The jersey worn by Kobe Bryant during his NBA debut with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 has sold at auction for $7 million (£5.26 million).
Worn during Bryant’s 1996–1997 rookie season, the jersey is now the fourth-most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever sold.
Bryant, who spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, won five NBA championships and was named league MVP in 2008.
Originally sold for $115,242 in 2013, the jersey’s value has soared in the years since Bryant and his daughter Gianna tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020.
“Debut games are truly one-of-a-kind moments in an athlete’s career,” said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby’s.
The current record-holder for the most expensive game-worn item is Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey, which sold for $24 million in August.
Following that are Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance” jersey, which fetched $10.1 million, and Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” World Cup shirt, sold for $8.8 million.
Bryant made his NBA debut on November 3, 1996, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He went on to become an 18-time All-Star and ranks fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 33,643 points.
