At a glance
- Age
- 79
- Born
- April 16, 1947
- From
- New York City
- Lives in
- New York City
- Nationality
- United States
Biography
For nearly four decades, one number in basketball belonged to him: the league's career scoring record, set in 1984 and not passed until 2023. That kind of span is the reason his name still comes up in conversations about consistency — not a hot streak, but twenty seasons of showing up as a centre in the NBA, first with the Milwaukee Bucks and then with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Born in New York City on 16 April 1947, he played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins before turning professional. The trophy list is unusual in its breadth: six Most Valuable Player awards, more than anyone else has won; 19 All-Star selections; 15 All-NBA teams; and 11 appearances on the All-Defensive team, which says something about the half of the game that rarely gets highlighted. He won six NBA championships as a player and was twice voted Finals MVP.
His involvement with winning teams did not stop when he retired from playing — he was part of two further championship sides as an assistant coach. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was named to three of the league's anniversary teams, and he is routinely placed among the best to have played the game.
Born in New York City on 16 April 1947, he played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins before turning professional. The trophy list is unusual in its breadth: six Most Valuable Player awards, more than anyone else has won; 19 All-Star selections; 15 All-NBA teams; and 11 appearances on the All-Defensive team, which says something about the half of the game that rarely gets highlighted. He won six NBA championships as a player and was twice voted Finals MVP.
His involvement with winning teams did not stop when he retired from playing — he was part of two further championship sides as an assistant coach. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was named to three of the league's anniversary teams, and he is routinely placed among the best to have played the game.
