FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
The jersey Wilt Chamberlain was wearing when he won one of his two championships reportedly sold for $4.9 million.
According to Darren Rovell of Action Network, the jersey the big man wore for Game 5 of the 1972 NBA Finals between his Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks sold at Sotheby’s with one bid at the reserve price:
Darren Rovell @darrenrovell
Wilt Chamberlain’s 1972 NBA Finals Game 5 ‘Championship Clinching’ Game Worn Los Angeles Lakers Jersey sells for $4.9 million at @sothebys.
The jersey received one bid at the reserve price. pic.twitter.com/9xahoBiOlx
Chamberlain was the NBA Finals MVP that year and posted a double-double of 24 points and 29 rebounds in the closeout 114-100 victory. Even with players such as Walt Frazier and Jerry Lucas, the Knicks had no answers for the Hall of Fame big man.
While he is rarely mentioned alongside the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when it comes to debates about the best player in NBA history, Chamberlain was unstoppable at his peak and amassed a resume that included two championships, four MVPs, 10 All-NBA selections, seven scoring titles, 11 rebounding titles and 13 All-Star selections.
Few big men were ever as dominant as he was, and he propelled the Lakers to a title in that 1971-72 season.
And someone thought the jersey he wore while doing so was worth almost $5 million.