finished the last page I knew my life was changed forever. One passage particularly impressed me:…

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His name change and religious beliefs led to criticism from fans and by the media.

Quote 5

"When I climbed the stairs from the subway to the street, I felt as if I were stepping into a war movie. Except this wasn't a movie. Real gunshots cracked the air. Real glass windows shattered" (128)

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He formed a friendship with Ali, who inspired him to stand up for his beliefs despite public criticism.

Quote 6

"After that evening, Muhammad took on a big-brother role in my life. His influence extended way beyond our connection as athletes" (199)

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#12 Refusing to Play in the 1968 Olympics

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#12 Refusing to Play in the 1968 Olympics

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He declined to play in the U.S Olympic basketball team, because he wanted to fight for what he believed in by protesting.

Quote 7

"But I decided I would not go" (256)

"Given all this, going to Mexico to win medals didn't seem to be the highest priority for me...I realized that even though I was only twenty-one, I still had to speak up" (258)

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The NCAA banned dunking partly due to his dominance, forcing him to develop his signature skyhook shot.

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At UCLA, he dominated college basketball and won three consecutive championships.

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This is the Link to outside world for #14.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: College stats, best moments, quotes

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s college stats, best moments and quotes from his years at UCLA.

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He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and quickly became a star in the league.

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This is the Link to outside world for #15.

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Click the Team for players drafted by that franchise.
Click theCollege for players drafted from that college.
Click thePk for players drafted in that slot. Matthew Maurer of TheDraftReview is an NBA Draft historian who has researched and collected the data on the entire history of the NBA Draft. Much of the biographical and draft data of the later rounds is thanks to his investigative research and work. " Visit our Season Finder tool to search for players by draft status and more.
218 Selections

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1969 NBA Draft | Basketball-Reference.com

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Checkout the summary for NBA 1969 Draft with Round by Round selections and more on Basketball-Reference.com

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Despite success, he struggled with being the center of attention and felt disconnected from others.

Quote 8

"I thought the transition from college player to pro would be a lot easier than it was. But I didn't take into consideration the fact that I would be living alone. In a city far away from all my friends and family" (282)

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He led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 1971, proving himself as an elite/dominate player.

Quote 9

"We were already the NBA champions. During that season, I scored 2,599 points, nearly a thousand more than the next player on our team. I was honored as the NBA Scoring Champion, NBA Most Valuable Player, and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player" (286)

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He used his platform to speak out against racism and injustice.

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He moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, setting the stage for his legendary career.

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This is the Link to outside world for #19.

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This Day In Lakers History: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Acquired In Trade With Bucks

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This day in Los Angeles Lakers history saw the Lakers acquire dominant center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.

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By the end of the book, he acknowledges how mentors, activism, and basketball shaped him into the person he became.

Quote 10

"I didn't have to walk it alone, even when I thought I was. No one has to. Coaches and teachers and family and friends are everywhere, reaching out a hand for you to take" (289)