Auction Records $5.8 Million For Iconic Kobe Bryant Jersey

Kobe Bryant's MVP jersey from the year he held the honor of becoming the best player in the world sold for a record $5.8 million on Thursday.

To ensure that the jersey worn by the late basketball superstar during 25 games of his 2004-2005 season remains the most expensive Kobe Bryant item ever sold at auction, it surpassed the jersey worn by the late basketball star during his 2005-2006 season as being the second most valuable jersey sold at auction.

In 2021, a game-worn and autographed jersey from the 1996-1997 season, which was also a part of Kobe Bryant's collection, set a record for the sale of any piece of sports memorabilia belonging to the NBA superstar. This jersey cost $3.7 million at the time. 

In a press release issued by Sotheby's, Brahm Wachter, the company's head of streetwear and modern collectibles, said he is pleased with today's result. Sotheby's now holds the record for any game-worn items of sports memorabilia that come from any of the three basketball greats: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James.

A Sotheby's representative couldn't comment on who bought the jersey, according to the report by Trade Algo.

It shows in what has become one of the most iconic photos of the basketball legend. In a shot that has become an iconic image of Bryant, he is reaching for the jersey in elation after sinking a three-point shot in Game 2 of the Western Conference series and the jersey appears in the picture.

There have been estimates previously by Sotheby's that the jersey could sell for anywhere between $5 million and $7 million.

Michael Jordan's 1998 "Last Dance" jersey sold in September during a record-setting auction by Sotheby's went for $10.1 million, an auction that is in itself a record-breaker.