1972
Despite all of the controversy after legally changing his name, Kareem’s performance was unscathed as he won his second consecutive honors as league MVP.

1975
Abdul-Jabbar said Milwaukee was inadequate for his cultural needs. The Bucks traded him to the Lakers for center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters and rookie blue chippers Dave Myers and Junior Bridgeman.

1976
Began actively doing Yoga to increase his flexibility for basketball.


1978
Appeared as a hulking foe to Bruce Lee in the movie Game of Death.

1980
Earned his 6th honor as league MVP, an NBA record, and the Lakers won their first of 5 NBA titles in the 80s.

1980
Stars as co-pilot Murdock, a man who tires of being mistaken for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the slapstick comedy Airplane.

1984
On April 5 Kareem became the league’s all-time leading scorer on a 15-foot skyhook to give him 31,420 points, one more than Wilt Chamberlain scored.

1985
Named by Sports Illustrated as ‘Sportsman of the Year’.

1989
Retired at the age of 42.

1993
Became the first basketball player ever to receive the National Sports Award presented by President Bill Clinton, and was inducted into the "Presidential Hall of Fame" along with four other athletic greats.

1995
Enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

1998
Volunteers as Alchesay High School basketball coach in the heart of the Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona. His five-month salary totals $1.

2000
Served as assistant coach under Jim Todd of the Los Angeles Clippers

2002
Named head coach of the USBL’s Oklahoma Storm. It is the first head-coaching job for the 54 year-old, who becomes the fourth coach in three years for the team.


2004
Hired by the New York Knicks

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