By Gary Symons, TLL Editor in Chief
NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announced this week his first-ever partnership with the estate of his dear friend, the late martial arts phenomenon Bruce Lee. The collaboration between these two iconic athletes and advocates for social justice kicks off with the release of a limited edition t-shirt on Nov. 27, which would have been Bruce Lee’s 80th birthday.
“We had an unlikely friendship—a 7’2” basketball player and a 5’8” martial artist—but we had a shared interest in music, the arts, philosophy, and improving the lives of people who looked like us,” said Abdul-Jabbar. “We believe that tackling systemic racism starts with making a friend who doesn’t look like you and creating empathy for others. That’s what we’re hoping to promote with our social justice champion/social justice warrior efforts.”
Most people don’t know that Abdul-Jabbar, one of the best basketball players in NBA history, was also an accomplished martial artist. He met Bruce Lee in Los Angeles while studying and playing at UCLA, and studied Jeet Kune Do with the Master himself. Last year he recalled in an article in the Hollywood Reporter, “I first met Bruce when I was a student at UCLA looking to continue my martial arts studies, which I started in New York City. We quickly developed a friendship as well as a student-teacher relationship. He taught me the discipline and spirituality of martial arts, which was greatly responsible for me being able to play competitively in the NBA for 20 years with very few injuries.”
Abdul-Jabar played with the Milwaukee Bucks from 1969 to 1975 and led them to an NBA championship, and then returned to LA to play with the legendary Lakers from 1975 to 1989. It was during these years he rekindled his friendship with the world-famous martial arts actor, resulting in his getting a key part in the fight scene in 1978 in what is still probably his most famous role. Abdul-Jabbar, who was perhaps as famous for his off-court personality as for his on-court accomplishments, as a villain in the film “Game of Death.” You can see that famous scene from Game of Death HERE, where it’s obvious Abdul-Jabbar really is a well-trained martial artist in his own right.
Tragically, Lee died before the film was completed, and it was never finished or released at the time, but that video was release and became one of Lee’s best known fight scenes. Years later Jackie Chan paid homage to Lee by parodying the scene in his 1993 movie City Hunter, and in last year’s John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum the lead actor Keanu Reeves paid tribute in a fight scene with NBA player Boban Marjanović. Also last year producer Alec Canvan premiered a newly edited version of Game of Death using the original footage.
(Editor’s Note: At the time the original video came out, I was studying martial arts myself, taking Karate and Judo with a former US Marine, and I think I’ve watched every Bruce Lee movie ever made. I never forgot the fight scene between Abdul-Jabbar and Lee, which rightly showed how hard it is for someone who is 5’8″ to fight an opponent with the reach of a 7’2″ basketball star. Years later I recalled that scene when I had to fight a 6’8″ martial artist to get my own black belt. Like Bruce Lee, I won, but went home with a lot of bruises!)
Now, many years later, the estate and family of Bruce Lee are working with Abdul-Jabar to share a message of friendship and unity in a time when America is roiled by racial, social and political divisions.
“My father made martial arts an international phenomenon and made millions of friends who didn’t look like him along the way,” said Shannon Lee, Bruce’s daughter. “This partnership is a tribute to his legacy and the inspiration he—and Kareem—continue to be when it comes to uniting our global community.”
Lee and Abdul Jabbar are working with Iconomy, LLC to bring that message to the world, along with a line of branded products starting with a limited edition ‘social justice’ t-shirt that goes on sale Black Friday, Nov. 27.
“Iconomy, LLC is launching a ground-breaking partnership between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bruce Lee Enterprises,” said Deborah Morales, CEO of Iconomy. “A collaboration of this caliber—fusing sports, culture, and leadership—embodies the Iconomy mission of helping icons go from success to significance, and will open the door to more impactful partnerships.”
The tribute video can be seen by clicking on this link: https://bit.ly/32OqkUU The limited edition social justice t-shirt goes on sale Nov. 27 at kareemabduljabbar.com.
Anyone interested in licensing and co-branding opportunities can contact Deborah Morales at deborah@iconomy.com