Habiba Abdul-Jabbar is the former wife of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA icon who played twenty seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Kareem’s name sits high in basketball history — six MVP awards, nineteen All-Star appearances, and six championships made him one of the game’s most dominant figures. He even held the NBA scoring record for nearly four decades until LeBron James passed him in 2023.
Habiba first met Kareem during one of his Laker games, and the connection soon led to marriage in 1971. Their relationship lasted seven years and brought them three children, but it eventually ended in divorce. While Kareem went on to live much of his life in the spotlight, Habiba chose a quieter path. Reports suggest the former celebrity spouse later remarried and welcomed another child.
Here’s the story of Habiba Abdul-Jabbar, her marriage to Kareem, and what life looked like after their separation.
Who Is Habiba Abdul-Jabbar?
Habiba, born Janice Brown, is known as a fashion designer. She took on her new name after converting to Islam during her marriage to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
She studied at Oberlin College, graduating with a degree in Creative Writing in 1997. Some reports indicate Habiba also attended California State University, Los Angeles.
Early Life and Religion
She was born in October 1947. While many outlets have linked her roots to New York, other reports suggest Habiba may have been born in Los Angeles.
She is American and was raised in a White American family. After marrying Kareem, Jancie moved with him to Washington, D.C. and began learning about Islam.
Kareem once spoke about how her faith developed during that time. “I asked her if she would consider looking into religion. She said yes, though I’m sure her interest was more in me than in Islam, and the summer she studied in Washington,” the NBA legend recalled. “Very quickly she responded strongly to the religion, moved permanently to D.C., got a job and became part of the community.”
How Did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Meet His Ex-Wife Habiba Abdul-Jabbar?
Abdul-Jabbar first met his future wife, Habiba at a Lakers game during his senior year at UCLA. He remembered their first encounter clearly, describing her as “bright, pleasant, a senior at Cal State.”
A few months later, Kareem decided to take a chance and stopped by her house. Not long after, he invited her to watch UCLA play, and the two began spending more time together. By the time he graduated, their relationship had already grown close.
They Married in 1971
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Habiba married on May 28, 1971, in a mosque in Washington, D.C., in a private ceremony attended by close friends and family. However, the day carried a painful moment for Habiba. Despite her conversion to Islam and taking the name Habiba Abdul-Jabbar, her parents were not allowed inside the mosque because of their Catholic faith.
They had traveled from New York to witness their only child’s wedding. Instead, they were forced to wait outside. The exclusion created a rift between Habiba’s family and Kareem’s. Even Kareem admitted he had not understood such restrictions as a new convert. He felt remorse over the situation. In the years that followed, he often acknowledged his in-laws on television, sending greetings with the words, “Hi to Moms and Pops in New York.”
Their Divorce
The marriage between Habiba and Kareem began to unravel only a few years after their wedding. While Kareem was studying at Harvard, the couple spent long stretches apart, and by 1973 Habiba had already separated from him for a time. Their differences continued to grow, and although they reconciled briefly, the relationship never fully recovered.
In 1978, while Habiba was three months pregnant with their daughter Sultana, Kareem requested a divorce. The marriage was first dissolved through a religious ceremony, and Sultana was born in April 1979. Habiba eventually moved back to Los Angeles and pursued a civil divorce, which was finalized in March 1983.
They Have Three Children
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with his former wife Habiba, shares three children together. Their first daughter, Habiba Alcindor, was born in 1972. Four years later, in 1976, they welcomed a son, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr., who later went on to play basketball at Valparaiso before transferring to Western Kentucky. Their youngest, Sultana Abdul-Jabbar, was born in 1979, just as her parents’ marriage was nearing its end.
After the split, Habiba raised her three children largely on her own. Kareem later expanded his family outside of the marriage. He began an affair with a woman named Cheryl Pistono and welcomed a son named Amir in 1980. He is also the father of another son named Adam.
Habiba Has Also Remarried
After her divorce from Kareem, Habiba eventually found love again. In 1986, she remarried and later welcomed another child with her second husband, Mr. Herbert. Their son, Sean Herbert, was born in 1988.
Where Is Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Now?
Today, she lives in View Park, Los Angeles, California. She has built a private life away from the spotlight, surrounded by her family.
