A 19-year-old from Portland, Oregon, discovered a vintage Los Angeles Lakers warm-up jacket believed to have belonged to NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain for just $3.07 at a Goodwill store.
Quinn Brown found the bright yellow jacket, which features "Chamberlain" embroidered across the back, in January at a Hillsboro Goodwill. He purchased it for a minimal price after seeing another shopper place it back in the bin.
Brown's suspicion that he had found a significant item grew after conducting online research. He shared the find on his Instagram account, which brought the jacket to the attention of Sotheby's.
Sotheby's authenticated the garment as a genuine 1972 NBA Finals jacket worn by Chamberlain during the Lakers' championship season. The auction house transported the jacket to New York for a thorough examination.
"Items from a player's last active season carry a weight that nothing else can replicate," Sotheby's stated in the jacket's listing. "When Chamberlain retired after 1972–73, the supply of things he would ever wear on an NBA court became fixed forever. This jacket is part of that fixed, finite group."
The jacket exhibits signs of wear and tear consistent with regular use during Chamberlain's final NBA season, including a small stain. Sotheby's was able to photo-match the jacket to an image of Chamberlain wearing it, noting the presence of the same imperfections.
Chamberlain, a Hall of Famer widely considered one of basketball's greatest players, led the Lakers to a title against the New York Knicks in 1972. His NBA Finals jersey from that year previously sold for $4.9 million.
Brown, who is taking a gap year before college and has pursued thrifting as a full-time endeavor, expressed his surprise and excitement at the find. He noted that he is already a Lakers fan and owns a book about Chamberlain.
The jacket is currently available for bidding through Sotheby's, with an estimated auction value of up to $250,000. Brown plans to use the proceeds to potentially retire early.
