- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Flipboard
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Tumblr
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says his signed Bruce Lee poster is being auctioned off against his wishes — and he’s fighting to get it back.
The former NBA star has filed a lawsuit against Julien’s Auction House to retrieve 152 personal items, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
According to Abdul-Jabbar’s suit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, he initially agreed to allow the Beverly Hills auction house to sell 400 of his items, but the deal fell through when he decided not to part with some of the memorabilia.
“After exhausting all other options, I have filed a lawsuit against Julien’s Auctions of Beverly Hills for conversion,” Abdul-Jabbar said in a statement. “They continue to illegally possess 152 pieces of my personal sports memorabilia which I own, won and have earned throughout my career. To correct a recent media story, Julien’s has not obtained any prior judgments against me personally, nor do I personally owe them anything. While I much prefer to be on a basketball court, Julien’s has forced me into Superior Court to obtain the return of my personal property. I have faith in the judicial process and fully expect to win this dispute.”
PHOTOS: Bruce Lee’s Personal Belongings to Be Auctioned Off
Among the items Abdul-Jabbar wants back is a signed poster for Game of Death, the 1973 film he made with Lee. Other items include a McDonald’s “Top Faces of Black History” Award, five pairs of Los Angeles Lakers sweatpants and a script for Chevy Chase‘s 1985 comedy Fletch.
“Julien’s Auctions recently prevailed in an arbitration against one of Mr. Jabbar’s companies, KAJ Lifetime Retirement Collection LLC,” Julien’s said in a statement. “That company, not Mr. Jabbar, entered into a valid consignment agreement for the items at issue. The arbitrator found that the consignment agreement was valid. Julien’s Auctions vigorously disputes Mr. Jabbar’s contentions. Julien’s Auctions is also pursuing claims against Mr. Jabbar’s business associate and her company.”
PHOTOS Hollywood’s 100 Favorite Films
Abdul-Jabbar recently told THR that fans still consistently ask him questions about working with Lee, even more than they do about his time in the NBA. (See him talk about the late martial artist here.)
Email: Aaron.Couch@THR.com
Twitter: @AaronCouch
Related Stories
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day