A 19-year-old Portland resident discovered a rare Los Angeles Lakers warm-up jacket worn by NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain at a Hillsboro Goodwill outlet on January 15.
The item is now projected to sell for up to $250,000 at auction.
The gold-and-purple, short-sleeved jacket was purchased by Quinn Brown for just $3.07 after another shopper discarded it.
It has since been authenticated by SIA Photo Match for Sotheby's "Summer Sports Marquee" auction, which runs through July 20.
Historical data indicates that Wilt Chamberlain gear remains highly coveted.
A similar jacket from the 1968–1969 season fetched $56,400 in 2022, while Chamberlain's 1972 Finals jersey sold for $4.9 million at Sotheby's in 2023.
How the Discovery Unfolded
Brown spotted the custom-made jacket during a morning merchandise rotation at the thrift outlet.
The authenticity was verified using stitching patterns and discontinued Scovill buttons, matching it to the 1972 NBA Finals and the 1972-73 NBA season.
"He just threw it in front of me, and I immediately grabbed it," said Quinn Brown, a Portland resident and professional reseller.
The professional picker uploaded an image of the garment to social media, which directly alerted representatives from the international auction house.
"They said your jacket has been matched to the 1972 NBA Finals. I knew the NBA Finals jersey sold for $4.9 million.
That's the jersey he wore under my jacket," said Brown.
The evaluation confirmed the rare collectible was utilized by the Hall of Fame basketball player during his final competitive season in the league.
"I got so lucky with my Wilt Chamberlain jacket, and it's an amazing feeling to find something like this.
I was just doing this because I enjoy it, never expecting anything like that," said Brown.
The high school graduate intends to allocate the auction proceeds toward index funds or real estate investments to secure an early retirement.
"I am a Lakers fan.
I have a Wilt Chamberlain book on my dresser, a Wilt Chamberlain card that was a gift from my friend, and I'm hoping to find some vintage Wilt Chamberlain shirts to wear," he said.
Brown also intends to fund a post-auction trip to Vietnam with his companions using a portion of the financial windfall.
"This is a crazy experience," said Brown shortly after the big find. "A couple of days ago I had found nothing crazy, then this.
It's amazing."
The regional thrift corporation highlighted the discovery as a prime example of the unique items available within their local liquidation centers.
"Quinn's story is the perfect example of how hunting for treasures at Goodwill is thrilling and, in this instance, just magical," said Hayley Platt, public relations manager for Goodwill Industries.
The specialized merchandise supplier noted that professional pickers frequently scour the large rolling bins at the regional centers to supply the vintage resale market.
"This jacket is an extraordinary piece of memorabilia from Chamberlain's final chapter in the NBA," writes Sotheby's in its promotional materials.
"I don't want a ton of people to start coming there," says Brown regarding his decision to conceal the exact outlet location.
"They brought in the new clothes, and for about five minutes I'm looking through with around 20 to 30 people, trying to pick some stuff out," says Brown.
"I see this guy with a cool Lakers jacket. He looked a year or two older than I am; maybe he resells, maybe he doesn't.
Suddenly, he tosses it back and I immediately grabbed it because I could tell it was good," Brown says.
"That was the most exciting moment I've had in my life." said Brown after receiving the formal confirmation message.
"I've just been getting better and better at it." says Brown regarding his full-time e-commerce business operations.
