Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Had a Different Name and Religion before She Met Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - More abou

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr., Sultana Abdul-Jabbar and Habiba Alcindor | Source: Getty Images

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's ex-wife, Habiba Abdul-Jabbar, changed her name and converted to Islam after meeting the former NBA player. After their marriage ended, Kareem, who rarely spoke about his marriage to Habiba, admitted that he was not as supportive as he should have been while they were married.

Habiba is the basketball legend's first and only wife and mother of his three children. Despite having a well-known husband, very little is known about the former California State student. And Habiba's life became more of a mystery after her divorce from Kareem.

After releasing his documentary, "Kareem: Minority of One," Kareem refrained from speaking about his ex-wife. However, during a rare interview, Habiba said she understood why Kareem "sacrificed" his family for his career.

Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Had Another Name before She Met Kareem

Before meeting Kareem, Habiba's name was Janice Brown. She was a student at California State and dated fellow basketball player Cliff Anderson. Kareem and Habiba met through Cliff, who stopped at her house one night to pick her up.

In his book "Giant Steps," Kareem wrote that he remembered where she lived and spontaneously decided to visit her. He wrote:

"We talked; I invited her to come see UCLA play, and she said okay. I started calling her, and we began going out."

Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Was Not the Only One Kareem Was Interested In

After their relationship blossomed, Kareem took Habiba to a party she did not enjoy. He figured she had feelings for him but was not keen on his friends. This led to them losing touch. They reunited at the end of summer after Habiba visited an old friend from high school in New York. It was like no time had passed.

Kareem was a devout Muslim and, under the advisement of his religion, needed to marry a fellow Muslim woman. When he asked Habiba to consider converting to Islam, she agreed.

She changed her name, moved to D.C, found a job, and became a member of the Muslim community. However, during this time, Kareem developed feelings for another woman. He said:

"At the same time I was seeing Habiba, I met another young lady. We went out, phoned each other often (and) started building a relationship."

Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Son posing for a picture on November 8, 2006 | Source: Getty Images

Kareem was conflicted as he had feelings for both women. So, he turned to a prominent figure in his religion for advice. Kareem trusted his judgment and wrote in his book that he did not argue when his mentor told him to marry Habiba.

Kareem and Habiba Separated after Their First Child but Had Two More

Habiba and Kareem were married on May 28, 1971. He described the day to be a dreadful one. Per Islamic rules, his parents were not allowed into the room where they held the ceremony.

They had traveled at night from New York, and Kareem admitted that his parents' absence was not how he had envisioned his big day. After their wedding ceremony, Habiba did not get to spend her night with her husband as he had left. Kareem wrote:

"I felt numb all day. (I) accepted congratulations, praised Allah- (I) felt like I wasn't there. As soon as the reception was over, I left."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his children at the opening of the Conga Room on December 10, 2008, in California | Source: Getty Images

The former NBA player said their first year of marriage was pleasant. Habiba learned how to cook his favorite meals, practiced Islamic prayer, kept the house clean, and welcomed their first child. But things started to worsen. Kareem admitted to demanding a lot from Habiba and offering her no support.

By December 1973, Habiba and Kareem were no longer living together and decided to separate. Habiba took their daughter and moved to Washington, D.C.; sometimes, Kareem would visit.

During one of his visits, she fell pregnant for the second time with their first son. During their marriage, they had three children but remained separated. They divorced in 1978.

After Her Divorce, Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Remarried

After her relationship with Kareem ended, Habiba found love again and remarried in 1986. In 1988, she had a fourth child. While reflecting on her marriage to Kareem, Habiba said:

"You sacrifice a lot to get where he is. And he, at one point, sacrificed his family. I realize now it was something he had to do."

After the release of his movie in 2015, critics were surprised Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did not speak much about his marriage. However, the exes proved they were on good terms and showed their support for their daughter during the premiere of one of her projects.

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