Kobe Bryant's 1st NBA Jersey Sells for Record $7M at Auction, Worn for Lakers Debut

The first Los Angeles Lakers jersey that Kobe Bryant wore during his NBA career sold for $7 million at a Sotheby's auction on Thursday, per Will Stern of cllct.

According to Sotheby's, it set a new world record for any Bryant memorabilia sold at auction.

That was the second-highest price for an NBA jersey ever, trailing only the $10.1 million that Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for previously.

"What I've noticed over the last 18 months is the demand for Kobe, the rate of growth, I think is actually outpacing Jordan," Sotheby’s SVP and head of modern collectables, Brahm Wachter, told Stern. "I think Kobe touched a lot of people and I think a lot of people can take the Mamba mentality... and I think a lot of executives can relate to him."

Per Stern, Thursday's sale was the seventh-most expensive piece of sports memorabilia sold in history.

Bryant wore the jersey for his NBA debut on Nov. 3, 1996, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After being listed as a DNP in the Lakers' first game of the 1996-97 season, Bryant went scoreless in just over six minutes of action while attempting one shot.

Kobe went on to win five NBA titles with the Lakers and sits fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.