Editing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (section)

===Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)===

====Rookie of the Year (1969–1970)====
[[File:Wes Unseld and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.jpeg|thumb|180px|Alcindor displaying the skyhook over [[Wes Unseld]] of the [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)|Baltimore Bullets]]. The shot was almost impossible to block.]]
The Globetrotters offered Alcindor $1 million to play for them, but he declined and was [[List of first overall NBA draft picks|picked first overall]] in the [[1969 NBA draft]] by the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], who were in only their second season of existence. The Bucks had won a coin toss with the [[1969–70 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]] for the first pick. He was also chosen first overall in the 1969 [[American Basketball Association]] draft by the [[1969–70 New York Nets season|New York Nets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYN&lg=A&yr=1969 |title=New York Nets (1968–1975) 1969 Stats, History, Awards and More |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518082053/http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYN&lg=A&yr=1969 |archive-date=May 18, 2015 }}</ref> The Nets believed that they had the upper hand in securing Alcindor's services because he was from New York; however, when Alcindor told both the Bucks and the Nets that he would accept only one offer from each team, he rejected the Nets' bid as too low. Sam Gilbert negotiated the contract along with Los Angeles businessman Ralph Shapiro at no charge.<ref name="SAMCAGERS"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1082281/2/index.htm|url-status=dead|title=Scorecard|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 7, 1969|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224115501/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1082281/2/index.htm|archive-date=December 24, 2013|access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref> After Alcindor chose the Milwaukee Bucks' offer of $1.4 million, the Nets offered a guaranteed $3.25 million. Alcindor declined the offer, saying: "A bidding war degrades the people involved. It would make me feel like a flesh peddler, and I don't want to think like that."<ref>{{cite news |title=Alcindor Rejects A.B.A.'s $3.2-Million Offer and Will Sign With Bucks |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 30, 1969 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/03/30/archives/alcindor-rejects-abas-32million-offer-and-will-sign-with-bucks-ucla.html|access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref>

Alcindor's presence enabled the [[1969–70 Milwaukee Bucks season|Bucks]] to claim second place in the NBA's Eastern Division with a 56–26 record (improved from 27–55 the previous year). On February 21, 1970, he scored 51 points in a 140–127 win over the SuperSonics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197002210MIL.html|title=Seattle SuperSonics vs Milwaukee Bucks Box Score, February 21, 1970
|website=Basketball Reference|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> Alcindor was an instant star, ranking second in the league in scoring ([[List of National Basketball Association top rookie scoring averages|28.8 ppg]]) and third in rebounding (14.5 rpg), for which he was awarded the title of [[NBA Rookie of the Year]].<ref name="greatath"/> In the series-clinching game against the [[1969–70 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia 76ers]], he recorded 46 points and 25 rebounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197004030MIL.html|title=Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks Box Score, April 3, 1970|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> He was the second rookie to score at least 40 points and 25 rebounds in a playoff game, the first being [[Wilt Chamberlain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/top-10-nba-players-with-the-most-ppg-during-a-rookie-season-wilt-chamberlain-was-a-scoring-god-since-his-first-season/ar-AAR84SQ |title=Top 10 NBA Players With The Most PPG During A Rookie Season: Wilt Chamberlain Was A Scoring God Since His First Season |website=MSN Sports |date=November 25, 2021 |access-date=December 9, 2021 }}</ref> He also set an NBA rookie record with 10 or more games of 20+ points scored during the playoffs, tied by [[Jayson Tatum]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jayson Tatum's rookie season ranks alongside best in Celtics' history|date=June 18, 2018|work=Sporting News|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba/news/nba-jayson-tatums-rookie-season-best-in-celtics-history-bill-russell-larry-bird/1ozxh6qf4joje1g1b9fleinaze|access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref>

====First championship, MVP, and Finals MVP (1970–1971)====
The next season, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard [[Oscar Robertson]]. Milwaukee went on to record the [[List of NBA teams by single season win percentage|best record in the league]] with 66 victories in the [[1970–71 NBA season|1970–71 season]],<ref name="greatath" /> including a then-record [[List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks|20 straight wins]].<ref>{{cite news|title=... And Bucks Win Sixth|date=December 15, 1971|newspaper=The Ithaca Journal|page=26|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79044675/|access-date=June 6, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Alcindor was awarded his first of six [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award]]s, along with his first scoring title (31.7 ppg).<ref name="greatath" /> He also led the league in total points, with 2,596.<ref name="EB" /> The Bucks won the NBA title, sweeping the [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973)|Baltimore Bullets]] 4–0 in the [[1971 NBA Finals]]. Alcindor posted 27 points, 12 rebounds and seven [[assist (basketball)|assists]] in Game 4,<ref>{{cite news|title=Oscar Had No Doubt|date=May 1, 2021|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|at=Section 3, page 1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81349358/|access-date=July 13, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and he was named the [[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|Finals MVP]] after averaging 27 points per game on 60.5% shooting in the series.<ref>{{cite news|first=Marc J.|last=Spears|title=Giannis dominating like Kareem revives Bucks' title hopes|date=July 12, 2021|work=[[Andscape]]|url=https://andscape.com/features/giannis-dominating-like-kareem-revives-bucks-title-hopes/|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>

====MVP recognition and trade request (1971–1975)====
During the offseason, Alcindor and Robertson joined Bucks head coach [[Larry Costello]] on a three-week basketball tour of Africa on behalf of the [[State Department]]. In a press conference at the State Department on June 3, 1971, he stated that going forward he wanted to be called by his Muslim name, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, its translation roughly "noble one, servant of the Almighty [i.e., servant of [[God in Islam|God]]]".<ref>{{cite news|first=Terence|last=Smith|title=Biggest Name in N.B.A.: Jabbar|date=June 4, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times|page=27|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/06/04/archives/biggest-name-in-nba-jabbar.html|access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Seppy|title=Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Also Known As Lew Alcindor) To Tour Africa|date=June 4, 1971|newspaper=Sheboygan Press|agency=Associated Press|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79052561/|access-date=June 6, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

