Also American
AchievementApril 1971· sport

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Wins First NBA Championship and MVP

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship in 1971 and was named Finals MVP, beginning one of the most decorated careers in professional basketball history. Abdul-Jabbar, who had converted to Islam and changed his name from Lew Alcindor, became a symbol of athletic excellence and principled identity.