Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Puts Basketball Memorabilia On Auction Block To Benefit STEM Education

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Former Lakers superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is auctioning off some of his signature artifacts from his NBA career for the kids.

The basketball star’s jerseys, NBA championship rings, and even his signature goggles are going on the auction block for his charity, the Skyhook Foundation, which helps kids learn more about science, technology, engineering and math.

“We do this by sending children from economically challenged schools to five days in the Angeles National Forest to experience the wonders of nature,” he wrote in a blog post announcing the auction.

“When it comes to choosing between storing a championship ring or trophy in a room, or providing kids with an opportunity to change their lives, the choice is pretty simple. Sell it all,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote.



Abdul-Jabbar’s basketball memorabilia, which spans his career from high school to his time with the Showtime Lakers, is up for auction through goldinauctions.com. For a link to Kareem’s official website, click here.

One of the most popular items so far is a game used, signed and inscribed Spalding basketball used for Abdul-Jabbar’s last points of his career. The item has drawn eight bids, with the current bid at $85,000.

Abdul-Jabbar told CBS2’s Michelle Gile that just owning a lot of stuff felt kind of hollow.

“I feel a lot better that I use these things in a way that benefits people,” he said.

Abdul-Jabbar is also taking his legacy very seriously.

“It’s nice having a great sports legacy,” he says, “but I can leave a legacy of giving back to my community through this program. The program is working.”

The auction closes Saturday. (March 2, 2019)

Original post at LosAngeles.CBSLocal.com