It’s been five years since Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing, but his legacy still lives on. The NBA legend’s debut jersey recently helped him break another record, after selling for $7 million in an auction, becoming the most expensive piece of memorabilia tied to the late Los Angeles Lakers icon.
Bryant wore the iconic yellow jersey with the No. 8 between his first media day and regular season debut, along with four other games during his rookie season in 1996-97. It sold for $7 million almost three decades later, surpassing the $5.85 million paid for Bryant’s signed jersey from the 2007-08 season as the most expensive piece of Bryant memorabilia.
Bryant’s debut jersey is also the fourth most expensive game-worn sports jersey in history. The record is still held by Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey ($24 million), while Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance” jersey ($10.1 million) and Diego Maradona’s 1986 FIFA World Cup jersey ($9.3 million) made it to the top three.
Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles Brahm Wachter discussed the historic sale with ESPN and explained why this jersey represents a bridge between the raw potential of a teenage prodigy and the refined greatness that would follow.
“Debut games are truly one-of-a-kind moments in an athlete’s career. They mark the nascency of an extraordinary journey, and for iconic athletes like Kobe Bryant, these milestones hold even more significance as they represent a singular moment in time that can never be replicated,” said Wachter.