Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Biography: Net Worth, Salary, Family and Career Stats

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. after converting to Islam and adopting the Arabic name, which means "noble servant of the powerful One," in 1971, shortly after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship is one of those special players in the history of the game that have defined the sport in itself. He was undeniably one of the, if not the best, centers ever to grace the court of basketball.

He was truly a leader, and his game reflected this, holding the NBA's all-time scoring record for 38 years until surpassed by LeBron James. He had a demeanor that truly did not match his list of accolades in this sport, as he was truly a "gentle giant'. Moreover when times got tough, he always had the skyhook, a shot his former coach Pat Riley once described as perhaps "the most awesome weapon in the history of any sport."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Early Life

Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was born in Harlem, New York City, the only child of Cora Lillian, a department store price checker, and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a transit police officer and jazz musician. Alcindor attended Power Memorial Academy, a private all-boys Catholic high school, where he was one of the few black kids there.

He led coach Jack Donohue's teams to three straight New York City Catholic championships, a 71 game winning streak, and a 79–2 overall record. This earned him “The Tower from Power” nickname. He received more than 100 offers of college scholarships. Alcindor was often depressed as a teenager because of the stares and comments about his height. By the eighth grade, he had grown to 6 ft 8 in and could already dunk a basketball.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Biography

Being on the list of top scorers of the NBA is obviously no small feat, but to hold the top spot for over 38 years is a once-in-a-generation type of achievement and simply will remain immortal in the history books. That being said, there is a certain type of player build, lifestyle, discipline, and of course discipline required to fill out the massive shoes of “The Tower from Power”. Let's take a look at Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career trajectory.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Career

Unlike his personal life, which was full of trials and tribulations in light of his protest for the unequal treatment of African Americans in the United States at the time, his professional life, whether at the high school level, college level, where he earned a bachelor of arts with a major in history, or the league, was full of him dominating his competition with elegance and skill.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's High School Career

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, by the name of Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, played for Power Memorial Academy on the varsity for four years, and his total of 2,067 points set a New York City high-school record (that has since been broken). This is why the students and coaches alike at the time started calling the tall player “The Tower from Power”.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's College Career

At the time, the league only accepted players beginning with the year that they could have hypothetically graduated from college. He was one of the most sought-after prospects since Wilt Chamberlain. During his junior year, Alcindor suffered a scratched left cornea on January 12, 1968, in a game against California (UC Berkeley) when Tom Henderson struck him in a rebound battle. He missed the next two games against Stanford and Portland. His cornea would again be scratched during his pro career, which subsequently caused him to wear goggles for eye protection. The second occurred in 1974 when he played for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, resulting in him sitting out 16 games.

The per-game averages that Kareem used to register were impressive, but his consistency was good; he used to do it on a night in night out basis which shows in his historic record books-worth numbers.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Professional Career

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 1,093 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in his career. Having racked up the second-highest points in the history of the NBA, just behind LeBron James at 38387 points.

Kareem retired from basketball in 1989 after achieving every possible award imaginable except for the 1968 Summer Olympics, which he boycotted to protest racial injustice in the United States, refusing to try out for the US men's basketball team, a decision that drew criticism and backlash. He is on the Mount Rushmore of Lakers Legends and is considered by many who saw him playing in his prime, or even fans of the classic game, as the greatest basketball player ever.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Awards and Achievements

In a sense, Kareem has completed basketball because he has won almost every major league basketball award and accolade there is to win. "The Big A" is not just one of the best basketball players ever, but also a great human. He loves to write blogs and has won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks “33” jerseys retired in honor of his legendary career.

He was named to the All-NBA Second Team five times, locked down five All-Defensive First Team selections, and added six more on the All-Defensive Second Team. From day one, he made noise, earning Rookie of the Year and a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. Kareem didn’t just score - he dominated. He led the league in scoring twice, topped the rebounding charts once, and was a shot-blocking menace with four league titles in that category. His greatness was recognized across generations, earning him a place on multiple NBA Anniversary Teams.

And before the NBA, he was already a legend, winning three NCAA championships at UCLA. He also won two NBA championship rings as an assistant coach in 2009 and 2010 under legendary coach Phil Jackson.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Record

With the second-most official games played in the NBA as of April 2025 and also the second-most points scored ever, only behind LeBron James, this legendary basketball player is a hero of the game when it comes to record-breaking performances.

He has been in the record books since his school days with the highest average career scoring of his school, most career field goals tied with Don MacLean, most points in a season at 870, and most points in a single game at 61. He is represented in the top ten in a number of other school records, including season and career rebounds, second only to Bill Walton.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Net Worth and Salary

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's net worth has been a topic of interest for basketball fans and financial analysts alike. With a legendary 20-year NBA career, he secured numerous contracts, endorsement deals, and business ventures. As of 2025, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s net worth is estimated at $25 million. While his fortune is substantial, it is lower than modern NBA superstars due to differences in salary structures and endorsement opportunities during his playing days. Players like LeBron James and Michael Jordan have surpassed his wealth through major sponsorship deals and business ventures. Despite this, Abdul-Jabbar’s financial standing remains strong.

