Kobe Bryant’s first No. 24 jersey, worn by the Los Angeles Lakers from 2006, sold for $889,000 at Sotheby’s.
According to ESPN, the jersey is signed by Bryant with the inscriptions “FIRST 24” and “1/1” on the jersey’s numbers. It also has an Upper Deck hologram, “as the company had an autograph and memorabilia deal with Bryant until 2009.”
Bryant debuted the jersey on Nov. 3, 2006 posting 23 points in a 118-112 victory against the Seattle Supersonics. The same season, he told reporters why the jersey change was significant.
“When I first came in at 8, I was really trying to ‘plant your flag’ sort of thing. I got to prove that I belong here in this league,” Bryant explained. “ I’ve got to prove that I’m one of the best in this league. You’re going after them. It’s nonstop energy and aggressiveness and stuff.”
After switching jersey numbers, Bryant led the Lakers to two NBA championships and earned back-to-back Finals MVP honors in 2009 and 2010, driving the Lakers to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances.
While the price of the 2006 jersey was quite expensive, it pales in comparison to some of Bryant’s other items. A team jersey from his 1996-97 rookie season went for $7 million at Sotheby’s in April and remains the most ever paid for any Bryant jersey. That jersey was sold by Sotheby’s in April.