The Milwaukee Bucks are among the favorites to win the NBA Championship this season.
It’s been a while.
The Bucks’ last title game in 1971 when Oscar Robertson joined a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Three years later, the Bucks returned to the Finals again in Robertson’s last season, coming within one victory of earning title number two. It wasn’t to be, though, and the Big O’s quest for another ring was denied. Now, the jersey he wore during that epic series against the Celtics is about to go on the auction block.
Heritage Auctions will sell Robertson’s home white #1 jersey in its February Platinum Night Auction, where it’s expected to fetch $60,000 or more. The jersey, photomatched to Game 2 of the 1974 Finals, to a regular season game against the Pistons and also to his retirement night in October of the following season, comes with a letter of authenticity from Robertson.
After losing Game 1 of the Finals, the Bucks took the Celtics to overtime in Game 2, when Robertson played a remarkable 52 minutes, scoring ten points, dishing out nine assists and adding seven rebounds to the stat sheet. Missing injured starting guard Lucius Allen, the Bucks were unable to match the Celtics’ firepower in a seven game series.
The Bucks name adorns the front of the size 42 white mesh jersey, along with Robertson’s number. His name and number are on the back. The lower left front tail holds triple “Sand Knit” labeling exhibiting heavy fading and fraying. Sand Knit was a Wisconsin-based athletic clothing manufacturer that supplied the Bucks uniforms at the time.
Bidding in the auction is expected to begin in late January and close about three weeks later.
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