Editing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (section)

==Player profile==
On offense, Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant low-post threat. In contrast to other low-post specialists like [[Wilt Chamberlain]] or [[Shaquille O'Neal]], he was a slender giant, standing {{height|ft=7|in=2}} tall while weighing around {{convert|240|to|250|lb|kg|abbr=on|round=5}}, although he bulked to {{convert|270|lb|kg|abbr=on|round=5}} in 1986;<ref name="Edes 1986"/><ref name=windhost_02082023>{{cite web|first1=Brian|last1=Windhorst|first2=Ramona |last2=Shelburne|title=LeBron's 38,390-point scoring record a triumph in longevity of mind, body|date=February 8, 2023|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35610921/lebron-38390-point-scoring-record-triumph-longevity-mind-body|access-date=February 16, 2023}}</ref> in his early years, he used that frame for agility and speed while in later years he utilized a bigger frame for trying to guard under the basket.<ref name="Edes 1986"/> Abdul-Jabbar was famous for his ambidextrous [[Skyhook (basketball)|skyhook]] shot. It contributed to his .559 career field goal percentage, which ranked eighth in NBA history at the time of his retirement,{{efn|Minimum 2,000 field goals made.<ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Mark S.|editor-last=Hoffman|title=The World Almanac And Book of Facts, 1991|publisher=Pharos Books|year=1990|page=886|url=https://archive.org/details/worldalmanacbook1991mark/page/886/mode/1up|url-access=registration|isbn=0886875781|access-date=April 29, 2024|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Ranked 23rd {{as of|2024|4|alt=through 2023–24 season}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/FGP_career.html|title=NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Field Goal Pct|website=Basketball-Reference|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>}} and reputation as a feared clutch shooter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sexton|first=Joshua|date=August 4, 2011|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/791553-la-lakers-ranking-the-most-clutch-players-in-la-lakers-history|title=LA Lakers: Ranking the Most Clutch Players in Lakers History|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> He shot above 50% in every season but his last.<ref name=secrets>{{cite news|first=J. A.|last=Adande|title=Secrets of the Skyhook|website=ESPN|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/features/kareem|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>

Abdul-Jabbar maintained a dominant presence on defense. He was selected to the [[NBA All-Defensive Team]] eleven times.<ref name=nba_encyc_bio/> He frustrated opponents with his superior shot-blocking ability and denied an average of 2.6 shots a game. He was not an aggressive rebounder, relying more on his size as a 7-footer instead of positioning.<ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=DuPree|title=5 Positions – 5 Special Skills|date=February 10, 1978|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/02/10/5-positions-5-special-skills/96a0b0ed-80a0-4469-ae8b-eb026a797793/|access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Randy|last=Harvey|title=Lakers Have New Plan To Stop Malone|date=May 26, 1983|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, pp. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99385128/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98686245/kareem-rebounding-fundamentals/ 13]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99385128/|access-date=April 9, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> After the pounding he endured early in his career, his rebounding average fell to between six or eight a game in his latter years.<ref name=nba_encyc_bio/> As a teammate, Abdul-Jabbar exuded natural leadership and was affectionately called "Cap",<ref name=br/> or "Captain", by his colleagues.<ref>{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Ps5bFjaB5PsC&pg=PA30 | page = 30 | title = The Great Book of Los Angeles Sports Lists | first1 = Steve | last1 = Hartman | first2 = Matt | last2 = Smith | publisher=Basic Civitas Books | year = 2009 | isbn = 978-0-7624-3520-3}}</ref> He had an even temperament, which Riley said made him coachable.<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson |first=Roy S. |title=The Long-Run Success Of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |date=May 22, 1983 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/22/sports/the-long-run-success-of-kareem-abdul-jabbar.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307223156/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/22/sports/the-long-run-success-of-kareem-abdul-jabbar.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