His earnings came from NBA contracts, coaching roles, book sales, and acting. Kareem has also acted in multiple movies, such as Airplane 1980, Game of Death with Bruce Lee 1978, and TV shows, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starring world-famous actor Will Smith and Scrubs. Abdul-Jabbar made numerous smart investments over the years especially in real estate in places such as Hawaii in form of a custom home in Kauai in 1986, which he later sold for $4.8 million, Los Angeles property for $2.7 million, and has also donated to educational initiatives and mentored young athletes on financial responsibility.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Wife

According to social media and sources, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is possibly single right now, but has had a previous marriage that lasted for 7 years from 1971 to 1978 with Janice Habiba Brown, She adopted the name Habiba following her conversion to Islam. While specifics about her educational background are not widely known, Habiba has built a career in fashion design. He has also been in relationships with Cheryl Pistono in 1979 and Pam Grier in 1971. He is also confirmed to have had an encounter with Heather Hunter.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Parents

In his essay, Abdul-Jabbar reflects on how he saw his late father, NYPD Lieutenant Ferdinand Alcindor Sr. He saw him as a hero in their community, and he talks about how that view was shaken after seeing other officers target Black protesters during the Harlem riots of 1964. His father, Lew Sr., was 6-3 and his mother, Cora, was 5-10. His father moved the family to Manhattan in 1950.

Abdul-Jabbar told the media more about his path towards sorting it all out and eventually following his father's footsteps in the, quote, "family business" - not law enforcement but, in his words, fighting for justice as an athlete and writer. Kareem also expressed his realization at those difficult times and how he never questioned his father about this directly but didn't like being in the middle of all of that.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Kids

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the legendary NBA Hall of Famer, has five children from his previous relationships: Habiba Abdul-Jabbar, born in 1972. The eldest daughter, Habiba, is a writer, producer, and social justice activist. She has worked in various roles, including script reading and communications coordination, and has contributed to publications like The Huffington Post and The New York Times. ​ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr was born in 1976. Kareem Jr. pursued a career in basketball.

He later transitioned to acting, appearing in films such as ‘The Monster Night’ and ‘Americanizing Shelley’. Sultana Abdul-Jabbar, born in 1979, the youngest daughter, Sultana, maintains a private life, staying out of the public eye. She attended the University of California, graduating with a degree in English Literature. ​Adam Abdul-Jabbar was born in 1981. Adam is an actor known for his roles in ‘The Nutty Professor' and ’Ali'. He has also lent his voice to animated series like ‘Family Guy’ and ‘American Dad’. ​

Amir Abdul-Jabbar (born 1986) pursued a career in medicine and is now an orthopedic and spinal surgeon practicing in Issaquah, Washington. ​While none of Kareem's children have pursued professional basketball careers, they have each carved out their own paths in various fields, reflecting the family's diverse talents and interests.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Shoes

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's influence extends beyond the basketball court, notably impacting the world of footwear. In collaboration with Adidas, his signature sneaker, the Adidas Jabbar, was first introduced in 1978. This iconic shoe set the standard for future basketball sneakers, featuring a leather upper with blue stripes. In 2024, Adidas re-released the Jabbar OG in both high and low-top versions, honoring Kareem's legacy in sports and fashion. ​

The Jabbar OG sneakers are characterized by their sleek design, suede toe cap, and gold foil logos on the tongue and heel. Available in various colorways, including white and green, all-white, and black with white details, these shoes blend classic aesthetics with modern style. ​Kareem's collaboration with Adidas not only highlights his impact on the sport but also his influence on fashion, leaving a lasting imprint on sneaker culture

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Jersey

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the NBA's all-time greats, wore the number 33 jersey throughout his illustrious career. He donned this number during his time with both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar chose to wear the number 33 in the NBA because he admired New York Giants fullback Mel Triplett, who also wore that number, and because his mother's cosmic numerology considered 33 favorable.

How Many Rings Does Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Have?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won a total of six NBA championships during his legendary career. His first title came in 1971 with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he teamed up with Oscar Robertson to dominate the league and win his only championship outside of L.A. After being traded to the Lakers, Kareem would go on to win five more rings during the 1980s, becoming a cornerstone of the iconic "Showtime" era alongside Magic Johnson. His second title came in 1980, a series that featured the famous Game 6 performance by rookie Magic Johnson, who played center in place of an injured Kareem and helped secure the championship. Kareem added a third ring in 1982, as the Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.

In 1985, Kareem won his fourth title—this one was especially sweet, as it came against the Boston Celtics, a team that had long been a rival of the Lakers. The Lakers and Celtics met again in 1987, and Kareem captured his fifth title with L.A. and the fifth of his career. His final championship came in 1988, when the Lakers went back-to-back, beating the Detroit Pistons in a grueling seven-game series. This sixth and final ring capped off one of the most decorated careers in NBA history, solidifying Kareem’s legacy as one of the game’s greatest champions.