Sotheby’s to Sell Iconic Kobe Debut Jersey…
Kobe Bryant is an undeniable legend in the NBA, with an impressive 20-year run with the Los Angeles Lakers. Like a basketball superhero changing costumes, he seamlessly transitioned from No. 8 to No. 24 in 2006. This switch marked the start of his second chapter, where he nabbed two more championships and cemented his place as one of the game’s all-time greats. Nowadays, anything with Kobe’s name goes for more than a Hollywood blockbuster, and Sotheby’s is auctioning his No. 24 debut jersey. Brendan Hawkes from Sotheby’s calls the jersey a link to the legend of Kobe.
During his debut in the No. 24, Kobe casually dropped 23 points and six assists in a Lakers win, as if he were just warming up in a backyard scrimmage. That season, he averaged a jaw-dropping 31.6 points and had 10 games with at least 50 points—like a human scoreboard that broke all expectations. The jersey goes under the gavel at Sotheby’s New York on Sept. 30, shortly after Wayne Gretzky’s last-ever jersey. Estimates suggest Kobe’s jersey could fetch over $1 million, which is almost enough to buy a small island where baskets rain from the sky!
