SerpApi.Org
One Oregon teenager’s love for thrifting has paid off in a big way.
Quinn Brown reportedly found a 1972 NBA Finals warmup jacket worn by Wilt Chamberlain in January while scouring a Goodwill store outside Portland. According to Claire Rush of the Associated Press, Brown paid just $3.07 for the iconic piece of memorabilia.
Brown, an avid online reseller of used clothes, recounted spotting a fellow thrifter throw a large Lakers shirt with “Chamberlain” emblazoned on it back on a pile of used clothing. Shortly after, he was checking out the item at the counter.
After three years of combing through thrift stores for potential items of value, Brown found his holy grail.
On Monday, the warmup jacket sold at auction for $89,600 after receiving 48 bids. The teen could have gotten even more money, given that Sotheby’s estimated the item’s value at “between $150,000 and $250,000.”
“I didn’t even think that finding something like this was possible,” Brown said. “I got very, very lucky.”
Brown was able to photo-match the warmup jacket with a snapshot he found on Google of Chamberlain wearing it. He also looked up the measurements of a similar Chamberlain item, and they lined up with his $3.07 score.
Sotheby’s reportedly contacted Brown about putting the item up for auction after he posted it on social media. The auction house was then able to verify the item as well: it was real.
Chamberlain was named MVP of the 1972 NBA Finals, which the Los Angeles Lakers won over the New York Knicks 4-1. How a warmup jersey from that series ended up in a Portland thrift store is a mystery that probably won’t ever be solved.
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