An August 22 court date was set...

An August 22 court date was set for the Lakers’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was charged with one count each of misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor criminal damage from an alleged shoving incident at a Phoenix shopping mall last April, according to Tyler Rich, a Phoenix assistant city attorney.

Fernando Nicolia claimed that Abdul-Jabbar, in Phoenix for a game against the Suns, struck him and broke his video camera as Nicolia was videotaping the basketball star at a shopping mall.

According to the police report, Abdul-Jabbar said Nicolia would not move out of his way, so he brushed the camera aside in order to pass. Abdul-Jabbar denied touching Nicolia.

Leonard Armato, Abdul-Jabbar’s Los Angeles attorney, had said previously that the incident had been blown out of proportion and that he had advised Abdul-Jabbar not to comment on the allegations.