Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1984 NBA Finals Los Angeles Lakers Game Worn Jersey | Matched to Multiple Games

The GOAT debate often revolves around Michael Jordan and LeBron James. But another player deserves a seat at the table: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 

A 6-time MVP and 6-time NBA champion, Abdul-Jabbar is perhaps most famous for perfecting the lethal ‘skyhook’ shot. The unstoppable shot has never been truly replicated in the three decades since his retirement. But the shot was just one of numerous effective moves in Abdul-Jabbar’s diverse arsenal. He twice led the NBA in scoring average and has held the number one spot on the all-time points scored leaderboard for over 35 years with 38,387. 

But aside from individual dominance and innovation, Abdul-Jabbar is often remembered for his central role on the 1980s ‘Showtime’ Los Angeles Lakers. With Abdul-Jabbar and point guard Magic Johnson at the forefront, the Lakers played an up-tempo style of basketball that captivated fans and caused severe problems for defenses. 

Their fierce rivalry with Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics dominated the NBA storylines and set the stage for some of the most memorable battles in the history of the league. From 1980-1991, the Lakers made nine NBA Finals appearances and won five championships. Meanwhile, the Celtics made five Finals appearances and won three championships during that same stretch. 

The two juggernaut teams met in the NBA Finals on three occasions: 1984, 1985, and 1987. All three series were hotly contested with the Celtics winning the first matchup and the Lakers getting their revenge in the latter two. 

Sotheby’s is proud to present this Kareem Abdul-Jabbar game worn Los Angeles Lakers jersey, which MeiGray has photomatched to Games 1 and 5 of the 1984 NBA Finals. 

Sports Investors Authentication additionally photomatched the jersey to Game 2 of the 1984 NBA Finals as well as a regular season game on November 29, 1983 and to another undated 1984 game. 

The 1984 Finals was the first Finals showdown between the ‘Showtime Lakers’ and Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics.  

In Game 1, played at the Boston Garden on May 27, 1984, the Lakers defeated the Celtics 115-109. Abdul-Jabbar scored 32 points and added 8 rebounds and 5 assists. 

In Game 2, played at the Boston Garden on May 31, 1984, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 124-121. Abdul-Jabbar scored 20 points and added 9 rebounds and 7 assists. 

In Game 5, played at the Boston Garden on June 8, 1984, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 121-103. Abdul-Jabbar scored 19 points and recorded 7 rebounds and 1 assist. 

Between the three Finals games, Abdul-Jabbar recorded a combined 71 points, 24 rebounds, and 13 assists. 

In the November 29, 1983 regular season game, Abdul-Jabbar recorded 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 111-105 Lakers victory over the Golden State Warriors. 

The jersey has been photomatched by The MeiGray Group and Sports Investors Authentication and is accompanied by photomatch letters and graphics. 

Going Deeper | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

A native of New York City, Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) rose to national prominence at Power Memorial High School. During his high school years, his teams went 95-6 and won three consecutive New York City Catholic League championships. Alcindor was named a High School All-American all three years and ultimately received an offer to play for John Wooden at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). 

After becoming eligible for varsity as a sophomore, Alcindor led the Bruins to three successive NCAA titles in 1967-1969, during which time UCLA lost only two total games. In addition, he was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player on all three occasions. 

After being selected with the 1st overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft, Alcindor spent the first six seasons of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. His dominance at the high school and collegiate levels immediately translated to the professional ranks. In only his second season, he led the Bucks to the franchise’s first NBA title in 1971.

But the Bucks failed to reach the mountaintop for the next four years and Abdul-Jabbar (he officially changed his name in 1971) requested a trade. He was ultimately dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975 which helped set the stage for the ‘Showtime’ era. 

By the time of his retirement in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar had played 20 NBA seasons. His career accolades include the 1969-70 Rookie of the Year, a league-record six MVPs, two Finals MVPs, and 19 All-Star Game appearances. In 2022, he was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team as one of the league’s 75 greatest players. He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 1995.