A game-used Jerry West jersey, photo-matched to four games during the Los Angeles Lakers' 1969-70 season, will sell at Sotheby’s with an estimate of $750,000 to $850,000.
If achieved, that estimate would shatter the record for the most expensive piece of West memorabilia ever sold publicly.
It’s the first photo-matched West jersey to ever surface at auction, with matches from Sports Investors Authentication to Lakers' games against the New York Knicks, Cincinnati Royals, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks.
During this era, NBA players wore far fewer jerseys each season, with each often worn in many games.
West wore this jersey during a season in which he won the scoring title while averaging 31.2 points, 7.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Though no other photo-matched West jersey has sold publicly, there have been quite a few sales of jerseys believed to be worn in games by West, including one attributed to the late 1960s ($96,000 in 2012), his 1973 All-Star gamer ($88,826 in 2012) and a 1971-72 jersey sourced from West ($48,871 in 2023).
West died in June 2024 and is widely believed to be the inspiration for the NBA logo.
Though a lack of photo-matched or well-documented jerseys has prevented his game-worn market from taking off to the degree of other legends, West remains a hugely popular figure among collectors, especially Lakers fans.
His most expensive card sale belongs to a 1969 Topps PSA 10, which sold for $180,000 in July 2023.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.