Dossier · 1970s
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
One shot, unblockable for 20 years, and the most points anyone scored for 39 years.
1969-1989 · Bucks, Lakers
- Career points
- 38,387
- MVPs
- 6
- Titles
- 6
- All-Star selections
- 19
- Career scoring
- 24.6 per game
- Best season
- 34.8 points, 1971-72
The numbers
Abdul-Jabbar scored 38,387 points. That was the record from April 1984 until LeBron James passed it in February 2023, a 39-year hold on the sport's headline number.
He won 6 MVPs, more than anyone. He won titles in 1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988, which means he was the best player on a champion at 24 and the Finals MVP at 38.
He was selected to 19 All-Star teams in 20 seasons. His career averages are 24.6 points and 11.2 rebounds.
In 1971-72 he averaged 34.8 points and won his second MVP at 24 years old. He never averaged fewer than 14.6 points in a season until his final one.
The context
The skyhook is the reason for all of it. He released it from above his head, moving away from the defender, off one foot. There is no legal way to reach it, and he shot it identically for 20 years.
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