YouTube Gold: Lew Alcindor’s UCLA Debut

Lew Alcindor Jr (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) jumps for a ball during a game between UCLA vs Oregon basketball game, Oregon, 1966. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images) | Getty Images Before he was known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lew Alcindor electrified the basketball world with his debut for UCLA. It wasn’t a surprise.

He had been a high school sensation that Wilt Chamberlain took under his wing. Everyone was after him, even many southern schools that were just beginning to integrate. Ultimately, he chose to leave New York City and go across the country to join John Wooden’s rising UCLA dynasty.

As a freshman, he led the UCLA frosh to a 75-60 exhibition win over the varsity, scoring 31 points and 21 rebounds. And in his varsity debut, Kareem scored 32 points – in the first half. He would go on to score 56, which is not a bad way to kick off your career.

Incidentally, this looks like a newsreel, a format designed for theaters that survived into the mid-60’s. Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line