Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired from the NBA following the 1988-89 season. When he finally hung up his jersey, he was the league’s all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points to his name. A 7’ 2” center with a devastating skyhook, he led UCLA to three consecutive NCAA titles (1967 to ’69) before starting a professional career that saw him win six NBA championships, with five of those league titles claimed while he was starring for the Los Angeles Lakers (1980, ’82, ’85, 87 and ’88). His first title came as a member of the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks.
This lot features an amazing piece of jewelry that’s connected to the Los Angeles Lakers first five world championships (1972, ’80, ’82, ’85 and ’87) following their move from Minneapolis. It’s a specially crafted “Drive for Five” 14K gold ladies’ ring that mirrors the same design the Laker players were awarded after defeating the Boston Celtics in six games in the 1986-87 NBA Finals. Abdul-Jabbar had it made for a very close friend of his by the name of Brenda Venus, a former model/actress and Playboy columnist who is now a best-selling author on how to please your partner. She has quite an impressive IMDb page. Photos of this voluptuous dark-haired beauty, including one of her wearing this very ring, are attached.
The ring (size 6 ¾) weighs 14 grams and boasts five real diamonds rest on the top surrounded by raised lettering that reads: "1987 World Champion Lakers." One shank reads "DRIVE FOR FIVE", "LA 4 BOS 2", and the Lakers logo, while the other shank includes "VENUS", "72 80 82 85", and a red-and-blue enamel NBA logo. The inside band is engraved "14K JOSTENS.
Includes Letter of Provenance from Brenda Venus. The original notarized letter documenting the provenance of both this ring and Kareem's shoes (Lot 835) will go with the shoes.