This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 8/12/2011.
This historically significant ring comes to us directly from Lynn Shackelford. It is the first UCLA championship ring of this great era ever to be auctioned. The 1966-67 UCLA Bruins cruised through the season with a 30-0 record on their way to winning the NCAA Championship, the first of seven-in-a-row. Coached by Hall of Famer John Wooden, the undefeated team averaged 90.2 points per game, won all four NCAA Tournament games by at least 15 points and introduced the world to sophomore Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, National Player of the Year and one of the most dominant forces in the game of basketball. Along with Jabbar, the Bruins were led by starters Lynn Shackelford, Kenny Heitz, Mike Warren and Lucius Allen. Shackelford was a starter for two years following the 1966-67 season, winning an unequalled 38 consecutive NCAA tournament games and three NCAA Championships along the way. Prior to becoming a starter, Shackelford received the Bruin Bench Award for most improvement in all-around play and mental attitude. In 1967 and 1968, he was awarded the Bob “Ace” Calkins Memorial Trophy as the team’s top foul shooter. In the 90 games of his UCLA career, Shackelford averaged 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting .482 from the field and .729 from the foul line. This size 9.5, 10k gold player’s ring weighs 22 grams. The top panel reads “UCLA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS” surrounding a large blue synthetic stone. The left panel reads BRUINS above a casted image of the University of California official seal surrounded by laurelled leaves. The right panel reads “1967” above a casted image of a basketball also surrounded by laurelled leaves. The inside of the ring is engraved with the player’s initials and stamped “BALFOUR © 10K”. Comes with original box from Balfour with the original label that reads “LYNN SHACKELFORD”. The ring is in MINT overall condition and comes with a LOA from Lynn Shackelford.