Kobe Bryant’s iconic debut Lakers jersey sells for $7m in auction

The jersey worn by NBA legend Kobe Bryant during his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers has been sold for $7 million at auction, making it the fourth most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever sold.

The jersey, worn during Bryant’s rookie campaign in the 1996–1997 NBA season, was auctioned by Sotheby’s.

Bryant made his professional debut on 3 November 1996 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking the beginning of a storied 20-year career that would see him win five NBA championships and become an 18-time All-Star.

“This jersey represents a truly iconic moment in sports history,” said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby’s. “Debut games are truly one-of-a-kind moments in an athlete’s career.”

Originally sold for $115,242 in 2013, the value of the jersey has surged dramatically, especially in the years following Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2020, which also claimed the life of his daughter Gianna.

The record for the most expensive game-worn jersey remains Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey, which sold for $24 million in 2023.

That is followed by Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance” jersey from his final season with the Chicago Bulls, sold for $10.1 million, and Diego Maradona’s iconic “Hand of God” World Cup shirt, which fetched $8.8 million.

Bryant, who spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers, retired in 2016 as the league’s third all-time leading scorer—now fourth—with 33,643 points.

He was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and remains one of the most revered figures in basketball history.