Why did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wear goggles?
Why did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wear goggles? – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a former professional basketball player who is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. in New York City on April 16, 1947, Abdul-Jabbar began playing basketball at a young age and quickly established himself as a dominant force on the court.
He attended Power Memorial Academy in New York, where he led his high school team to a 71-game winning streak and three straight city championships.
After high school, Abdul-Jabbar attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he continued to showcase his basketball skills. During his college career, he was a three-time All-American and helped lead UCLA to three national championships. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament in both 1967 and 1969.
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In 1969, Abdul-Jabbar was selected as the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He played for the Milwaukee Bucks for six seasons, during which time he established himself as one of the most dominant centers in the league. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1971 and was a six-time All-Star during his time with the team. In 1975, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played for the next 14 seasons and helped lead the team to five championships.
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Throughout his career, Abdul-Jabbar was known for his signature skyhook shot, which he used to great effect on the court. He was also known for his intelligent and disciplined playing style, as well as his commitment to fitness and training. Over the course of his 20-year career, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships, was named the league’s MVP six times, and was selected to the All-Star team 19 times. He retired from the NBA in 1989 with a career scoring average of 24.6 points per game, the highest of any player in league history at the time.
In addition to his success on the court, Abdul-Jabbar has also been active as an author, filmmaker, and cultural commentator. He has written several books, including a memoir and several books on history and social issues. He has also produced and directed several films and documentaries, including a film on the Harlem Renaissance and a documentary on the life of Bruce Lee.
In 1996, Abdul-Jabbar was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He has also been honored with several other awards and recognition for his contributions to the sport of basketball and his work as an activist and philanthropist.
Today, Abdul-Jabbar remains a respected and influential figure in the world of basketball and beyond.
Why did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wear goggles?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a retired professional basketball player, wore goggles as a result of a condition called keratoconus. This condition causes the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, to thin and bulge into a cone shape. This can lead to visual distortion, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light. Wearing goggles helped to protect Abdul-Jabbar’s eyes and improve his vision on the court, allowing him to perform at his best.
Keratoconus can be managed with contact lenses or surgery, but Abdul-Jabbar chose to wear protective goggles because they provided a more stable and comfortable solution for his vision needs during games. This allowed him to maintain focus and continue playing at a high level throughout his career. Abdul-Jabbar’s goggles became a recognizable part of his iconic look on the court and have since become a symbol of his toughness and perseverance.
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