NBA Wordle #26
Friday, July 31, 2026 · already played
The answer
Spoiler for the puzzle of Friday, July 31, 2026. Today's puzzle is not revealed anywhere on this page.
ABDUL-JABBAR
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
C · 1969–1989
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 20 seasons between 1969 and 1989, across 2 franchises — Bucks and Lakers. Over 1,560 regular-season games he averaged 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists, finishing with 38,387 career points. He was 6× MVP, 2× Finals MVP, 19× All-Star, 15× All-NBA, Rookie of the Year, 6× champion and member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
He entered the league in the 1969 draft, taken first overall, with everything that expectation carries. That makes him a product of the 1960s, and his career totals should be read against the pace and rules of that period.
Across a unusually long career of 20 seasons he was a primary scoring option at 24.6 points per game. On the glass he was among the players a team could build a defence around.
- Games
- 1,560
- PPG
- 24.6
- RPG
- 11.2
- APG
- 3.6
- Points
- 38,387
- Rebounds
- 17,440
- Assists
- 5,660
- 3PM
- 1
Teams
- Bucks · 1970–1975
- Lakers · 1976–1989
Honours
6× MVP · 2× Finals MVP · 19× All-Star · 15× All-NBA · 11× All-Defensive · Rookie of the Year · 6× NBA champion · NBA 75th Anniversary Team
About the answer
The answer was ABDUL-JABBAR — 11 letters, including a hyphen that was shown as a locked tile from the start, made up of 7 distinct letters and beginning with A.
The optional hint offered that day read: “24.6 career PPG · 19× All-Star”.
Why this was a fair answer
Answers are never obscure by design: the pool is every NBA All-Star who debuted in the 1969-70 season or later, plus current players carrying a real scoring role. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar qualifies on the first route, with 19 All-Star selections — one of the most decorated players of his generation. He was later named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
With 2 franchises on his record, the shared-team clue was a genuine filter rather than a giveaway. The debut arrow was the fastest way in: anyone opening with a modern player would have been sent back decades immediately. The 6 championship rings were another strong signal — most of the pool has none.
Play it yourself
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