The first Los Angeles Lakers jersey to bear Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 has been sold for $889,000 during an auction conducted by Sotheby’s in New York.
Bryant wore the gold home uniform on Nov. 3, 2006, when he scored 23 points in a 118-112 win over the Seattle SuperSonics at Staples Center. The item is signed by the late superstar and carries the inscriptions “FIRST 24” and “1/1” on the numbers, along with an Upper Deck hologram tied to Bryant’s exclusive memorabilia agreement with the company.
Authentication firm MeiGray photo-matched the jersey to the Lakers’ 2006 Media Day, confirming its single-game use. Brendan Hawkes, Sotheby’s director of sports strategy and development, described the piece as “one of the most culturally and historically significant Kobe Bryant jerseys ever to surface.”
The auction price, while substantial, falls short of the $7 million paid in April for a rookie-season jersey photo-matched to seven games, the current record for a Bryant game-worn uniform.
Bryant debuted in the NBA wearing No. 8 and captured three championships with that number before switching to No. 24 ahead of the 2006-07 season. As No. 24, he added two more titles, a regular-season MVP award, two Finals MVPs, and two Olympic gold medals, leading the Lakers to retire both numbers after his career ended.
Source: Lakers Nation
