This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2020
By 1955, Clyde Lovellette’s imposing 6’-9” frame, aggressive style of play and his pioneering use of the one-handed set shot made him one of the NBA’s brightest stars. That season, 1955-56, the Minneapolis center averaged 21.5 points per game and led the league with 14.0 rebounds per game. For his breakout season, Lovellette was voted to represent the Western Conference in the 1956 NBA All-Star Game. Held January 24, 1956 in Rochester’s War Memorial Coliseum, the game was renowned for the play of the West’s reserve forward Bob Pettit, who came off the bench to score 20 points and narrowly missing a triple-double. Lovellette got in 20 minutes of play, scoring seven points and recording 10 rebounds in the West’s 108-94 rout of the Easterners. Clyde Lovellette would be voted to the following year’s All-Star Game as well as the 1960 and 1961 mid-season classics. Worn during the 1956 All-Star Game, the white jersey has Lovellette’s number “34” in blue tackle twill surrounded by six red tackle twill stars. The arm and neck openings are ringed with red, white and blue ribbing. The back of the All-Star jersey repeats the front design, albeit with a larger number “34” and a different configuration of red stars. A size 46 Wilson label is sewn inside the rear tail of the jersey. The piece shows great game use, with toning throughout the garment. As you would expect from a player known for his all-out physically rough playing style, Lovellette’s jersey exhibits several prominent stains, most noticeably on the back and the stomach area of the front. The matching shorts have a red, white and blue waistband and red and blue ribbing along the leg openings. The Wilson size 38 label is sewn inside the waistband and the piece shows overall toning and light staining. A tremendous and seldom-seen NBA All-Star uniform set worn by one of the game’s early pioneers. Comes with an LOA from MEARS A10. Accompanied by an LOA from the family of Clyde Lovellette.