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I was referring to his NBA career.

 

540903

This will make it easier to find.

 

Maybe he spelled it wrong.

 

What?

 

Kareem retired from the NBA in 1989, Walton in 1987.

 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was listed as "Lew Alcindor" during his rookie season with the Bucks.

I believe he legally changed his name either prior to or during that season.

As I also recall somewhat hazily, the NBA dragged its feet somewhat on the name change: they claimed it would be impossible to fit a 12-character name on the back of the jersey and would only go for "Jabbar."

I recall a minor kerfuffle about it since the actual Muslim name is the hyphenated Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem was not happy and threatened to raise shit about it.

At some point somebody in the NBA decided it was probably a good idea not to piss off one of its biggest young superstars (who could have jumped to the ABA at any moment, where they would have let him call himself Linda Abdul-Lovelace, Metta World Peace or Elton Hercules John if he wanted) and they gave up on it.

 

Obviously this can only mean Kareem attended college later than Walton.

 

It was the year after, one day after the Bucks won the 1971 championship.

 

God bless you, Milwaukee.

 

My mother got his autograph that year and he signed as "Lew Alcindor". Found it in my dad's trunk a few years ago.

I'm told Lew Alcindor signatures are rare. Then I looked it up and they are rare. But only $60 rare.

There goes my retirement.