Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The world may never again see an athlete dominate a sport for as long and as masterfully as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. From the time he stepped onto the court as Lew Alcindor at Power Memorial High School in his native New York City, to the years he owned college basketball at UCLA, to the time he retired as the NBA's all-time leader in nine statistical categories including the most points in NBA history, the 7-foot-2-inch cerebral center established himself as one of the game's most talented and recognizable figures. Abdul-Jabbar's trademark skyhook was so precise that he left defenders helpless, and the Captain's signature move is now widely considered basketball's most classic and lethal offensive weapon. He lofted the graceful shot over outstretched hands for the better part of four decades bringing finesse and agility to the center position, traits he substituted for brute force and strength. While scoring was the means, the end was always wins and Abdul-Jabbar won at every level during his prolific career.