Meet Janay Smith: Inside the Collection

1. Muhammad Ali’s game-worn trunks, signed robe, and ticket

Muhammad Ali was one of Janay’s dad’s all-time favorites. He admired Ali’s worldview, his pursuit of excellence, and his unwavering moral compass.

These boxing trunks are autographed and were worn during Ali’s 1976 fight with Jimmy Young. They’re game-worn—something Janay says sets her family’s collection apart. For her father, authenticity mattered. He wanted pieces with sweat and DNA, worn on the field, court, or ring. It's instant authentication—and essential to any great collection.

Also included is a training robe. Ali was one of the first athletes to truly understand personal branding. According to Janay, if something was game-used, it should never go to the dry cleaners. As gross as it might sound to some, the sweat only adds to the value.

Janay’s father loved Muhammad Ali for many reasons. His memorabilia represents not just sports history, but also Black history, Muslim history, and boxing history. Ali didn’t just compete—he changed the face of history.

According to our expert, this set could be worth around $150,000 or more, depending on the collector. But one thing is certain: this piece of history isn’t going anywhere.

2. Hank Aaron’s signed jersey, ball, and game ticket

Here’s more signed and sweat-drenched memorabilia! These iconic pieces are a home run—and all belonged to baseball legend Hank Aaron.

Hank Aaron surpassed Babe Ruth with 755 career home runs. What he endured as a Black man playing Major League Baseball deeply moved Janay’s father. It touched his heart and passion in a way words could hardly describe.

One standout piece is a signed jersey from 1957. Janay says her father would go to great lengths to track down the athletes and get these items signed personally.

Also included is a baseball featuring the signatures of players who hit 500 home runs or more. It holds 11 signatures, seven of which are African American—including Hank Aaron.

And finally, there’s one piece our expert admits he wishes he could walk out the door with: an original game ticket from the historic moment when Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s longstanding record.

According to our expert, the combined value of these three pieces is estimated at around $335,000—a big price for any baseball fanatic’s dream collection.

3. LeBron James’ high school jersey

This is LeBron James’ high school jersey—a true blast from the past for the NBA legend. He attended St. Vincent–St. Mary High School from 1999 to 2003, and even then, he was selling out high school games. Everyone wanted a chance to see the rising star before he made it big.

Janay’s father saw the potential early. He knew LeBron would be a slam dunk in the basketball world and wanted to secure a piece that really meant something.

According to our expert, LeBron is an iconic figure whose influence on the game is undeniable. This jersey alone could be worth around $700,000 today.

It’s a buzzer-beater addition to Janay’s baller collection—and a piece of basketball history.

4. Jim Brown's jersey, MVP trophy and autographed picture

This is one of Jim Brown’s MVP trophies, along with his jersey. Janay’s father admired players who changed the game and reshaped American sports history.

A relative of Brown’s once owned several of his items and eventually decided to part with some. Janay and her father were lucky enough to collect them. 

Brown’s jersey was snapped in the front so opponents couldn’t tackle him by it—showing just how strategic he was. The photo included is an autographed picture of Janay’s father with Jim Brown.

According to our expert, Jim Brown is the definition of a running back. He made history not only in football but also in film and civil rights.

No other Jim Brown MVP trophy is known to have hit the market, making this one of the rarest football trophies in private hands—a true touchdown.

The estimated value for all three items is $1,280,300.

5. Kobe Bryant's #8 Jersey

This jersey will be recognizable to many sports fans—it's Kobe Bryant’s No. 8 jersey, one of the early jerseys from his career.

Everyone loved Kobe. This jersey is autographed and game-worn. Janay’s father acquired it when Kobe was still early in his career.

Since Kobe’s passing, it’s no longer possible to get his signature, which makes signed items like this even more rare. A Kobe jersey—especially game-worn and autographed—is one of the most sought-after pieces in sports memorabilia.

According to our expert, this jersey could be worth around $10 million.

6. The total value of Janay’s sports memorabilia collection:

Touchdown!