Kobe Bryant’s Rookie Jersey Sells for Record $7 Million at Auction

NEW YORK, April 25, 2025 — A jersey worn by Kobe Bryant during his 1996-97 rookie season has sold for $7 million at a Sotheby’s auction on Thursday, setting a new record for any Bryant memorabilia. The jersey, photo-matched to seven games including his debut on November 3, 1996, against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marks a significant moment in sports history.

This sale surpasses the previous record of $5.85 million paid for a signed, game-worn jersey from Bryant’s 2007-08 MVP season. The jersey worn during his early career represents not only a piece of memorabilia but also a bridge between his potential as a young athlete and his eventual greatness.

Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles, stated, “Debut games are truly one-of-a-kind moments in an athlete’s career. For iconic athletes like Kobe Bryant, these milestones hold even more significance.”

The $7 million price tag makes this jersey the fourth most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever, following Babe Ruth’s jersey, which sold for $24 million, Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals jersey at $10.1 million, and Diego Maradona’s World Cup jersey at $9.3 million.

Kobe Bryant, who played his entire 20-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers, won five NBA championships and was an 18-time All-Star. He tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020, a loss that has only increased the value and significance of his memorabilia.

Throughout his rookie season, Bryant averaged only 7.6 points per game. However, he would go on to retire as one of the greatest players in basketball history, ranking fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.