Abdul-Jabbar auctioning 4 title rings to support his charity

Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar put four of his six championship rings up for auction along with hundreds of other pieces of memorabilia from his historic basketball career to support his charity - the Skyhook Foundation.

The 71-year-old legend added that the decision is not due to any personal financial distress.

"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 on his website.

"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."

Of his six NBA championships, Abdul-Jabbar is selling rings from 1980, 1985, 1987, and 1988 - all with the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition, he's included multiple MVP trophies and the Spalding basketball used when he scored the last of his NBA-record 38,387 career points.

His 1971 championship ring with the Milwaukee Bucks and 1982 ring with the Lakers were not included in the auction.

Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time MVP, 19-time All-Star, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players ever - both at the collegiate and professional level.