Kobe Bryant Had a 2000 NBA Championship Ring Made for His Father. Now It Could Be Yours.
The late, great Kobe Bryant won five rings in his legendary career, but the one heading to auction this month is perhaps the most sentimental of the quintet.
The glitzy gold rarity, which will go under the gavel at Goldin’s upcoming March Elite Sports Auction, commemorates the shooting guard’s first championship victory. Bryant helped the Lakers win the 2000 NBA title in a six-game series over the Indiana Pacers, despite suffering from a sprained ankle during Game 2 and Game 3. In Game 4, he played 47 of 53 minutes and scored 28 points for his team. The victorious Lakers were then awarded coveted championship rings.
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The ring heading to auction is not the executive version the players received but is “the same exact ring,” according to Goldin. Bryant reportedly ordered an extra copy of the ring as a special gift for his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant. He famously played in the NBA for eight seasons and scored an average of 8.7 points per game from 1975 to 1983.
Crafted from 14-karat gold, the size 11 ½ ring weighs a substantial 59.6 grams and is set with an impressive 40 diamonds. The word “Lakers” sits at the center in purple enamel, while “World” and “Champions” run across the top and bottom of the design. Bryant’s name is plastered across one side with banners showing the Laker’s regular season mark of 67-15 and their postseason win-loss record of 15-8. The other side features the words “Bling Bling” and a tableaux of a ball—a diamond ball, naturally—going into a hoop.
Goldin says this is the only championship ring Kobe ever gifted his father. It was obtained directly from the family and comes with a Letter of Authenticity (LOA) from Pam Bryant. The lot has no pre-auction estimate, but it will likely fetch a pretty penny. Bidding is currently sitting at $54,000, with 15 days left on the sale.
Bryant isn’t the only NBA star with memorabilia at the Elite Sports Auction, of course. Other highlights include LeBron’s 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers NBA championship ring, Kevin Durant’s game-worn Golden State Warriors jersey from 2017, and Steph Curry’s twice-signed Under Armour sneakers. In addition, rare basketball cards signed by Michael Jordan will be up for grabs.
The online auction wraps up on March 31, so you still have some time left on the shot clock.
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