Kobe Bryant memorabilia remain highly sought-after by collectors. The latest sale of the late icon’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey is proof of that.
A game-worn Bryant jersey just sold for close to $2 million in an auction. Even though it is far from the record price of a sold Kobe jersey, it’s still insane nonetheless.
Kobe Bryant Jersey Sold at Auction
The Bryant jersey that recently sold was the one that the Lakers legend wore during Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals. In the said battle, the Purple and Gold played the Orlando Magic. Kobe was sensational in the showdown, as he finished with 40 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 100-75 win.
According to Sotheby’s–who hosted the auction–the jersey “is accompanied by a photomatch letter from The MeiGray Group, having originally been sold by the National Basketball Association.”
The auction started on March 27 and closed Wednesday, April 10. There’s only one bidder for the jersey, but it sold for $1.75 million.
Sure enough, that’s quite the hefty price to pay for a jersey. But then again, this is not any other jersey we’re talking about. It’s one of just a few jerseys that Kobe wore during his fourth championship with the Lakers, and in what is arguably one of his greatest Finals performances.
Kobe memorabilia won’t likely fall in prices any time soon. We’re talking about the greatest Lakers player here, and with collectors really passionate about getting some of his stuff to remember the icon, all items related to him should only increase in prices moving forward.
Kobe Bryant Ring Sells for Insane Amount as Well
For what it’s worth, the Kobe Bryant jersey sale came just over a week after a championship ring of the Los Angeles Lakers legend was also sold at auction for nearly a million dollars.
As reported previously, the ring in question is an exact duplicate of the 2000 championship ring issued to Kobe. The Black Mamba actually requested another copy so he can give it to his dad to commemorate his first-ever NBA championship.
It’s worth noting that the ring is not an executive or staff ring, but rather a player-issued one that bears Kobe’s name. It sold at Goldin for $927,200, thereby setting the record for the sale of an NBA title ring. The previous record was Bill Russell’s 1957 championship ring that sold for $705,000 in 2021.
Had it been the one that Kobe actually kept, it would have probably sold for more. Still, the fact that a duplicate of the ring sold for that much speaks volumes of Kobe’s popularity and lasting legacy.
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