A Kobe Bryant jersey worn during his 1996-97 rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers sold for $7 million at Sotheby’s on Thursday, setting a new record for a Bryant collectible.
Photo-matched to seven games, including Bryant’s pre-season debut on October 16 and regular-season debut on November 3, the jersey now ranks as the fourth-most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever sold. It trails only Babe Ruth’s $24 million “called shot” jersey, Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey ($10.1 million), and Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup shirt ($9.3 million).
“Debut games are truly one-of-a-kind moments in an athlete’s career,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles.
The sale surpasses the previous Bryant memorabilia record of $5.85 million, set by his signed 2007-08 MVP season jersey.
Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, died in a helicopter crash in 2020 at the age of 41, alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others.
