Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

This is the ball used to score the final points in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's legendary playing career between 1969 and 1989 that saw him score a record 38,387 NBA points. Inscribed by Abdul-Jabbar in black marker "Last Reg Season Game Ball 4/89" and "38,387 Pts Lifetime", the ball is accompanied by a letter of authenticity signed by him, as well as two letters of authenticity from JSA. The NBA created the annual Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Award that ensures both his professional and social-justice legacy is recognized. The award adds to the ball’s significant financial and symbolic value in the NBA. ESPN named Kareem the greatest center of all-time, the greatest player in college basketball history, and the second-best player in NBA history (behind Michael Jordan). Outside of his sporting achievements, Abdul-Jabbar was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2012 to be a U.S. global cultural ambassador. In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.