Yo, did you hear about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar putting up four of his NBA championship rings for auction back in 2019? ESPN reported that Jabbar’s rings, along with other memorabilia, were being auctioned off to raise money for his Skyhook Foundation, which helps kids interested in science, math, engineering, and technology.
Can you believe that included in the auction was an autographed basketball used during his final game in 1989? That’s some serious history right there!
But you know what Jabbar said about it? “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.”
And you know what? I gotta respect that. Instead of just admiring his own achievements, Jabbar wants to help kids have a better future. He said, “Much of the proceeds from my auction will go to support my charity, the Skyhook Foundation, whose mission is to ‘give kids a shot that can’t be blocked.’ We do this by sending children from economically challenged schools to spend five days in the Angeles National Forest to experience the wonders of nature and learn the basics about science, technology, and engineering.”
Some of those championship rings started at $60,000, and there were game-worn jerseys and trophies up for grabs too. But you know what? For Jabbar, it’s not about the money or the fame. “Since my life is still happening and ever-evolving, I am less personally attached to those items than I am to my desire to create new history for myself — and futures for others,” he said.
Jabbar won six NBA championships—five with the Lakers and one with the Milwaukee Bucks. He held the NBA scoring title for 39 years until LeBron James broke the record back in February. But for Jabbar, it’s not about the records or the accolades. It’s about making a difference in the lives of others. And that’s something that can’t be measured in rings or trophies or records.
