Kobe Bryant jersey breaks records with 7 million dollar sale

Kobe Bryant left a mark in the NBA that no one can erase. Playing for years in the strongest basketball league in the world, the American basketball player was unique in everything, he was the biggest star of this sport, but unfortunately his life ended too soon, after a helicopter accident.

Kobe Bryant's preseason and regular season debut jersey with the Los Angeles Lakers sold for $7 million at an auction at Sotheby's in New York on Thursday, the auction house announced.

The jersey matched photos from seven games of his 1996–97 rookie season, including his preseason debut on October 16 and regular season debut on November 3, 1996, as well as his NBA media day.

At $7 million, the jersey is the fourth most expensive worn sports jersey ever sold, behind Babe Ruth’s “call shot” jersey ($24 million), Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey ($10.1 million) and Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup jersey, which sold for $9.3 million.

“First games are truly unique moments in an athlete’s career,” Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles Brahm Wachter said in a statement to ESPN.

“They mark the beginning of an extraordinary journey, and for legendary athletes like Kobe Bryant, these milestones have even greater significance because they represent a unique moment in time that can never be repeated.”

The sale surpassed the $5.85 million paid for his signed, game-worn jersey when he was named MVP in 2007-08.

Kobe Bryant's death

Five-time NBA champion Bryant died at the age of 41 in a helicopter crash in January 2020, which also killed his daughter Gianna and seven other people.

Nevertheless, he is still talked about today, and for years to come, given that he is a role model for many basketball players who play or have yet to step into the world of professional basketball. Kobe was known for his charisma, courage and qualities on the NBA floor.