This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2014
The 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers compiled a 49-33 record, earning the team a third seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Blazers, led by Bill Walton and the newly-acquired Maurice Lucas of the ABA, defeated the Chicago Bulls and the Denver Nuggets before facing the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Without blinking an eye, the Blazers swept the Lakers, led by center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in four straight contests. The impressive sweep gave the Portland bunch all the confidence they needed to face Julius “Dr. J” Erving and the Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals.
After losing the first two games of the series, Portland battled back and won the crown in six games. Center Bill Walton helped the Blazers bring home Portland’s only NBA Championship with one of the best all-around performances in NBA Finals history by averaging 18.7 points, 19 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.7 blocks per game. In doing so, Portland became just the second team in NBA Finals history to overcome a 2-0 series deficit. This size 11, 14k gold ring weighs 40 grams. It was presented to team trainer Ron Culp. The top panel reads “NBA WORLD CHAMPIONS” surrounding a silver basketball with a .75-carat round-cut diamond in the center. The right panel reads “CULP” above “PORTLAND”, the Blazers team logo and “trailblazers” in relief. The left panel reads “1977” in relief surrounding the casted image of the official NBA logo enameled in black. The inside of the ring is engraved to “Ron Culp” and stamped “Balfour 14K”. The ring is in NRMT condition.
Includes Letter of Authenticity from Ron Culp.