The 2001-02 NBA season proved to be the pinnacle of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaq/Kobe era, as they swept the New Jersey Nets in four straight games in the NBA Finals. In doing so, the Lakers became only the third NBA franchise to win three straight championships, joining the Boston Celtics from the 1960s and the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s. Shaquille O'Neal, who averaged 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in the Finals, was named the NBA Finals MVP for the third consecutive year, joining Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson as the only players with three. This lot features a 2002 Los Angeles Lakers (3-Peat) NBA Championship 14-karat gold ring awarded to Chuck Rendelman, a close personal friend of the Lakers General Manager, Mitch Kupchak.
The gold and diamond ring is made to the exact specifications of the player versions issued to Shaq, Kobe, etc. It showcases a beautiful "Pyramid” design, presumably a nod to the iconic triangle offense that the team famously ran. The face features a purple gemstone triangle surrounded by the words "BACK BACK BACK" to commemorate the L.A.'s "Three-Peat." Three other triangular diamonds are also set against a background of smaller diamonds, a total of 2.45 carats. "LAKERS WORLD CHAMPIONS" is embossed around the top. The right shank is embossed with the Lakers logo, "Slam Dunk," "2002" and the image of a microphone with the name "Chick" -- a salute to long time Lakers play-by-play man Chick Hearn who passed away after the season. The left shank is embossed with "RENDELMAN" and both the season "58-24" and playoff “15-4" records on each side of the NBA logo. "14K" is stamped inside the band. The original 7" x 5" x 3 1/4" mahogany wood presentation box is included with a specially engraved gold plaque on top reading “2002 WORLD CHAMPIONS LOS ANGELES LAKERS CHARLES RENDELMAN” positioned on either side of the team logo. The size 9 ring, which weighs 64 grams, is in excellent overall condition.
The consignor has generously agreed to donate all auction proceeds to Positive Recovery Services, an alcohol and drug treatment center in Germantown, MD (http://www.positiverecoveryservices.com).