Vin Baker’s gold medal from the 2000 Olympic games sells for $67k

Often times the most prized sports memorabilia in the world are the items that are extremely rare and exclusive. In fact, the most sought after sports memorabilia are always the items that are one of a kind; the item that will be a marquee piece in nearly any collector’s collection.

An Olympic gold medal from the USA Basketball team from the 2000 Sydney games would certainly fall in the aforementioned categories.

Well, one lucky collector now owns a piece of USA Basketball history as Vin Baker’s gold medal from the 2000 Olympic games has been sold for $67k.

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The former four time NBA All-Star put his mint condition medal up for auction at Grey Flannel Auctions just a few weeks ago with the starting minimum bid set at $35,000.

Along with the gold medal is two letters of authenticity from Vin Baker himself. Bidding for the medal closed yesterday at midnight.

Baker himself has not given any reason for selling the medal, but ESPN reports that even though Baker earned roughly $105 million in his NBA career, he dealt with financial issues not long after he retired from the NBA. In 2008, Baker had to foreclose on both his mansion and his restaurant.

Unfortunately, this is a recurring theme with athletes as they do not know how to save and spend their money appropriately.

In fact, ESPN made a 30 for 30 film describing just how bad the situation was. For Vin Baker, he was forced to sell a prized possession that he will never be able to attain again.