Auction Action: Artis Gilmore on Grey Flannel Auctions

[Editor’s Note: Today we have a post from our own Mike Engle, who not only is one of UW’s Ticker Assistants, he’s also a big auction guy — so he’ll be bringing back an old feature favorite, “Auction Action!” and this will be the first in the rebirth of that series. Enjoy! — PH]

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Auction Action: Artis Gilmore on Grey Flannel Auctions
by Mike Engle

A member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Artis Gilmore (most famous from the NBA Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, the ABA Kentucky Colonels, and the NCAA Jacksonville University Dolphins) has placed some of his artifacts on the auction block. Let’s take a peek!

1979 Western Conference NBA All-Star Game Uniform

This is my favorite lot in the auction, not only because it includes a jersey and the matching shorts, but it’s such a fun design that I have no memories of seeing before. If this were a team’s regular look, I’d get a neck strain from everything being slanted, but for a one-off that is the All-Star Game, I like this uniform a lot. Watch the game here on YouTube, and with apologies to Chris Weir in the Collector’s Corner, pick up an unused ballot here, to cast your vote about 46 years too late! Additional photos and info here.

1972 Eastern Conference ABA All-Star Game Jersey

 

How ironic that for such a “colorful” league (with a trailblazing 3-point line, a red/white/blue ball, etc), this jersey is so plain! It doesn’t even have any red in it! I couldn’t find any video of this game, but I did learn for the first time that a “Super-Game” between ABA all-stars and NBA all-stars was once an annual event…but not to be confused with the ABA intra-league/inter-conference game from where this jersey came. You can see the 1972 NBA/ABA Super-Game here, pick up a copy of the ABA ASG program here (sorry again, Chris!), and get additional photos and info here.

Kentucky Colonels ABA Shorts

If you’re looking for something used in games that counted (as opposed to all-star games, traveling exhibitions, etc), sadly this is your only option. For reference, these shorts were a part of a uniform that looked like this. Additional photos and info here.

1975 ABA Championship Kentucky Colonels Ring

The slightly bad news: Artis Gilmore lost his original championship ring, so this is an official reproduction as duly commissioned by his teammates. The overwhelming good news: Championship rings are rarely available, and when I have noticed them, they’re usually from a sparingly-used reserve player, a team executive, or some other relatively unknown team employee. This is Artis Gilmore’s league championship ring! And it’s not like this is an ASG participation ring or a conference championship ring! The pinnacle jewelry from the franchise player…that’s a really cool piece. Additional photos and info here.

2011 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Presentation Jersey

Did you know that the Basketball Hall of Fame issues presentation jerseys for the new members, just like Baseball? I didn’t! And now you know too! I always enjoy seeing which templates and fonts are used for specialty jerseys…and I find it quite funny that the Basketball HOF is taking some design cues from the MLB Pittsburgh Pirates. Additional photos and info here.

The rest of the auction lots can be found here, and the auction ends on June 1, 2025. Good luck bidding, or enjoy watching other people spend their money!