Kobe Bryant’s first No. 24 Lakers jersey sells for $889,000
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The first Los Angeles Lakers jersey to carry Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 fetched $889,000, including buyer’s premium, during a Sotheby’s auction, the company announced on Oct. 2.
MeiGray Authenticated photo-matched the gold road uniform to Nov. 3, 2006, when Bryant scored 23 points in a 118-112 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics. The authentication firm also tied the jersey to the Lakers’ 2006 media day that October.
Bryant signed the uniform and added the inscriptions “FIRST 24” and “1/1.” An Upper Deck hologram accompanies the signature; the memorabilia company held an exclusive deal with the guard until 2009.
During the 2006-07 campaign, Bryant recorded ten 50-point games and secured his second consecutive—and final—NBA scoring title.
The price ranks well below the record $7 million paid in April for a Bryant rookie-season jersey matched to seven games, also sold by Sotheby’s.
Other lots from the auction
A Jerry West jersey worn between 1964 and 1967 realized $533,400 the same night. Sports Investors Authentication confirmed use in Game 6 of the 1965 and 1966 Western Division finals and Game 2 of the 1966 NBA Finals. The organization’s letter of authenticity states the garment was “likely” worn during both the 1965 and 1966 Finals, where Los Angeles fell to the Boston Celtics despite West averaging 33.8 and 33.9 points, respectively.
The West lot also contained a warm-up jacket, shorts and socks believed to be game-worn. Former Lakers trainer Frank O’Neill received the items when the club moved to The Forum in 1967, and they had remained in private hands until now. In May, a separate West jersey photo-matched to four games from the 1969-70 season set a record for the Hall of Famer’s memorabilia at $868,000.
Elsewhere in the sale, the sweater Wayne Gretzky wore in his final NHL appearance for the New York Rangers on April 18, 1999, failed to meet its reserve price after projections exceeded $1 million.
Source: ESPN.com