[[File:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1974.jpeg|thumb|left|175px|Abdul-Jabbar lines up a free throw. He started wearing goggles in order to avoid damage to his corneas.]]
Abdul-Jabbar remained a dominant force for the Bucks. The following year, he repeated as scoring champion ([[List of National Basketball Association top individual scoring season averages|34.8 ppg]] and 2,822 total points)<ref name=EB/> and became the first player to be named the NBA Most Valuable Player twice in his first three years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abdul-Jabbar is Most Valuable|date=March 22, 1971|newspaper=Kenosha News|page=25|agency=UPI|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79055569/|access-date=June 6, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In 1974, Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to their fourth consecutive [[Midwest Division (NBA)|Midwest Division]] title,<ref name=nea_10242974>{{cite news|title=Basketball Pro Chart|date=October 24, 1974|newspaper=The Lompoc Record|page=7|agency=Newspaper Enterprise Association|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79057859/|access-date=June 6, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and he won his third MVP Award in four years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jabbar—Most Valuable Player|date=March 21, 1974|newspaper=The Fresno Bee|page=D1|agency=AP|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79056379/|access-date=June 6, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was among the top five NBA players in scoring (27.0 ppg, third), rebounding (14.5 rpg, fourth), [[blocked shot]]s (283, second), and [[field goal percentage]] (.539, second).<ref name=nea_10242974/> Milwaukee advanced to the [[1974 NBA Finals|1974 finals]], losing to the [[Boston Celtics]] in seven games.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sopan|last=Deb|title=The Bucks Have Big-Time Supporters: Kareem and Oscar Robertson|date=July 11, 2021|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/11/sports/basketball/nba-bucks-abdul-jabbar-robertson.html|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>

Robertson, who became a free agent in the offseason, retired in September 1974 after he was unable to agree on a contract with the Bucks.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Pat|last=Putnam|title=Return of Ol Goggle-Eyes|date=December 9, 1974|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1974/12/09/return-of-old-goggleeyes|access-date=June 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Sam|last=Goldaper|title=Robertson Ends Career|date=September 4, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times|page=33|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/04/archives/robertson-ends-career-nba-great-accepts-cbstv-pact-robertson.html|access-date=June 7, 2021}}</ref> On October 3, Abdul-Jabbar privately requested a trade to the [[New York Knicks]], with his second choice being the [[Washington Bullets]] (now the Wizards) and his third, the [[Los Angeles Lakers]].<ref name=bonk_12251987/> He had never spoken negatively of the city of [[Milwaukee]] or its fans, but he said that being in the Midwest did not fit his cultural needs.<ref name=bonk_12251987/><ref>{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Goldaper |date=March 18, 1975 |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Bucks See No Need Now to Make Deal for Unhappy Abdul-Jabbar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/18/archives/bucks-see-no-need-now-to-make-deal-for-unhappy-abduljabbar-about.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| magazine=Sports Illustrated| title=Say It Ain't So Milwaukee Bucks| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2001/05/30/sayitaintso_bucks/| date=May 30, 2001| access-date=June 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104020207/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2001/05/30/sayitaintso_bucks/|archive-date=November 4, 2012}}</ref> Two days later in a pre-season game before the [[1974–75 NBA season|1974–75 season]] against the Celtics in [[Buffalo, New York]], Abdul-Jabbar caught a fingernail in his left eye from [[Don Nelson]] and suffered a [[corneal abrasion]]; this angered him enough to punch the [[backboard (basketball)|backboard]] stanchion, breaking two bones in his right hand.<ref name=bonk_12251987>{{cite news|first=Thomas|last=Bonk|title=June 16, 1975: A Banner Day For Lakers : Kareem Takes His Post : 4 Players Bucks Got in Trade Gone, but He's Still on Job|date=December 25, 1987|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-25-sp-21142-story.html|access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Abdul-Jabbar Fractures Hand|date=October 6, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times|at=Section 5, page 1|agency=AP|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/10/06/archives/abduljabbar-fractures-hand.html|access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref><ref name=wisc_11251974/> He missed the first 16 games of the season, during which the Bucks were 3–13, and returned in late November wearing protective goggles.<ref name=wisc_11251974>{{cite news|title=Kareem Looks Different, Acts The Same|date=November 25, 1974|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|at=Section 2, page 1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79059283/|access-date=June 6, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> On March 13, 1975, sportscaster [[Marv Albert]] reported that Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade to either New York or Los Angeles, preferably to the Knicks.<ref name=bonk_12251987/><ref>{{cite news|title=Jabbar on the move?|date=March 14, 1975|newspaper=The Journal-News|page=14B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79103850/|access-date=June 7, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The following day after a loss in Milwaukee to the Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar confirmed to reporters his desire to play in another city.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jabbar Finally Confirms It: He Wants To Be Traded|date=March 15, 1975|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, p. 1|agency=UPI|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79102904/|access-date=June 7, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He averaged 30.0 points during the season, but Milwaukee finished in last place in the division at 38–44.<ref name=cady_06171975>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Cady|title=Abdul-Jabbar Traded by Bucks for Four Lakers|date=June 17, 1975|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/17/archives/abduljabbar-traded-by-bucks-for-four-lakers-jabbar-traded-to-lakers.html|access-date=June 7, 2021}}</ref>