Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1972 NBA Finals MVP Performance

Lore & Background

Abdul-Jabbar was drafted with the first overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969. After leading the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 1971, he took the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In 1975, he was traded to the Lakers, with whom he played the final 14 seasons of his career, winning five NBA championships. He was a member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, and was twice voted the NBA Finals MVP.

In Their Own Story

The noise at The Forum faded into a dull roar as Kareem caught the pass near the elbow. He didn't look down; he knew exactly where the hoop was. With one fluid motion, he extended his arm high above the rim, the ball arcing over the outstretched hands of New York's defenders before dropping softly through the net.

Reader's Guide

Abdul-Jabbar won a record six NBA MVP awards. He was a 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA Team member, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection. He was named to three NBA anniversary teams (35th, 50th, and 75th). He broke the NBA's career scoring record in 1984 and held it until 2023.

Did You Know?

• Abdul-Jabbar was known as Lew Alcindor when he played at Power Memorial High School, where he led the team to 71 consecutive wins.
• He won three consecutive national championships at UCLA and was a record three-time most outstanding player of the NCAA tournament.
• At the time of his retirement in 1989, he was the NBA's career leader in points, games played, minutes, field goals made, field goal attempts, blocked shots, defensive rebounds, and personal fouls.
• He has been an actor, a basketball coach, a best-selling author, and a martial artist who trained in Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee.