Basketball Jersey worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Basketball Jersey worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem

Medalist Industries. Sand-Knit Division

This uniform was worn in 1989 by center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his record setting 19th NBA All-Star game selection. Jabbar retired at the completion of that season, finishing his 20 year professional career with the most points in NBA history. A six time NBA MVP, Jabbar was the preeminent big man of his era. Skilled and fluid in the post, he is still readily identified with his signature move, the sky hook.

Abdul-Jabbar was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor in 1947. He dominated high school basketball in his native New York City before enrolling at the University of California in Los Angles (UCLA) in 1966. Under the tutelage of legendary Coach John Wooden, the 7"2 Alcindor led the Bruins to three consecutive NCAA titles (1967-1969) and was named National college player of the year twice.

In 1970, Alcindor was drafted by the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. He quickly established himself as one of the league's best players, taking home that year's rookie of the year honors. That summer he changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in accordance with his conversion to Islam. The next season, the Bucks paired the young center with Oscar Robertson to win the NBA title. It was the first of six rings Abdul-Jabbar amassed over the course of his career, the rest coming after a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975.

Championship success with Los Angeles came after the 1979 addition of charismatic point guard Ervin "Magic" Johnson. Led by Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar, the "Showtime" Lakers played a popular brand of up-tempo, fast-break basketball that reached the NBA finals an amazing 8 times during the 1980s, acquiring titles in ‘80, ‘82 '85,'87,'88.

Away from the court, Abdul-Jabbar is a best-selling author, penning well-received books about such subjects as the African-American 761st Tank Battalion and the Harlem Renaissance. Abdul-Jabbar has also appeared as an actor in feature films, notably in the 1979 Bruce Lee vehicle "Game of Death," and the 1980 comedy "Airplane!"

Professional

Basketball

Sports

Medalist Industries. Sand-Knit Division

Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem

Muslims

Islam

Smithsonian Institution

http://collections.si.edu/search/results.htm?q=record_ID=nmah_1065436&repo=DPLA

Smithsonian Institution

Professional

Basketball

Sports

Medalist Industries. Sand-Knit Division

Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem