A jersey worn by basketball legend Kobe Bryant during his NBA debut in 1996 has been sold at auction for $7 million (£5.26 million), making it the fourth most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever sold.

0

The jersey dates back to Bryant’s rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers (1996–1997), the team he spent his entire 20-year career with. During that time, he won five NBA championships and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2008.

1

The same jersey was previously sold in 2013 for just over $115,000—seven years before Bryant and his daughter Gianna tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020.

2

“Debut games are truly one-of-a-kind moments in an athlete’s career,” said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby’s, the auction house behind the sale.

3

4

Topping the list of the most expensive sports jerseys ever sold is Babe Ruth’s famous “called shot” jersey, which went for $24 million in August. It’s followed by Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance” jersey, worn during his final season with the Chicago Bulls, which sold for $10.1 million. Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt, worn during Argentina’s 1986 World Cup match against England, takes third place at $8.8 million.

5

Kobe Bryant made his NBA debut on November 3, 1996, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. By the end of his first season, he had already become an all-star—a title he would go on to earn 18 times in his career. He retired as one of the league’s greatest scorers, ranking fourth on the all-time list with 33,643 points.

6