The sneakers worn by Kobe Bryant when he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 30,000 points have hit the auction block at Sotheby’s, with a pre-sale estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.
Bryant crossed the 30,000-point threshold in a December 2012 game against the Hornets, scoring 29 points in the Lakers' 103-87 victory in Charlotte.
According to a letter of provenance, the consignor obtained the shoes after the game.
“Kobe and I had a mutual friend,” wrote the consignor, who said the friend was one of the biggest Kobe fans and Kobe game-worn collectors “to ever exist.” The mutual friend invited the consignor to watch the game in New Orleans.
Afterward, Bryant invited them to the locker room. The jersey from that game went to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, while the sneakers, signed and inscribed with “30K” and the date “12-5-12” were gifted to the consigner, who says they were the only pair Bryant wore during the game.
A ticket from the game is also included in the lot.
Bryant memorabilia has been on the rise in recent years, headlined by record sales for his game-worn jerseys, such as the $5.85 million paid for one worn during at least 25 games during his 2007-08 MVP season, and the $660,000 record sale last month of his “Achilles” sneakers.
Sotheby’s is also slated to auction Bryant’s jersey from his NBA debut this spring, which carries a pre-sale estimate of $10 million.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.