NBA legend Kobe Bryant's debut season uniform was auctioned off for about 10 billion won, setting a new record.
According to a report by ESPN on the 25th (Korea Standard Time), the uniform worn by Kobe when he played in seven games in the 1996-97 season when he was a rookie was sold for $7 million (about 10.24 billion won) at Sotheby's auction.
The uniform is nearly 60 times higher than when Kobe was auctioned off in 2012 for $15,242 (about 160 million won).
The uniform was sold for the highest amount of Kobe's merchandise and set a new record for more than $5.849,700 recorded by the MVP uniform in the 2007-08 season.
Furthermore, it became the fourth most expensive uniform in the history of sports. The most expensive uniform was that of MLB legend Babe Ruth, who was sold for $24 million, followed by Michael Jordan's Last Dance ($10.1 million), and Diego Maradona's 1986 World Cup God's Hand ($9.3 million).
"Debut season games are a truly special moment in my career and signal the beginning of an extraordinary journey," said an official at Sotheby's Auction. "For an iconic athlete like Kobe, these milestones mean even more because they represent a special moment that can never be reproduced."
Kobe Bryant played only for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years after being selected 13th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft. He led his team to a five-time NBA championship, and left a brilliant career, including an 18-time All-Star selection and a 2008 regular-league MVP award. However, in January 2020, he and his daughter Gianna died in a helicopter accident, causing great sadness for fans around the world.
The auction results show that Kobe's legacy still remains a special meaning for sports fans around the world. 먹튀검증