Kobe Bryant’s historic LA Lakers jersey to be auctioned in February: All you need to know
Kobe Bryant's legacy continues to grow well after his death. It has been reported that one of his jerseys from the 2007-08 NBA season will be put to auction next month. One notable feature of the jersey is the hole on its back, but experts still believe that the memorabilia could fetch millions.
During the 2007-08 season, Bryant earned his first and only Most Valuable Player award of his career, which makes the jersey to be auctioned even more valuable. It's been reported that the jersey could be sold for at least $7 million. CNBC reported that the iconic LA Lakers jersey is expected to be the most valuable memorabilia of "The Black Mamba".
An iconic basketball jersey worn by Kobe Bryant from his time with the Los Angeles Lakers will be put up for auction next month. bit.ly/3Zzwog1
"To have this jersey from that iconic moment is not only really special, but it has also served as this point of inspiration all over the world of Kobe in this jersey," Sotheby’s, the company planning the auction, told CNBC.
According to Sotheby’s, the jersey is iconic as it was the one the five-time champion wore when he accepted the MVP trophy. At the time, the Lakers were facing the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Kobe famously knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:22 left on the clock. This led to a legendary moment for the 18-time All-Star, screaming at the top of his lungs and hyping up the crowd. For those who have forgotten the moment, here's a video to refresh your memory.
Online bidding will start on February 2nd.
Also read: When Charles Barkley revealed the reason behind Kobe Bryant cursing at him all night: “Calling me every freaking name in the book"
Looking back at Kobe Bryant's stats during the 2007-08 season
Kobe Bryant was one of the best players to step foot on an NBA court. His talent and dedication to get better at his craft was unmatched. This separated him from the other big-name players in the league, earning him his lone MVP award.
Back in the 2007-08 season, the MVP trophy wasn't his only achievement. Bryant also made his way to the NBA Finals to face the Boston Celtics. Although the Lakers lost that series, it was still impressive.
Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while making 45.9% of his shots from the field and 36.1% from 3-point range. What's even more impressive is that he played all 82 games that season, and played in the Olympics during the summer. No one can truly replace "The Black Mamba".
Also read: Gary Payton describes bonding with Kobe Bryant: “Kobe didn't have a fear of nothing to ask nobody to get better"