Wilt Chamberlain’s Philadelphia Warriors rookie home uniform sells at auction for $1.79 million

SCP Auctions says the jersey and shorts that Chamberlain wore during the 1959-60 season were sold to filmmaker Rob Gough.

Associated Press

June 19, 2023

Wilt Chamberlain, the towering Philadelphia Warriors center, stretches for a basket against the Los Angeles Lakers, Feb. 28, 1961 at the Philadelphia Arena. (AP Photo/Warren M. Winterbottom)

Wilt Chamberlain’s home uniform from his rookie season with the Philadelphia Warriors has sold at auction for $1.79 million.

SCP Auctions says the jersey and shorts that Chamberlain wore during the 1959-60 season were sold to filmmaker Rob Gough, and that Saturday’s sale price was a record for any vintage game-worn basketball item.

The uniform was collected from Chamberlain himself in the mid-1970s, the auction house said.

WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Chamberlain was both MVP and rookie of the year that season, in which he averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds per game.

“The market for premium game-worn memorabilia remains strong, as shown by this sale of Wilt’s rookie uniform,” SCP President David Kohler said. “His unfathomably great rookie season was record-breaking and will always be remembered.”

WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.