Where is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's ex-wife from? Looking at the personal and professional life of Habiba Abdul-Jabbar

Habiba Abdul-Jabbar played a big role in the life of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a basketball legend. She was married to the six-time NBA champion during the early years of his impressive professional career.

Like Kareem, Habiba wasn't born a Muslim. She converted her religion and changed her name shortly after meeting the basketball player. Habiba Abdul-Jabbar was also portrayed in "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty," a popular HBO series.

This article will reveal everything we know about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's ex-wife. We will take a closer look at their marriage and their children and reveal some interesting details regarding their lives.

Habiba Abdul-Jabbar married Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was drafted with the first pick in the 1969 NBA draft and became a superstar right away. Prior to playing in the professional basketball league, the 7-foot-2 star player spent a few years playing basketball for UCLA.

He met Habiba at a LA Lakers game during his senior year at UCLA. The two tied the knot in 1971, after Kareem's second season with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's first marriage took place in 1971.

As many NBA fans are aware, Kareem was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.. However, he converted to Islam at the age of 24, changing his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which means "noble one, servant of the Almighty."

Interestingly, Abdul-Jabbar's ex-wife also wasn't born a Muslim. Like Kareem, she was a Christian and her name was Janice Brown. However, she changed her name to Habiba Abdul-Jabbar when she married the basketball star.

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Her conversion caused a rift with her parents, who reportedly weren't allowed to enter the mosque where her wedding took place.

Abdul-Jabbar attended UCLA before getting into the NBA.

Habiba Abdul-Jabbar and Kareem have three children together. Their two daughters are named Habiba and Sultana, while their only son is named after his father.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr., born in 1976, played professional basketball from 1995 to 2011. He played in many leagues throughout his career, but was never able to make it to the NBA.

Habiba is best known for being a fashion designer and the ex-wife of the basketball legend.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's divorce

Unfortunately, Abdul-Jabbar's marriage to Habiba fell apart. It lasted for less than a decade as their divorce was finalized in 1978. The two were separated from 1973 to 1978.

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Abdul-Jabbar won his first championship in 1971.

There are rumors of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar being pressured to marry Habiba, which eventually led to marital problems.

The six-time NBA champion met Cheryl Pistono in 1977 and she reportedly talked him into filing for divorce from his estranged wife. Kareem and Cheryl stayed together until 1984.