Wilt Chamberlain Lakers jersey from 1972 NBA Finals sells for record $4.9 million

Wilt Chamberlain’s 1972 NBA Finals jersey from the Los Angeles Lakers’ first ever championship in Los Angeles bought this week for $4.9 million at Sotheby’s New York. It’s formally the third-most precious NBA jersey ever bought publicly.

This iconic No. 13 gold jersey was once the primary Chamberlain championship jersey to ever seem at public sale. Only Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey ($10.1 million) and Kobe Bryant’s 2007 MVP season jersey ($5.8 million) have bought for extra.

It additionally surpassed the former record for a game-worn antique (pre-1980) NBA merchandise. The earlier record was once Chamberlain’s jersey from his rookie season with the Philadelphia Warriors, which bought for $1.79 million in June 2023.

“This jersey holds an extraordinarily significant place in the history of Los Angeles, not only adorned by the man many consider to be the greatest player ever to step on the court, but as a relic from one of the greatest franchises in sports history,” Sotheby’s head of streetwear and trendy collectibles Brahms Watcher mentioned in a remark. 

The 1971-72 season was once one for the historical past books. The Lakers received 33 consecutive video games, which remains to be the longest streak in NBA historical past. Chamberlain was once a large reason why for their good fortune. 

He wore the jersey on May 7, 1972 throughout Game 5 of the 1972 NBA finals, when he registered a double-double with 24 issues and 29 rebounds. The numbers have been spectacular, however much more so was once the truth that Chamberlain performed thru a damaged hand he suffered within the earlier sport.

Although the Lakers group had already received 5 titles in Minnesota, the 1972 championship was once the primary received for town of Los Angeles. 

Chamberlain flirted with a quadruple-double throughout Game 5 of the collection in opposition to the Knicks with 24 issues, 29 rebounds, 8 blocks and 8 assists over 47 mins at the courtroom. The Lakers received that game-clinching contest, 114-100, and lifted the trophy in entrance in their house crowd. Unsurprisingly, Chamberlain was once named the Finals MVP. 

“The Big Dipper” was once an NBA middle for 14 seasons and is continuously known as some of the largest avid gamers in historical past. He retired as a 13-time NBA All-Star, a four-time MVP and two-time NBA champion. Chamberlain registered a complete of 31,419 general issues, which on the time was once a league record. He additionally grabbed 23,924 occupation rebounds, a record that stands to at the present time.