Clay County Thrifters, Take Note: $3 Goodwill Find Could Fetch $250,000

MANCHESTER — Thrifters in Manchester and Clay County may want to think twice before dropping old sports memorabilia at Goodwill or other donation centers. One donated jacket purchased for just over $3 has turned into a potential six-figure payday after being identified as an authentic warm-up jacket worn by NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain.

The incredible discovery was made in January by 19-year-old Quinn Brown while browsing a Goodwill store in Hillsboro, Oregon. Brown noticed the gold-and-purple Los Angeles Lakers warm-up jacket after another shopper put it back on the rack.

"He just threw it in front of me, and I immediately grabbed it," Brown said.

Brown paid just $3.07 for the jacket but suspected it could be something special. He posted a photo on Instagram, where it caught the attention of Sotheby's, one of the world's leading auction houses.

The jacket was sent to New York for authentication through SIA Photo Match, which confirmed it matched photographs of Chamberlain wearing it during the 1972 NBA Finals and again throughout the 1972-73 season, the Hall of Famer's final year in the NBA.

That authentication dramatically increased the jacket's value. Sotheby's has now listed it for auction with an estimated selling price between $150,000 and $250,000.

Brown said learning the jacket's history was surreal.

"They said your jacket has been matched to the 1972 NBA Finals. I knew the NBA Finals jersey sold for $4.9 million. That's the jersey he wore under my jacket," Brown said.

According to Sotheby's, the jacket is one of the few authenticated game-worn warm-up pieces connected to Chamberlain, making it highly desirable among sports collectors.

Goodwill officials say the story highlights the surprises that can be hidden among donated items.

"Quinn's story is the perfect example of how hunting for treasures at Goodwill is thrilling and, in this instance, just magical," said Hayley Platt, public relations manager for Goodwill Industries.

Brown has been buying and reselling thrift store finds since high school and now does it full time, logging 15 to 20 hours each week searching through Goodwill Outlet bins for overlooked collectibles.

Despite years of experience, he said he never expected to uncover an item of this magnitude.

"I got so lucky with my Wilt Chamberlain jacket, and it's an amazing feeling to find something like this. I was just doing this because I enjoy it, never expecting anything like that," Brown said.

Bidding on the historic jacket opened Wednesday and will continue through July 20. Brown says he hopes the proceeds from the sale will help him build long-term financial security—and perhaps even retire early.

For sports fans in Clay County, the story serves as a reminder that an old jersey, jacket, signed baseball or forgotten collectible tucked away in a closet could be worth far more than anyone realizes before it's placed in the donation box.