This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 9/7/2012.
As a basketball player Calvin Murphy had speed, quickness, great hands, ball handling skills, great leaping ability and the shooting eye of an eagle. He had it all — except for height. Only those who saw Murphy play knew how big this 5-foot-9 dynamo was on the basketball court. Murphy played pressure basketball at both ends of the court. He was a premier player on offense who could also stop on a dime and stick a jump shot with a flick of the wrist. And his defense was aggressive, a belly-to-belly style that made him a top-notch defensive player. Like the NBA's heavyweights, he earned the game's ultimate reward when he was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 after a stellar schoolboy, collegiate and 13-year NBA career. Murphy was one of the best free-throw shooters ever, setting NBA records for most consecutive free throws made and for the highest free throw percentage during the 1980-81 season. This trophy was presented to Calvin Murphy in 1981 when he bested fellow Hall of Famer Rick Barry’s consecutive free throw record of 60. From December 27, 1980 to March 1, 1981, Murphy hit 78 straight shots from the charity stripe. The trophy and ball display weighs 8.5 lbs. with the wooden base measuring approximately 14” x 14” x 8-1/4”. The trophy features three plaques. The top-most plaque lists the NBA’s top five longest consecutive free throw streaks at the time along with dates. The larger of the three plaques chronicles Murphy’s record-breaking streak by date and opponent. The third plaque reads “CALVIN MURPHY BASKETBALL - HALL OF FAME - SPRINGFIELD, MASS. MAY 10, 1993”. The base is adorned with four basketball players, one of which is broken at it’s base and another has a broken arm. The “WILSON” official NBA basketball has been signed by all thirteen members of the 1980-81 Houston Rockets including Mike Dunleavy and Hall of Famer Moses Malone. The signatures are all done in black marker and rate a 5 overall. “SDC” is written on the side of the basketball in black marker and the ball is attributed to the February 28, 1981 game against the Clippers when Murphy made his 78th consecutive free throw. The ball and trophy are in VG-EX condition and are accompanied by a LOA from JSA as well as Calvin Murphy.