Following his passing four years ago, Kobe Bryant’s father, Joe, has chosen to place Kobe’s 2000 Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship ring up for auction.
Initially gifted to his parents by Bryant himself, the ring was considered for sale in 2013 but was subsequently withdrawn from the market.
It’s worth noting that the ring currently on auction isn’t the exact one Kobe received after the Lakers’ championship victory. According to Goldin Auctions, Kobe ordered an identical copy to give to his father as a special gift.
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Here are some key details about the ring via Goldin Auctions:
The ring being auctioned is the genuine 14K gold 2000 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship ring, personally presented by Kobe to his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, who had an eight-season NBA career with an average scoring of 8.7 points per game. As a symbol of his pride in winning his first NBA Championship, Kobe ordered an extra copy of the ring he received to give to his father, Joe Bryant, as a heartfelt gesture. This isn’t a replica or an executive version of the championship ring; it’s the exact same ring awarded to Kobe Bryant and his Lakers teammates.
…The ring, sized at 11 ½ and weighing around 59.6 grams, features a total of 40 diamonds, including five larger round diamonds on each side of the face, forming the “LAKERS” inscription filled with purple enamel. The relief lettering reads “WORLD CHAMPIONS.” On one side, the NBA league logo is prominently displayed, with “BRYANT” at the top and the number “8” at the bottom. Banners commemorating the Lakers’ regular season record of 67-15 and postseason record of 15-8 are also included. The other side showcases an image of a basketball hoop with a diamond representing the basketball, along with the inscriptions “BLING BLING” and “2000.” The inside of the ring is marked 14K.
The current bid for the ring is $141,000, with the auction scheduled to remain open for at least nine more days.
