The 1969 No.1 Pick and UCLA's Three-Peat: Kareem's College Dynasty

Kareem was born Lew Alcindor in 1947 in New York. By his teens he was already a nationally known giant. He went to UCLA under the legendary John Wooden and began a reign of dominance.

From 1967-69 Alcindor led UCLA to three straight NCAA championships, winning Tournament MOP twice. That UCLA team ran off an absurd 88-game win streak, with Alcindor the immovable wall in the paint. His presence even prompted the NCAA to briefly ban the dunk in 1967 (rumored to target him, though never stated).

In the 1969 draft the Milwaukee Bucks took him first overall. As a rookie he averaged 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds, won ROY, and instantly turned a moribund Bucks team into a contender. From college three-peat to pro year-one peak, Kareem barely had a "developing" phase—he arrived a ruler.

Notably, he converted to Islam in college and formally changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971. The name change also marked his shift from basketball prodigy to a public figure with convictions.