This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 9/7/2013.
The 1972-73 New York Knicks compiled a 57-25 regular season record, earning them a 2-seed in the first round of the playoffs where they would face the Baltimore Bullets. Earl Monroe and the Bullets had defeated the Knicks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals two seasons prior, ending New York’s hopes for a repeat title run. Jerry Lucas and Monroe had joined the Knicks the previous season and looked to claim their first rings. The Knicks controlled the series from the start, winning the first three games by an average of 13 points. After a 10-point victory in Game 5, New York would advance to face Boston in a rematch of the 1972 Eastern Conference Finals. After an ugly 26-point loss in Game 1, Lucas and the Knicks rallied to win three consecutive games including a double overtime thriller in Game 4. Boston battled back to force a Game 7 including a one-point victory in Game 5. No team had ever defeated the Celtics in a Game 7 at Boston Garden but the Knicks would re-write that piece of history after convincingly defeating Boston by 16, holding them to just 78 points. For the third time in four seasons, the New York Knicks met the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA World Championship. The series was an exact reversal of the prior year, with the Lakers winning Game 1 and the Knicks taking the next four games. It was the franchise’s second Championship, the first and only for Jerry Lucas. This size 12.5, 14k gold player’s ring weighs 40 grams. It was presented to Jerry Lucas after he and the Knicks won the 1973 NBA Championship. The top panel reads “NBA WORLD CHAMPIONS” in relief surrounding a silver basketball with a roughly .75-carat stone in the center. The right panel reads “J. LUCAS” above “NY-4, LA-1”, the Knicks logo, the facade of Madison Square Garden and “DEFENSE”. The left panel reads “1973” in relief surrounding the casted image of the official NBA logo. The inside of the ring is stamped “BALFOUR 14K”. The ring is in NRMT condition and is accompanied by a LOA from Jerry Lucas.
This lot will come with a hand signed letter from Jerry Lucas as well as a Naismith Memorabilia Basketball Hall of Fame letter of authenticity.
Lots 1–17 presented in this auction catalog are consigned to us directly from NBA Hall of Famer and Top 50 great Jerry Lucas. Jerry Lucas is one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game. Lucas is one of only three players in history to win championships at every level (high school, college, NBA, Olympics); was named one of the Top Fifty players in NBA history; and named one of the Top 15 All-Time March Madness Players. During his career Lucas was a 7-time All-Pro, was the NBA All-Star Game MVP and is the only forward in league history to pull down 40 rebounds in a game. In 1973, he was a member of the New York Knicks World Championship team. He retired from the game with time remaining on his contract to pursue his passion of education and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. We are honored to present this collection at our 2013 Hall of Fame Induction Auction.