Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s ethnicity is African American. He also has Trinidadian roots. He is speculated to have a Yoruba heritage as his father’s ancestry can be traced there.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Biography
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a renowned former basketball player who has played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers for twenty seasons. He has a height of seven feet, two inches (7”2) which is approximately 2.18 metres. The former American basketball player who was initially known as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr is presently an assistant coach.
Abdul-Jabbar is also a prolific author, having written many books, including his autobiography, “Giant Steps”. He is a passionate advocate for education and literacy, and he encourages young people to pursue their dreams and use their voices to make a positive impact on the world.
In addition to his basketball and intellectual pursuits, Abdul-Jabbar has also dabbled in acting. He has appeared in films such as “Airplane!” And “Game of Death”, showcasing his charisma and humour beyond the basketball court.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Ethnicity
The popular retired basketball player is an African American. He was born as a Christian and at the age of 24, he converted to Islam and adopted the name, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. While his conversion did not change his ethnicity, it did reflect his spiritual beliefs and cultural identity.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Family
The “Coach Wooden and Me” author was born as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. in Harlem, New York City to African American parents, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr who was a transit worker and Cora Lillian nèe Johnson was a homemaker. He is the only child of his parents.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Achievements
Kareem is a legendary basketball player who has won six NBA championships and six MVP awards. He is also a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Basketball Association 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Right after his college years where he played for the UCLA Bruins under Coach John Wooden, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 1969 NBA draft and played for them till 1975, when he was drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent most of his career with the Lakers where he won five championships and four MVP awards. He is also known as the NBA’s all time leading scorer and field goals.
He retired from active playing in 1989 and settled for being an assistant coach for the Lakers till 1996. He later coached many teams in Asia and Europe including Barcelona, Fenerbahçe, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Barcelona. He later returned to Milwaukee Bucks in 2005 and is presently their head coach.
Aside from the sports world, he is a best selling author who has written over ten books. His books include, “What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors(2013)” which won the Coretta Scott King Book Award and the NAACP Image Award in 2014. “Brother In Arms(2014)” won the Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year in 2015. “Black Profiles in Courage(1976)” won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in 1977.