A strict fitness regime made Abdul-Jabbar one of the most durable players of all time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goodwin|first=James|date=October 28, 2014|url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/kareem-abdul-jabbar-in-uae-nba-legend-reveals-fitness-secrets-1.1405078|title=Kareem Abdul Jabbar in UAE: NBA legend reveals fitness secrets|work=Gulf News|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> He began a year-around conditioning program at age 26.<ref name=bonk_05291984>{{cite news|first=Thomas|last=Bonk|title=At 37, Abdul-Jabbar Is Going Against All Odds|date=May 29, 1984|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, pp. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99385274/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98689386/kareem-conditioning-stealing-seconds-of/ 6]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99385274/|access-date=April 9, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> While in Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar started doing [[yoga]] in 1976 to improve his flexibility, and was notable for his physical fitness regimen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yogaexpo.com/press/press27.htm |title=Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is hot for yoga  |access-date=May 23, 2006 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206101425/http://www.yogaexpo.com/press/press27.htm |archive-date=December 6, 2003  }}</ref> He said: "There is no way I could have played as long as I did without yoga."<ref>{{cite web |author=sports and yoga Posted by: dionne on 10-Jan-11 |url=http://www.bikramyogavernon.com/2011/01/10/sports-yoga/ |title=Kareem Abdul-Jabbar does Bikram Yoga |publisher=Bikramyogavernon.com |date=January 13, 2011 |access-date=August 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321191455/http://www.bikramyogavernon.com/2011/01/10/sports-yoga/ |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Because of his metabolism, he had difficulty putting on weight. Prior to the 1979–80 season, he gained {{convert|10|lb|kg}} from 240 to {{convert|250|lb}} after switching from [[free weight (equipment)|free weights]] to [[Nautilus, Inc.|Nautilus]] equipment. He also switched that offseason from [[tai chi]] to yoga.<ref>{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Ostler|title=Lakers Hope More Is Less|date=September 26, 1979|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, pp. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99386248/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98689059/kareem-nautilus-and-yoga/ 5]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99386248/|access-date=April 9, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> To reduce wear during his later years, Riley did not have him inbound the ball on made baskets, and had him wait at the opposite end of the court on free throws.<ref name=smith_12231985>{{cite magazine|first=Gary|last=Smith|title=Now More Than Ever, A Winner|date=December 23, 1985|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/12/23/now-more-than-ever-a-winner|access-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref> In what he described as playing a "smarter game" to conserve energy, Abdul-Jabbar sometimes would be the last player to set up on offense by several seconds after staying behind on defense to see if the Lakers scored on a [[fast break]].<ref name=bonk_05291984/><ref>{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Ostler|title=Lakers Are Finding Out Why NBA Champs Don't Repeat|date=December 19, 1980|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99385589/|at= Part III, pp. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99385589/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98689302/kareem-trail-behind-offense/ 14]|access-date=April 9, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In 1981, he responded to criticism that he did not hustle: "You have to understand I have to play 42 to 45 minutes a night, and it's like mowing a huge estate lawn. If you rush out and run around furiously, it's self-defeating. You'll be worn out just at the point when you're most needed."<ref>{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Murray|title=Kareem Doesn't Get Any Respect|date=October 6, 1981|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, pp. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99385792/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98685890/kareem-on-not-hustling/ 6]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99385792/|access-date=April 9, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Abdul-Jabbar finished his career with then-NBA records of 20 seasons and 1,560 games played,<ref>{{cite news|last=Murray |first=Jim |title=A Chapter Closed, He Is Opening |date=November 17, 1992 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-17-sp-539-story.html |access-date=May 20, 2022}}</ref> later broken by former Celtics center [[Robert Parish]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Bjarkman|first=Peter C.|title=Boston Celtics Encyclopedia|page=54|year=2002|publisher=Sports Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cbtwpjrpEUsC&q=robert%20parish%2021%20season%20kareem&pg=PA54|isbn=9781582615646|accessdate=December 2, 2015}}</ref>

Abdul-Jabbar began wearing his trademark goggles after getting poked in the eye during preseason in 1974. He continued wearing them for years until abandoning them in the 1979 playoffs. He resumed wearing goggles in October 1980 after being accidentally poked in the right eye by [[Houston Rockets|Houston]]'s [[Rudy Tomjanovich]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Abdul-Jabbar to miss two games|date=October 14, 1980|newspaper=The Morning News|page=B2|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79107930/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> After years of being jabbed in the eyes, Abdul-Jabbar developed [[corneal erosion syndrome]], occasionally experiencing pain when his eyes dry up. He missed three games in December 1986 due to the condition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abdul-Jabbar out with eye trouble|date=December 21, 1986|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|page=D2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79108204/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

===Skyhook===
Abdul-Jabbar was well known for his trademark skyhook, a [[hook shot]] in which he raised the ball and released it at the highest point of his arm's arching motion. He could shoot the skyhook from up to {{convert|16|ft}}. With his long arms and great height, he released the ball so high that it was difficult for a defender to block without committing a [[goaltending]] violation.<ref name=dupree_03261983>{{cite news|first=David|last=DuPree|title=Sky's the Limit With the Hook Of All Hooks|date=March 26, 1983|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1983/05/26/skys-the-limit-with-the-hook-of-all-hooks/8778171a-c00e-4192-90f2-6058f2d407b7/|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tex|last=Maule|title=SI Vault: How a coin flip helped the Milwaukee Bucks land Lew Alcindor|date=March 12, 2015|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2015/03/12/lew-alcindor-coin-flip-kareem-abdul-jabber-milwaukee-bucks|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> His body being between the defender and the ball made it further difficult to block,<ref name=dupree_03261983/> as did extending his non-shooting arm to fend off opponents.<ref name=secrets/> He was stronger shooting the skyhook with his right hand than he was with his left, which he developed in his later years.<ref name=secrets/>

According to Abdul-Jabbar, he learned the move in fifth grade after practicing with the ambidextrious [[Mikan Drill]] and soon learned to value it, as it was "the only shot I could use that didn't get smashed back in my face".<ref name=lat_01272006>{{cite news| url=http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2006/01/talking_with_ka_2.html | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | title=Talking with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Part II | date=January 27, 2006 | access-date=May 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915152707/http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2006/01/talking_with_ka_2.html|archive-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref> He also watched [[Cliff Hagan]] shoot the hook with the [[St. Louis Hawks]].<ref name=secrets/> To prevent his hook from being blocked from behind, he was advised by Wooden to do away with the typical sweeping motion of a hook shot, instead keeping the ball close to his body and shooting with a straighter motion. Abdul-Jabbar's hook shot improved in his junior year at UCLA, after the dunk was banned. In his final college years, he often released the ball several feet above the [[rim (basketball)|rim]].<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Nielsen|title=The Shot That Reigns Over the Rim|date=March 8, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/08/sports/the-shot-that-reigns-over-the-rim.html|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>