The collectible item broker Sotheby's expects Wilt Chamberlain's 1972 NBA Finals jersey to sell for over $4 million in an upcoming auction.
Sotheby's refers to the garment Chamberlain wore in the Los Angeles Lakers' fifth game victory over the New York Knicks as the most valuable piece of memorabilia ever to appear on the market. The current record sale for a Chamberlain sports memorabilia item is $1.79 million in June 2023. It was for a jersey he wore in his rookie season with the Philadelphia Warriors.
Online bidding will take place from August 28 to September 27.
Wilt Chamberlain's jersey-worn as the @Lakers clinched their first ever title in Los Angeles-is headed to auction at #SothebysNewYork. Find out more: https://t.co/9wp9JFB75R August 2, 2023
Chamberlain was the cornerstone of the team that won the Lakers' first NBA title. Playing with a broken hand, he scored 24 points and had 29 rebounds in Game 5 against New York, and was named Finals MVP.
Chamberlain passed away at age 63 in 1999.
"This jersey holds an extraordinarily significant place in Los Angeles' history, not only adorned by the man many consider the greatest player to ever step on the court, but as a relic of one of the greatest franchises in sports history," said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's Head of Streetwear & Modern Collectables.
The jersey is offered with a collection showcasing it in magazines, newspapers, photographs, trading cards, and more. It will be on display for the public at Sotheby's Los Angeles gallery from August 2 to 31.
Chamberlain is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player. He scored 100 points in a game in 1962, a record that still stands.