This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2015
Long before he was a contributing member of the Los Angeles Lakers ‘Showtime” era, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, a seven-time NBA All-Star, a three-time NBA champion and the 1988 NBA Finals MVP, “Big Game James” Worthy was a 6’ 9” power forward for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. After helping UNC reach the NCAA Championship game as a sophomore, Worthy returned as a junior and led the team in scoring (15.6 points per game). Teaming with future NBA superstars Sam Perkins and freshman Michael Jordan, he helped the Dean Smith-coached club back to the NCAA title game and this time won it by defeating a highly touted Georgetown team, 63-62. The Tar Heels finished the season with a final record of 32-2 and Worthy decided to forego his senior year to enter the 1982 NBA Draft. The Lakers selected him with the No. 1 overall pick and his prolific, 12-year NBA career was set in motion.
This lot features Worthy’s autographed and game-worn 1982 UNC Tar Heels jersey from that most memorable season, one in which he was also named the NCAA Player of the Year. The size 42 white UNC jersey with powder blue trim shows substantial game use and is essentially problem-free, with no alterations of any kind. Only some fraying of the numbers and letters on the jersey is evident. On the front left tail is the sewn-on “Medalist Sand-Knit” manufacturer’s tags noting the jersey size and washing instructions. On the front is “NORTH CAROLINA” in powder blue vinyl letters encircling the player number “52,” which also appears in much larger (seven-inch) vinyl numbers on the back. His last name “WORTHY” is sewn across the back of the jersey in powder blue vinyl letters. Worthy has signed his name in black marker and added the inscription “#52” on the top portion of the number “5” on the back of the jersey. It’s a great signature that rates a 8-9/10 in our book. A very special piece of sports memorabilia from one of the most-talked-about NCAA championship games in basketball history.
Includes LOA from James Worthy. Worthy's LOA incorrectly describes the jersey as a MacGregor product, when it is actually a Medalist Sand-Knit product. Medalist Sand-Knit was bought by MacGregor in 1984. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA (auto.).