Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Iconic Game-Worn And Signed Kobe Bryant Jersey Expected To Fetch Insane Amount At Upcoming Auction

In 2021, one of Michael Jordan’s game-worn jerseys from the 1982-83 championship season at the University of North Carolina sold for the record-breaking sum of $1.38 million.

Then, a Kobe Bryant rookie jerseys went for $3.69 million a bit later that year. The autographed, yellow game-worn jersey was the highest price ever for a basketball jersey.

That record though was shattered last year. But not only has a jersey worn by Michael Jordan in Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals – part of the infamous “Last Dance” season – taken over the record for the highest priced basketball jersey ever, it even took over Diego Maradona’s 1986 ‘Hand of God’ jerey record.

Jordan’s jersey has sold for $10.091 million, which officially is the most ever paid for an item of sports memorabilia. Maradona’s 1986 World Cup jersey previously held the record after it was sold in May of 2022 for $9.28 million.

Now, a game-worn Kobe Bryant jersey, which was also signed by Kobe, is scheduled to be auctioned by Sotheby’s next month. And while the estimated return isn’t breaking the record set last year, it still should fetch an insane $5-7 million.

Kobe wore the jersey for 25 games during the 2007/08 season, including the night he was presented with the 2008 NBA MVP trophy.

In case you are interested, the jersey will be available for action from February 2 to February 9. 

“This jersey has seeped into our global popular culture in a way that perhaps no other sports artifact has before – and has become iconic and synonymous with the image of Kobe Bryant. 

On April 23, 2008 in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round against the Denver Nuggets, with 5 minutes and 22 seconds on the clock, Kobe sank a 3 pointer securing the Lakers a 14 point lead, their largest point differential thus far. The images taken following the shot, of Kobe screaming and pumping his chest in elation, have become perhaps the most iconic images of Kobe ever taken.”

Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s