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Any Kobe Bryant memorabilia tend to sell for large amounts of money, especially after the unfortunate passing of the Los Angeles Lakers star in 2020. With that said, the expectations for the auction of his NBA debut shoes are also sky-high.
Bryant’s shoes that he wore in his very first NBA game back in the 1996-97 season is set to be auctioned off, and according to the listing, it is estimated to fetch between $300,000 to $500,000. The auction will start on Wednesday, August 11, via Gotta Have Rock and Roll and the starting bid is set at $100,000.
The site also provided details about the shoes, which are said to be Adidas at size 14. Apparently, a fan named Scott Hurlimann got it from Kobe after the Lakers played the Minnesota Timberwolves at The Forum. It was later signed by the Hall of Famer when Hurlimann met Bryant again outside a hotel.
“The shoes exhibit heavy wear, which is noted in the MEARS letter, most likely because the shoes were worn during various practices before the game. A few years later, Scott managed to meet Kobe again outside a hotel and got a very rushed initialed autograph on the shoes. These are without a doubt the most important Kobe Bryant shoes to ever come up for auction.
“…It is important to note this style of shoes were only worn by Kobe during his debut season. The shoes come with a original full ticket from the game, which is incredibly rare in itself. The ultimate Kobe Bryant piece of memorabilia, these shoes come with a MEARS Letter of Authenticity, a Letter of Provenance from Scott Hurlimann and a Gotta Have Rock & Roll Certificate of Authenticity.”
While Kobe Bryant didn’t score in his debut game and played just six minutes, it was only the beginning of what turned out to be a legendary career with the Lakers worthy to be in the Hall of Fame.
Given Kobe’s popularity and influence, it won’t be surprising to see it break through the half million dollar mark. After all, a signed ticket from his last game was sold for $40,000 earlier this year–a ticket!