Playing his college ball at UCLA, Jabbar (then named Lew Alcindor) won three NCAA Titles where he was the College Player of the Year and Final Four Most Outstanding Player in all three championship seasons. Drafted number one overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, Abdul-Jabbar would lead
Milwaukee to their first title in 1971. He would seek a different political and cultural climate and sought a trade to Los Angeles, which he got after the 1974-75 season.
Abdul-Jabbar and his skyhook remained a top star in Los Angeles, and he won three of his six MVP awards as a Laker. With Magic Johnson's arrival, Abdul-Jabbar helped take Los Angeles to five more championships, giving him six in total.
Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all-time leader in Points (38,387) and is still in the top five in rebounds and blocks.
There might have been basketball players who had more astonishing moments on top, but no other player on the hardwood had a longer duration as an upper-tier player than Abdul-Jabbar. Throw in his work as a civil rights activist and his dedication to his principles, we have one of the most deserving members for this Hall of Fame.
We are proud to nominate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.