Overview

• Kobe Bryant’s rookie-season Lakers jersey, photo-matched to seven games including his pre-season and regular-season debuts, sold for $7 million at Sotheby’s New York.
• This sale sets a new record for any Bryant collectible, surpassing the $5.85 million paid for his 2007-08 MVP season jersey.
• The jersey is now the fourth-most expensive game-worn sports jersey in history, trailing artifacts from Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, and Diego Maradona.
• Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and iconic athlete, tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020, further elevating the cultural and market significance of his memorabilia.
• Sotheby’s emphasized the unique value of debut-game memorabilia, describing them as irreplaceable milestones in an athlete’s career.