Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Auctioning His NBA Memorabilia for Charity

NBA all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has decided to auction several hundred pieces of career memorabilia to benefit his charity. - Getty Images

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has never been your average human being. So it should've come as no surprise when the NBA's all-time leading scorer announced he was auctioning hundreds of career memorabilia items including four championship rings.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit Jabbar's charity "STEM" which introduces young children to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

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NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announces his intent to auction hundreds of pieces of memorabilia for charity.

In a day and age where athletes are either chasing a dollar or a ring, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is getting rid of both.

Jabbar -- who has never been motivated by worldly possessions -- has announced his intentions to auction off hundreds of pieces of career memorabilia to benefit his charity STEM which is under his Skyhook Foundation. The program introduces Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to children. Jabbar spoke of his latest philanthropic gesture.

"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,"

"Looking back on what I have done with my life, instead of gazing at the sparkle of jewels or gold plating celebrating something I did a long time ago, I'd rather look into the delighted face of a child holding their first caterpillar and think about what I might be doing for their future.". "That's a history that has no price.".

Some of the items up for auction include All-Star rings that Abdul-Jabbar earned over his prolific career, a game-used, signed basketball, and Abdul-Jabbar's MVP trophy from 1975-76. The basketball memorabilia is going for a minimum of $35,000, while the 1985 championship ring's minimum bid was $65,000. That price has since ballooned to $85,000.

Here is a list of the items being auctioned by Goldin Auctions.

Jabbar rejected any notion the auction was due to financial hardship by stating he is on a "solid financial path".

"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," Abdul-Jabbar 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 five days in the Angeles National Forest to experience the wonders of nature and learn the basics about science, technology, and engineering.".

Jabbar recently praised current Los Angeles Laker LeBron James for his philanthropy and sense of urgency to create social change.

"To laud anyone as a cultural hero, that person would also have to embody as well as promote some of the core values of that culture. LeBron has done that through his outspoken political and social advocacy, especially in support of racial equality. But beyond just talking, he has taken positive actions to better the community and country. This was demonstrated when Fox News’ Laura Ingraham famously reacted to an ESPN interview with LeBron in which he discussed, among many other topics, politics, by complaining, “It’s always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball. Keep the political comments to yourselves. … Shut up and dribble.”

Instead of just engaging in a social media war, he turned her lame insult into a three-part documentary series for Showtime called Shut Up and Dribble, which explores the evolving role of athletes in today’s divisive political climate. Over the years, LeBron has added his voice to the many athletes of conscience who wish to call attention to social injustices in order to eradicate them."

Jabbar speaks of the media driven "GOAT" debates and how they flow through the media like a "nasty STD". If you happen to catch one of these exhausting debates, the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar rarely gets mentioned. By giving of himself in this and other humanitarian efforts since his retirement, it's safe to say Jabbar has one-upped the field.

A point which isn't up for debate.