Teen finds Wilt Chamberlain's jacket from 1972 NBA Finals at Goodwill, sells it for close to $100k

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A 19-year-old reseller turned a $3 thrift store purchase into a life-changing payday after discovering what turned out to be an authentic warm-up jacket worn by NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain.

An incredible thrift store find

Quinn Brown, who enjoys buying and reselling items online, found the vintage jacket at a Goodwill store for just over $3.

After researching the piece, he learned it was an original 1972 Los Angeles Lakers warm-up jacket associated with Chamberlain during the team's championship-winning NBA Finals season.

From thrift store to auction

The jacket was authenticated and eventually sold for nearly $100,000, turning one of the most remarkable thrift-store finds in recent memory into a massive return on investment.

Vintage sports memorabilia connected to legendary athletes like Chamberlain has become increasingly valuable, especially when provenance and authenticity can be established.

Why it's so valuable

The 1972 Lakers are one of the NBA's most iconic teams, featuring stars including:

• Wilt Chamberlain

• Jerry West

• Gail Goodrich

Memorabilia from that championship season is highly sought after by collectors.

Bottom line

What started as a $3 Goodwill purchase ended with a sale approaching $100,000, proving that extraordinary treasures can still be hiding on thrift store racks—and that careful research and authentication can make all the difference.