Late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant's 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors will forever be remembered as one of the greatest individual performances in NBA history. One lucky fan has just paid a fortune in order to take home a piece of the historic evening. According to TMZ, Bryant's game-worn shooting shirt has sold at auction for an astounding $277,200.
The buyer, David Kohler, is an avid Lakers' memorabilia collector, who owns one of the largest private Lakers memorabilia collections across the globe. He is the President of SCP Auctions, and explained to TMZ that he was elated to have added this item to his collection.
“After collecting Kobe Bryant memorabilia throughout many years, I am thrilled and honored to add this very special artifact from one of the most significant games in NBA history to my collection,” said Kohler.
There were several bids made for the coveted item, which is reportedly the only piece of Bryant's game-worn memorabilia from his 81-point outing to hit the market. In addition to the shooting shirt, Kohler also received a one-of-one NFT from Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Basketball, per TMZ. The artwork is a tribute to Bryant's historic outing from 2006, a feat which has yet to be replicated.
Bryant scored 81 points in the Lakers' January 22, 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors. He converted on 28-of-46 field goal attempts, 18-of-20 free throws, and knocked down 7 of his 13 3-point shots on the night. Bryant added six rebounds, two assists, three steals, and had just three turnovers in the game.