A legendary possession of the late, great Kobe Bryant has sold for a record-breaking price.
It was reported in March that Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s father, Joe Bryant, had placed his 2000 Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship ring up for auction.
Bryant had gifted the ring to his father.
According to Goldin Auctions, the ring fetched $927,000, including the buyer’s premium. This marks the highest amount ever paid for an NBA championship ring.
“RECORD SALE FOR ANY NBA TITLE RING
A 2000 Lakers Championship Players Ring, gifted by Kobe to his father Joe, has sold in our March Elite.
This is the same ring originally consigned to Goldin by the Bryant Family in 2013, & the new owner (NOT Joe Bryant) is our consignor.”
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The contentious auction attracted 43 bids before concluding on Saturday night with a winning bid of $760,000.
Kobe Bryant had gifted the ring to his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, following the Lakers’ first of three consecutive championships. Bryant, a legendary guard, led the Los Angeles team to two more titles in 2009 and 2010.
The ring, an exact replica of the official 14K gold championship ring, was engraved with Joe Bryant’s name and “Bling Bling 2000” on the sides.
Originally consigned by Joe and Pam Bryant to Goldin in 2013, the ring sold for $173,000 at that time. Kobe Bryant subsequently sued Goldin, although the case was settled before going to trial, with his parents issuing an apology “for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we have caused our son.”
Despite the auction providing a letter of authenticity from Pam Bryant, the Bryant family informed the Los Angeles Times that they had no involvement in the recent sale of the ring.
In a statement, they expressed their distress.
“The mere existence of the auction has reopened a deep, painful wound. We seek peace and the opportunity to grieve with dignity. We appreciate your understanding and respect for our family’s privacy at this time.”
Although the ring didn’t set a bidding record for all sports memorabilia, it’s worth noting that in 2017, actor Charlie Sheen sold Babe Ruth’s 1927 World Series ring for $2.09 million.
Kobe Bryant tragically passed away, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California in January of 2020.
