A piece of history that is associated with the legendary Black Mamba will be up for a much-anticipated bidding.
A game-worn rookie year jersey of the late great Kobe Bryant is set to hit an online auction from May 8 to June 4.
The said No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers apparel was suited up by Bryant in back-to-back home occasions from the 1996-1997 regular season – a game against the Utah Jazz way back April 13, 1997, and on April 17, 1997 versus the Sacramento Kings.
The basketball icon also donned the jersey in two postseason series games against the Jazz.
According to David Kohler of SCP Auctions, the gold gear of the hall of famer can range between $3 million and $5 million in the bidding war.
“We feel this could bring a record for any basketball jersey,” Kohler said, via Associated Press.
Kohler also noted that the anonymous seller of the jersey has kept the precious memorabilia for 25 years. He was approached by the said person after seeing an autographed rookie jersey of Bryant being sold for $3.69 million last year – the highest price that was ever recorded for a basketball jersey.
Kohler further provided that the item’s authenticity was verified by independent authenticators through photo-matching and comparing it to a 1997 trading card featuring Bryant wearing the jersey.
Bryant and eight other people including his daughter, Gianna, was announced dead in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California last Jan. 26, 2020. The five-time champion was recently named as a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team.
