…
Kobe Bryant: Memorabilia, such as signed sports jerseys, historical documents, and celebrity-owned items, can hold significant value for collectors and investors.
These items often appreciate in value over time and can be highly sought by fans and enthusiasts.
Auctions are a popular way for buyers and sellers to come together and bid on these unique and valuable items.
The competitive nature of auctions can drive up prices and create a sense of excitement and anticipation for both buyers and sellers.
Additionally, auctions provide a platform for the authentication and verification of items, adding to their value and credibility.
Overall, the value of memorabilia going into auctions can be significant and provide opportunities for collectors and investors to acquire rare and valuable items.
Recently, a Kobe Bryant jersey has become the latest significant memorabilia to go on auction.
The auction
The jersey going up for auction came from the basketball icon’s 2007-2008 MVP season.
It is expected to be the most valuable Kobe Bryant item to be sold.
The Kobe Bryant jersey is put up for auction by Sotheby’s.
Sotheby’s is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious auction houses.
It was founded in London in 1744 and specialized in fine art, antiques, and collectibles. Sotheby’s auctions a wide range of items, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, jewelry, wine, and more.
The company conducts auctions in its own salerooms as well as online and privately.
Sotheby’s is known for selling some of the most expensive and iconic artworks in history and regularly sets new world auction records for various artists and artworks.
The company has a worldwide presence in major art markets, including New York, London, Hong Kong, and Paris.
The auction house expects the jersey to sell for around $5 million to $7 million in the online auction.
Significance of the jersey
Kobe Bryant’s 2007-2008 season was considered one of his most successful and accomplished seasons as a professional basketball player.
He led the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference and, ultimately, the NBA Finals.
Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game during the regular season.
He also had a career-high in points scored in a single game with 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors.
He was named to the All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, and he was the league’s MVP.
This was considered one of the most memorable individual seasons in NBA history, where Bryant led the Lakers to the NBA Finals, but they lost to the Boston Celtics.
He wore the jersey in 25 games over eight months, averaging 25.8 points per game.
Read also: Luka Doncic hits triple-double in Mavericks comeback win
Imagery
The image of Kobe Bryant in the jersey has become iconic since his untimely passing in 2020.
Brahm Wachter, the head of streetwear and modern collectibles at Sotheby’s, described what it felt like to have the jersey with the company.
“To have this jersey from that iconic moment is not really special, but it has also served as this point of inspiration all over the world of Kobe in this jersey,” said Wachter.
The iconic Kobe Bryant imagery was taken in Game 2 of the Western Conference series on April 23, 2008.
The clock showed 5 minutes and 22 seconds left as the Lakers icon put in a three-pointer to secure a 14-point lead.
The moment led to the famous picture of Bryant screaming in ecstasy and pulling his No. 24 jersey, becoming synonymous with his lone MVP season.
Jersey sales
Following Kobe Bryant’s untimely death in 2020, his memorabilia surged in demand as sales rivaled that of fellow legend Michael Jordan.
In September, Sotheby’s made headlines for selling Jordan’s 1998 “Last Dance” jersey for $10.1 million, breaking records.
Before the sale, Michael Jordan’s jersey from his playing days had yet to exceed $1 million.
In 2021, Kobe Bryant jerseys sold for $3.69 million, but it later fluctuated to $2.7 million in June last year.
“Kobe is someone who doesn’t just inspire basketball players, he inspires other athletes, he inspires executives and business people,” said Brahm Wachter.
“It’s somebody that touches a lot of different people and so in that sense, I think perhaps he’s one of the strongest markets, period.”
In recent years, investors have turned their attention to sports collectibles to diversify assets in the traditional investing markets.
Sotheby’s claimed that demands for sports memorabilia were still strong, having witnessed several private transactions at the highest levels.
Kobe Bryant’s jersey is set to go up for online bidding on February 2 and ends on February 9.
Reference:
Iconic Kobe Bryant jersey up for auction, expected to fetch up to $7 million
