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Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James' game-worn “USA” Kobe Twos which was gifted by Kobe Bryant himself back in 2002 reportedly fetched a whopping $156,000 price tag at Heritage Auction, via ESPN‘s Nick DePaula.
According to James, it was his “most fond moment” together with the late Lakers icon during the early stages of his basketball career.
Wild — LeBron’s game worn “USA” Kobe Twos, gifted to him straight from Kobe in 2002 and his “most fond moment” of Bryant — have sold for $156,000 at @HeritageAuction: https://t.co/FUN8Lj2DC5 pic.twitter.com/m2rlfHjCEY
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) February 28, 2021
Back in 2002, James was still playing at the high school level for St. Vincent – St. Mary High School. He apparently wore the pair when he played in their highly-anticipated matchup against fellow blue-chip prospect Carmelo Anthony and his Oak Hill squad in Trenton, New Jersey.
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At the time, Bryant was already in his sixth season in the league and is vying for a three-peat championship with the Lakers while playing alongside Shaquille O'Neal. He was previously under contract with Adidas and the pair that he gifted to LeBron James was his second signature shoe with the sneaker brand.
Over a year later, both James and Anthony jumped straight to the league and were selected with the first and third overall picks in the 2003 NBA Draft, respectively. Meanwhile, Bryant and his Lakers squad successfully bagged their third straight title by way of a Finals sweep at the expense of the New Jersey Nets.
It remains unknown when, where, and how Kobe Bryant gave the shoes to the younger LeBron James but it certainly looks like a pair that has been kept for many years due to the evident yellowing of the upper section of the shoe.
Due to the legend's previous passing back in January of 2020, memorabilia items that are connected to him in some way or another will continue to skyrocket in the years to come.
