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UCLA Bruins Basketball: Mt. Rushmore

By Evan Lovett

Jan 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of statue of former UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden before an NCAA basketball game against the Southern California Trojans at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of statue of former UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden before an NCAA basketball game against the Southern California Trojans at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former UCLA Bruins player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar waves to the crowd at half time between the Washington State Cougars and the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former UCLA Bruins player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar waves to the crowd at half time between the Washington State Cougars and the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Appearing on the UCLA campus as a John Wooden recruit after rewriting the record books as a New York City high schooler, Alcindor continued his magnificent play at the college level. Abdul-Jabbar was so dominant during his first year with the Bruins that they literally changed the rule book to disallow the slam dunk. Not one to be swayed, Alcindor’s intellect and cleverness combined to form the sky hook, a shot that would become unstoppable. He emerged as a three-time All-American with three NCAA titles and went on to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Political and acerbic, Abdul-Jabbar boycotted the Olympics due to political beliefs, and continues to be an outspoken and accomplished author and cerebral commentator on society and sports.

Jabbar continues to be honored far outside the basketball arena. In 2012, he was named a Global Cultural Ambassador for the United States by the State Department. He received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2016, and was also named to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.

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