Jerry West Los Angeles Lakers 1969-1970 Game Worn Jersey | Photomatched to 4 Games | NBA Scoring Champion Season

This exceptionally rare Los Angeles Lakers jersey, worn by Hall of Famer Jerry West during the 1969-70 NBA season, stands as the only known photomatched West jersey to have surfaced on the public market, according to Sotheby’s research. A tangible piece of basketball history, this jersey represents one of the most defining seasons of West’s legendary career.

West, one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport, was the embodiment of skill, leadership, and competitive fire. His impact on the game extended beyond his playing days, as his silhouette remains immortalized as the basis for the NBA logo.

The 1969-70 Season: A Career Year for West

The 1969-70 season was a historic one for Jerry West, as he cemented his place among the greatest players of all time. That year, West averaged 31.2 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game, leading the Lakers through a grueling regular season and deep into the playoffs. 

The Lakers, thanks to the incredible scoring of West, the extraordinary 27.3 points and 18.4 rebounds per game by Wilt Chamberlain in his second season with the Lakers, and the steady presence of Elgin Baylor, finished the season with a 46-36 record, securing a playoff berth. West’s leadership and scoring prowess helped guide the Lakers to the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks in what would become one of the most famous Finals series in basketball history.

The 1970 NBA Finals & West’s Legendary Buzzer-Beater

Though ultimately falling short to the Knicks in a hard-fought seven-game series, Jerry West delivered one of the most iconic moments in NBA history. In Game 3 of the Finals, with the Lakers trailing by two points in the final seconds, West launched a 60-foot desperation heave at the buzzer. Against all odds, the shot swished through the net, sending the game into overtime. Though the Lakers lost in extra time, the moment became one of the greatest highlights in basketball history, solidifying West’s reputation as “Mr. Clutch.”

West averaged an astonishing 31.3 points per game in the Finals, battling injuries while carrying the Lakers through the series. Despite their Game 7 loss to the Knicks—famously remembered for Willis Reed’s dramatic return from injury—West’s heroic performances cemented his status as one of the greatest players never to have won a championship at that point in his career.

Photomatching & Rarity

This jersey’s significance is further amplified by its status as the first known photomatched Jerry West game-worn jersey to reach the public market. Given the scarcity of surviving West game-worn jerseys from this era, this example stands as an unparalleled piece of NBA history.

Photomatched to four games from West’s scoring title season, this level of photomatching is exceedingly rare for memorabilia from this era. This jersey saw West face off against some of the best players in NBA history, including the eventual 1970 NBA Champion New York Knicks, John Havlicek and the Lakers’ longtime rival Boston Celtics, the elite guard Oscar Robertson, and a rookie Lew Alcindor, soon to be known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 

Sports Investors Authentication has matched this jersey to the following:

• February 17, 1970, when the Los Angeles Lakers played the New York Knicks in New York. West recorded 17 points, two rebounds, and four assists. The Lakers lost 114-93.
• A game against the Cincinnati Royals in November 1969
• An undated photo from a game against the Boston Celtics during the 1969-70 season
• An undated photo from a game against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1969-70 season

Legacy & Cultural Impact

Jerry West’s influence on basketball extends far beyond his playing days. His silhouette became the inspiration for the NBA’s official logo, making his image synonymous with the sport itself. Following his retirement, West built a Hall of Fame executive career, helping to construct multiple championship-winning Lakers teams and cementing his reputation as one of basketball’s greatest minds.

Though West would go on to win an NBA championship as a player in 1972, his resilience and brilliance during the 1969-70 season remain a defining chapter in his legacy. This jersey is a museum-worthy relic of the game’s golden era.

The jersey has been photomatched by SIA and MeiGray.