Kobe Bryant’s Debut Jersey Sells for Record $7 Million
A jersey worn by Kobe Bryant during his NBA debut has been sold for a staggering $7 million at auction, setting a new record for memorabilia associated with the Los Angeles Lakers legend.The sale, conducted on Thursday, underscores Bryant’s enduring legacy and the high value placed on items connected to his early career.
Auction house Sotheby’s confirmed the record-breaking sale,noting the jersey was photo-matched to Bryant’s rookie season in 1996-97. The yellow jersey,adorned with the number 8,was worn by Bryant,then 18 years old,during his first media day,preseason debut,and regular-season debut on November 3,1996. It was also worn in four subsequent games that season.
Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020. His impact on basketball and his fans continues to resonate,making memorabilia from his career highly sought after by collectors.
NBA Legends’ Humble Beginnings: Jordan and Bryant’s Debut Jerseys
Even the greatest NBA legends start somewhere. Kobe Bryant, who would retire a five-time champion, averaged just 7.6 points per game in his first NBA season. Michael Jordan, widely regarded as one of the sport’s best, had a less-than-stellar debut, but, like Bryant, went on to achieve legendary status.

Kobe Bryant’s First Game
Bryant’s first NBA game saw him play six minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He shot 0-1 from the field and finished the game with no points.
Rookie Jerseys Mark the genesis
Early rookie jerseys represent the genesis of an athlete’s career. For collectors in search of significance,thes jerseys mark the start of something special.
Kobe Bryant’s Debut Lakers Jersey Sells for $7 Million at Auction
Iconic rookie jersey becomes fourth-most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever.
NEW YORK
– A jersey worn by Kobe Bryant during his NBA debut with the Los Angeles Lakers has fetched a staggering $7 million at auction. This sale positions the jersey as the fourth-highest-selling game-worn sports jersey in history, underscoring the enduring legacy and global appeal of the late basketball icon.
A Prized Piece of Basketball history
The auctioned jersey marks Bryant’s first game in the NBA, a important moment for any athlete.Sotheby’s, which handled the sale, emphasized the importance of debut games in an athlete’s career.
Record-Breaking Sales in Sports Memorabilia
The $7 million sale places Bryant’s jersey behind only three other legendary sports memorabilia items: babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey ($24 million), Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey ($10.1 million), and Diego Maradona’s Argentina shirt from the 1986 World Cup ($9.3 million).
Bryant’s Rookie Jersey Outpaces Jordan’s Debut Jersey
Bryant’s rookie jersey sale surpassed the value of Michael Jordan’s debut season jersey. Jordan’s jersey, photo-matched to his preseason debut and subsequent appearances, sold for just over $4 million in March.
what specific games was kobe bryant wearing this jersey in during his rookie season?
Kobe Bryant’s Debut Jersey Sells for Record $7 Million
A jersey worn by Kobe Bryant during his NBA debut has been sold for a staggering $7 million at auction, setting a new record for memorabilia associated with the Los Angeles Lakers legend. The sale, conducted on Thursday, underscores Bryant’s enduring legacy and the high value placed on items connected to his early career.
Auction house Sotheby’s confirmed the record-breaking sale, noting the jersey was photo-matched to Bryant’s rookie season in 1996-97. The yellow jersey, adorned with the number 8, was worn by Bryant, then 18 years old, during his first media day, preseason debut, and regular-season debut on November 3, 1996.It was also worn in four subsequent games that season.
Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020. his impact on basketball and his fans continues to resonate, making memorabilia from his career highly sought after by collectors.
NBA Legends’ humble Beginnings: Jordan and Bryant’s Debut jerseys
Even the greatest NBA legends start somewhere. Kobe Bryant, who would retire a five-time champion, averaged just 7.6 points per game in his first NBA season.Michael Jordan, widely regarded as one of the sport’s best, had a less-than-stellar debut, but, like Bryant, went on to achieve legendary status.
Kobe Bryant’s First Game
Bryant’s first NBA game saw him play six minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He shot 0-1 from the field and finished the game with no points.
Rookie Jerseys Mark the genesis
Early rookie jerseys represent the genesis of an athlete’s career. For collectors in search of meaning, these jerseys mark the start of something special.
kobe Bryant’s Debut Lakers Jersey sells for $7 Million at Auction
Iconic rookie jersey becomes fourth-most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever.
NEW YORK – A jersey worn by Kobe Bryant during his NBA debut with the Los Angeles Lakers has fetched a staggering $7 million at auction. This sale positions the jersey as the fourth-highest-selling game-worn sports jersey in history, underscoring the enduring legacy and global appeal of the late basketball icon.
A Prized Piece of Basketball history
The auctioned jersey marks Bryant’s first game in the NBA,a critically important moment for any athlete. Sotheby’s, which handled the sale, emphasized the importance of debut games in an athlete’s career.
Record-Breaking Sales in Sports Memorabilia
The $7 million sale places Bryant’s jersey behind only three other legendary sports memorabilia items: Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey ($24 million), Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey ($10.1 million), and Diego Maradona’s Argentina shirt from the 1986 World Cup ($9.3 million).
Bryant’s Rookie Jersey Outpaces Jordan’s Debut Jersey
Bryant’s rookie jersey sale surpassed the value of Michael Jordan’s debut season jersey. Jordan’s jersey, photo-matched to his preseason debut and subsequent appearances, sold for just over $4 million in March.
Kobe Bryant Debut jersey: Q&A
What makes Kobe Bryant’s debut jersey so valuable?
The jersey’s value stems from several factors: it’s from Bryant’s rookie season (1996-97), photo-matched to his first media day, preseason debut, and regular-season debut, and worn in a few subsequent games. It also represents the genesis of an iconic career and is a symbol of Bryant’s enduring legacy.
How does this jersey’s sale compare to other sports memorabilia?
At $7 million, Bryant’s jersey is the fourth-most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever sold. It trails behind Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey ($24 million), Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey ($10.1 million), and Diego Maradona’s Argentina shirt from the 1986 World Cup ($9.3 million).
Were did Kobe bryant play his first NBA game?
Kobe Bryant’s first NBA game was against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played six minutes, shot 0-1 from the field, and finished with no points.
Was the jersey worn in any other games?
Yes, the jersey was worn in four subsequent games during Bryant’s rookie season.
How can I learn more about Kobe Bryant memorabilia?
You can search online auction sites and sports memorabilia dealers. It’s important to verify the authenticity of any item and consider its provenance. Also check out sites such as Super Sports Center [[1](https://www.supersportscenter.com/collections/kobe-bryant)]to get an idea of prices. Be aware that prices fluctuate based on condition, rarity, and authentication.
The sale of Kobe bryant’s debut jersey is a testament to his impact. Explore the world of sports memorabilia to appreciate the stories behind these treasures.