A jersey worn by NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his dominant college years at UCLA is on track to sell for over $1 million at auction. The jersey, which Abdul-Jabbar wore as Lew Alcindor while playing for the Bruins in the late 1960s, has three weeks remaining in an auction that concludes on August 16.
Grey Flannel Auctions confirmed the authenticity of the white Sand Knit jersey through photo-matching it to games from UCLA's championship season in 1968 and a Final Four semifinal in 1969. During the 1968 national title game against North Carolina, Abdul-Jabbar scored 34 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. He followed that with a 25-point, 21-rebound, and 3-assist performance in the 1969 semifinal against Drake. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Naismith College Player of the Year Award at the end of that season.
The jersey, featuring UCLA's blue and gold trim with blue tackle twill lettering and the number "33," shows considerable wear. Auctioneers stated it is the only known jersey of its kind to be matched across multiple games and seasons. "Museum-quality collegiate jerseys of this magnitude simply do not exist," Michael Russek, Director of Operations for Grey Flannel Auctions, said in a statement. "To now conclusively tie this jersey to UCLA’s 1968 national championship game, the championship net-cutting celebration and then multiple games during the following season — including the 1969 Final Four — takes it to a level of its own."
Russek added, "It tells the story of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history through a single surviving artifact. We believe it is among the most important collegiate basketball jerseys ever offered at public auction."
Abdul-Jabbar, widely considered one of the most dominant college basketball players ever, won three national championships with UCLA, with the team compiling an 88-2 record during his career. He was not eligible to play for the varsity team as a freshman.
Abdul-Jabbar concluded his 20-year NBA career with 38,387 points, holding the league's all-time scoring record until LeBron James surpassed it in 2023. He spent the final 14 seasons of his professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships. Known for his signature skyhook, Abdul-Jabbar is nearing 80 years old and may be part of another record-breaking event with the sale of this significant piece of basketball history.