Going Once, Going Twice…
You never know when someone might turn into a legend…
Since we no longer have artists who leave behind a legacy of expensive paintings like Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh did, some of us value sports memorabilia in a similar light, and athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are our modern-day artists.
But just as Van Gogh’s untimely passing at 37 raised the value of his paintings, Bryant’s tragic passing at 41 in a 2020 helicopter crash is leading to his sports memorabilia to be in higher demand and value.
Kobe’s $7 Million Debut Jersey
Just consider this week’s NBA news that the Los Angeles Lakers jersey Kobe wore in his 1996 NBA rookie debut sold at auction for $7 million, the most ever for any of his memorabilia.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
Kobe’s rookie debut just sold for $7,004,000 at @Sothebys!
This marks the second most valuable NBA jersey EVER sold behind a Jordan 1998 Finals jersey ($10.1M).
This particular jersey sold for just $115,000 in 2013, making today’s sale a 5,977% increase… https://t.co/8yrANtfttT
— The Collectibles Guru (@ericwhiteback) April 24, 2025
This jersey was worn by Bryant in a November game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where Kobe played just over six minutes and was held scoreless on one shot, the kind of performance that wasn’t at all predictive of the legendary player he became on the court.
The Lakers jersey that Kobe Bryant wore in his rookie debut will have a new owner tomorrow.
So far, a single irrevocable bid of $7 million, including buyer’s premium, has been placed with @Sothebys.
I break down the merits of the jersey down with Sotheby’s @WachterBrahm here. pic.twitter.com/Dq8RGOOpy4
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 23, 2025
Incredibly, this same jersey sold in 2012 for just $115,242 while Kobe was still an active player. That’s a massive increase to $7 million as only Michael Jordan’s Game 1 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals fetched more money at auction, with just over $10.1 million in 2022. Imagine the NBA rumors of the price someone might pay if anyone had Jordan’s Game 6 jersey when he made the winning shot over Bryon Russell.
But of all the NBA games that Kobe Bryant played in, you have to think if any piece of memorabilia can top this and top Jordan’s record, it would be his jersey from his 81-point game against Toronto on January 22, 2006. To this day, that’s still the second-most points ever scored in an NBA game, and it’s the top mark for a game we actually have video footage from as Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game from 1962 is still shrouded in mystery.
It all goes to show that the Black Mamba was a special player and someone who is dearly missed.
LeBron James’ Biggest Piece of Memorabilia
Not to sound like Skip Bayless and find a way to make this about LeBron James, but it is worth asking if any memorabilia from LeBron’s career can auction for as much as the numbers Jordan and Bryant have posted already.
Maybe his rookie debut jersey or what he wears for what becomes his final NBA game could fetch as much. Maybe if anyone has his jersey on the night he scored 25 straight against the Pistons in the 2007 NBA playoffs, that would also fetch a pretty penny from a super-rich collector.
But for now, a 40-year-old James has the Lakers in a 1-1 tie with the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. We’ll see if he can help the team in a pivotal Game 3 win, as Luka Doncic has gotten off to a strong start in his team playoff debut.
But with the way sports fanatics are, if you ever get a jersey or headband or anything from a player at a game, hang onto it. You never know what it might be worth someday. You never know when someone might turn into a legend.
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