Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey from the MVP season will be auctioned by Sotheby’s, where it is expected to fetch up to $7 million.
During the 2007–2008 season, the five-time NBA champion wore the autographed jersey more than 25 times. In fact, it is the same one that was worn in the now-famous photograph in which he is seen grabbing his jersey and yelling with elation after defeating the Denver Nuggets by a margin of 14 points in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round series.
“This jersey has influenced popular culture in a way that is seldom seen in the sports community, becoming iconic and synonymous with the image of Kobe Bryant,” Sotheby’s said in a news release.
“The raw passion captured in the photos has inspired artists and designers all over the world … this jersey has been featured in countless murals and artworks depicting the late basketball sensation.”
Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectibles, Brahm Wachter, stated in the press release that the jersey has come to be “synonymous with Kobe’s ‘Mamba Mentality’.”
“The fact that Kobe scored a total of 645 points over 8 months in this jersey, in his only MVP season, is simply stunning.”
The auction house claimed that the price would be the highest ever paid for a Bryant jersey if the jersey sells for the $5–$7 million estimate Sotheby’s is placing on it.
Michael Jordan’s game-worn “The Last Dance” jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals is the only other jersey with such high value which was sold for $10.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction in September 2022.
Bryant’s jersey will come with a collection of photos, artwork, books and more. The lot will be open for bidding February 2-9. It will also be on public display at Sotheby’s New York during the first week of February.
Author-Roberta Appiah
