Photos: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar through the years

Three-time All American Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) talks with owner Jack Kent Cooke of the NBA‘s Los Angeles Lakers just after telling the Associated Press he has agreed to sign a $1-million-plus contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. The two were talking in the Forum, March 28, 1969, in Los Angeles just before the start of a Laker-San Francisco Warriors playoff game.

(Ed Widdis / Associated Press)

May 21, 2015 12 AM PT

Photos from the life and career of Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Los Angeles Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar walks behind the fence of his Bel-Air home after a fire virtually destroyed the house in January 1983. Abdul-Jabbar had been with the Lakers in Boston.

(Mike Tweed / Associated Press)

Lakers owner Jerry Buss talks with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the locker room following a 1983 game.

(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar acknowledges the cheering fans after setting a new NBA regular season scoring record of 31,421 points during the Lakers game with the Utah Jazz on April 6, 1984 in Las Vegas. The old record was held by Wilt Chamberlain at 31,419.

(Lennox McLendon / Associated Press)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar falls away after blocking a shot by the Dallas Mavericks Jay Vincent as Lakers teammate Kurt Rambis moves in on the play that came in the first half of their second of seven NBA playoff games May 1, 1984, in Los Angeles.

(Nick Ut / Associated Press)

Kareem Abdul–Jabbar and Larry Bird exchange angry words following some rough play in Game 4 of the NBA championship series June 7, 1984.

(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

Kareem Abdul–Jabbar restrains Magic Johnson from going after the ref, as a technical foul is called on Magic in this 1985 photo.

(Joe Kennedy / Los Angeles Times)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reacts to setting a new record as the all-time NBA playoff scoring leader during the third period with the Boston Celtics in the third game of the NBA championship June 2, 1985, in Inglewood.

(Nick Ut / Associated Press)

Kareem Abdul–Jabbar presents a No. 1 Laker shirt to President Reagan at White House today as other team members watch. Said Abdul–Jabbar: “I’m not a Republican but I am one of his constituents, so we ought to suit him up the right way.”

(Bernie Boston / Los Angeles Times)

Kareem Abdul–Jabbar shoots a sky hook over Clipper Benoit Benjamin in the Lakers’ 111–82 win at the Forum.

(Mike Meadows / Los Angeles Times)

Kareem Abdul–Jabbar displays his famous “sky–hook” shot as Boston Celtics center Robert Parrish defends in this Dec. 11, 1987 photo, at the Boston Garden.

(Carol Francavilla / Associated Press)

Kareem Abdul Jabbar goes up for a skyhook, as James Donaldson of the Dallas Mavericks tries to block him, during NBA playoffs May 23, 1988, at the Forum in Inglewood. The Lakers won 113–98.

(Reed Saxon / Associated Press)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shakes hands Dec. 16, 1988, with Boston Celtics President Red Auerbach as Auerbach presents him with a piece of the floor of the Boston Garden as a memento. It was Abdul-Jabbar’s last regular season game at the Garden.

(David M. Tenenbaum / Associated Press)

Just before tipoff of the Jan. 31, 1989, game in Houston between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, Morganna the “kissing bandit” rushes to the court and places a kiss on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

(Gay Wampler / Associated Press)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA‘s all-time top scorer, gets a retirement sendoff April 23, 1989, from Los Angeles Lakers teammates at a Forum ceremony. From left, David Rivers, Mychal Thompson, Orlando Woolridge and A.C. Green.

(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

Former Laker Kareem Abdul–Jabbar had aspirations in 1997 to become an NBA coach.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

New volunteer assistant coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar passes a ball Nov. 5, 1998 at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Ariz.

(Jeff Robbins / Associated Press)

New Clippers assistant coach Kareem Abdul–Jabbar appears to have a hard time watching his new team as they struggle against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on Feb. 28, 2000.

(Vince Compagnone / Los Angeles Times)

Three NBA legends display their unique playing style in larger–than–life murals on the Hotel Figueroa. From left are Wilt Chamberlin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal.

(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers assistant coach Kareem Abdul–Jabbar gives Andrew Bynum some pointers before the game against the Seattle Supersonics at Staples Center on Nov. 3, 2006.

(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul–Jabbar acknowledges the Staples Center crowd April 15, 2007, as the announcer tells them he will be turning 60 the following day. Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Seattle Supersonics, 109–98.

(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers assistant coach and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul–Jabbar talks to reporters at the Staples Center in 2009.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers legend Earvin Magic Johnson greets his former teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before the unveiling of a statue of Abdul-Jabbar executing his trademark sky hook during a ceremony Nov. 16, 2012, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar unveils a statue of himself executing his trademark sky hook during a ceremony Nov. 16, 2012, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Former player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speaks to an audience during a memorial service for Lakers owner Jerry Buss at the Nokia Theatre on Feb. 21, 2013.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

UCLA alum and basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joins faculty on the stage before speaking to students during commencement ceremonies at Pauley Pavilion in Westwood on June 13, 2014.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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