Meet Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Kids: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr., Habiba, Sultana, Amir and Adam Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA icon celebrated for his unstoppable skyhook, six championship rings, and enduring influence on basketball history, is also the father of five children.

Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. on April 16, 1947, in Harlem, New York City, he is 78 years old. He is African American and was raised Roman Catholic before converting to Sunni Islam in 1968 during his college years, later officially adopting the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971.

He is the only child of Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a transit police officer and jazz musician, and Cora Lillian Alcindor, who worked as a department store price checker. Raised in Harlem and later in the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan, he stood out early for both his extraordinary height and his dominance on the basketball court, reaching 6 feet 8 inches by the eighth grade and overwhelming opponents in playground and school competitions. He ultimately grew to 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 meters) tall.

He attended Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan, where he led the basketball team to three consecutive New York City Catholic championships and a remarkable 71-game winning streak, establishing himself as one of the most formidable high school players in the country.

From there, he went on to UCLA from 1965 to 1969, playing under legendary coach John Wooden. During that period, he won three consecutive NCAA championships from 1967 to 1969 and earned three Most Outstanding Player awards, achievements that cemented his status as one of the greatest college players in history and paved the way for his legendary NBA career.

Abdul-Jabbar was married once, to Habiba Abdul-Jabbar (born Janice Brown), from 1971 until their divorce in 1978. Together, they had three children. After that marriage ended, he had relationships with other partners, including Cheryl Pistono, with whom he had a son, and Julye Olds, with whom he had his youngest son. He was also romantically linked to actress Pam Grier during the 1970s, though he has generally kept his personal relationships private. He is currently unmarried.

In total, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has five children: Habiba Abdul-Jabbar, his eldest daughter; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr., his eldest son and namesake; and Sultana Abdul-Jabbar, his younger daughter, all from his marriage to Habiba Abdul-Jabbar. He also has two sons from later relationships, Amir Abdul-Jabbar with Cheryl Pistono and Adam Abdul-Jabbar with Julye Olds. While some of his children have pursued paths in entertainment, activism, or sports, others have chosen to lead more private lives away from public attention.

Throughout his life, Abdul-Jabbar has consistently stressed the importance of education, intellectual curiosity, and personal independence. Rather than pushing his children to follow in his basketball footsteps, he has encouraged them to discover their own identities and passions, emphasizing that their worth is not defined by his fame or achievements but by the integrity and purpose they bring to their own lives.

Habiba Abdul-Jabbar

Habiba Abdul-Jabbar is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s firstborn child and eldest daughter, born on May 15, 1972, to him and his ex-wife Habiba Abdul-Jabbar. Named after her mother, she has carved out a career in the arts and activism.

She works as a writer, director, filmmaker, journalist, and social justice advocate. She has contributed opinion pieces to outlets like The Huffington Post and developed projects, including a television series concept called “Gold Rush,” drawing on her experiences as the daughter of a sports icon and the “Showtime Lakers” era.

To reflect her heritage and distance from fame, she later changed her surname to Alcindor, the name of her paternal grandparents. She has also worked as an executive assistant at nonprofits.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr. is the legendary player’s namesake and second child, born on August 23, 1976, to Kareem and Habiba Abdul-Jabbar. He followed in his father’s footsteps by pursuing basketball, playing college ball at Valparaiso University before transferring to Western Kentucky University.

He also appeared in the American Basketball Association and participated in the Los Angeles Lakers’ Summer League in 2003. Beyond sports, he has ventured into acting and hosting, with credits including appearances on “The Sarah Silverman Program” and “Half & Half,” as well as hosting.

He remains one of the more publicly visible siblings due to his athletic and entertainment pursuits.

Sultana Abdul-Jabbar

Sultana Abdul-Jabbar is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s third child and younger daughter from his first marriage, born in April 1979 to him and Habiba Abdul-Jabbar. She has largely stayed out of the public eye compared to her siblings, maintaining a private life.

She has made occasional appearances in support of her father, such as attending Lakers games courtside (including one in 2014 with her father and actor Zac Efron) and being featured on her sister’s blog.

Like some family members, she has been referred to with the Alcindor surname in certain contexts.

Amir Abdul-Jabbar

Amir Abdul-Jabbar is one of Kareem‘s sons from his relationship with Cheryl Pistono, born around 1979 (some sources note April). He has pursued a career in medicine, specializing in surgery.

He has appeared alongside his father at public events, such as red carpet galas, highlighting their close bond. Amir represents a path outside of sports and entertainment, focusing on healthcare and professional achievement.

Adam Abdul-Jabbar

Adam Abdul-Jabbar is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s youngest child, born on September 24, 1991, to him and his then-girlfriend, Julye Olds. Named after Adam Clayton Powell (the pioneering Black American congressman), he holds the distinction of being the longest baby delivered at his birth hospital.

Unlike his father and some of his siblings, Adam did not pursue a professional basketball career despite his height. He has made public appearances with his father, including on the sitcom “Full House” and on “Celebrity Family Feud” together in 2017. He has kept a relatively low profile otherwise.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s children reflect a diverse range of interests and accomplishments, from creative arts and activism to medicine and occasional entertainment. Despite his towering fame, he has prioritized their education—all have pursued or completed degrees—and encouraged them to forge their own paths.

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