Kobe Bryant’s LA Lakers jersey from NBA MVP season goes on sale

Wealthy bidders have a chance to own Kobe Bryant’s jersey from his MVP season.

Bryant, who died along with his daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash in January 2020, was instrumental in helping the Los Angeles Lakers reach the Western Conference NBA Finals as the No. 1 seed in 2008.

The NBA legend’s gold and purple number 24 jersey from that impressive campaign is now on sale.

The iconic top will appear in Sotheby’s online auction called Zenith, Part I and is expected to fetch between $5 million and $7 million.

Bryant scored a whopping 645 points in six playoff games, 14 regular season games and five preseason games with the jersey on the line.

He hit a 3-pointer in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals series with the Denver Nuggets on April 23, 2008, and his fourth-quarter celebration was a memorable moment.

The 2007-08 season jersey is set to beat an earlier piece of Bryant memorabilia with his $3.7 million 1996-97 jersey.

“It’s rare that an athlete can push the limits of their sport, but Kobe Bryant is without a doubt one of the special few who has left an everlasting impact on the world,” said Brahm Wachter, director of streetwear and collectibles. Sotheby’s Modern.

“This jersey was worn by Kobe in one of the most iconic photos of him ever taken and has worked its way into the global popular spirit, becoming synonymous with Kobe’s ‘Mamba Mentality.’

“Sports gadgets with this kind of heavy, long-term wear are a rarity in the collecting space, with many modern items only used for a single game.

“The fact that Kobe scored a total of 645 points over eight months in this jersey, in his only MVP season, is just amazing.”

The jersey will be on sale from February 2-9 with other sports memorabilia including items related to NFL star Tom Brady, basketball icon Michael Jordan and tennis legend Roger Federer available.