Summer Premium Live and Catalog Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/4/2016
Only a handful of "50 Greatest Players" rings have ever reached the auction block—even fewer than the player copies of the "50 Greatest" signed lithos. Among them all, Julius Erving's ring commanded the highest premium, selling for over $115,000 in 2011. Now it's Nate “Tiny” Archibald's turn in the spotlight. His Balfour 14K-gold, size 10 ring carries his name and Celtics jersey number, "Archibald / 7." It rates NM and comes with Tiny's 4/5/16 signed LOA, reading, "This is the original ring that was awarded to me and no duplicates have been produced or authorized."
During his 13-year career, the six-time All Star was a team leader and exciting playmaker who achieved something no other NBA player has accomplished before or since: In 1972-73, he led the league in both scoring (34 ppg) and assists (11.4 apg). “Tiny's” Hall of Fame bio describes his versatile play this way: "Although shy and diminutive, Archibald proved to be unstoppable in the lane, a pinpoint passer with eyes everywhere and an outside shooter with unlimited range...Archibald's game, a potent mix of penetration, shooting, and passing, became the standard for players of his size and ability."
For those advanced collectors who already own a "50 Greatest Players" signed litho, there is no better companion piece than an even rarer "50 Greatest Players" ring, such as this extremely fine example from one of the game's best ambassadors.