Sharmon Shaw to Karim Abdul-Jabbar to Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar

Sport: Football
Year: 1995; 2000

OK, stick with us on this one. While he was still in college, Sharmon Shaw—who was a Muslim—received the name Karim Abdul-Jabbar. When the NBA legend with nearly the same name learned of Shaw, who also happened to wear the number 33, he sued the up-and-coming running back for attempting to profit off his identity. The basketball Abdul-Jabbar won the lawsuit and Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar was born.