Kobe Bryant’s locker sells for $2.9 million, while Lakers unveil his statue

The locker used by Kobe Bryant for most of his storied NBA career sold for an impressive $2.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction on Friday. The locker, which Bryant used while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, nearly doubled its estimated value of $1.5 million.

According to Sotheby’s, a maintenance worker saved the locker from being discarded during the Staples Center’s 2018 renovations. The locker was later acquired by an American collector.

Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles, remarked, “Today’s price highlights not only Kobe’s enduring legacy but also the exceptional nature of this unique item.”

The auction, held in New York, also featured memorabilia from other sports legends like Michael Jordan and Reggie Jackson, as well as contemporary stars such as Rafael Nadal and Stephen Curry.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers unveiled their second statue of Kobe Bryant, this time featuring his daughter Gianna. The bronze statue, displayed outside Crypto.com Arena, merges two iconic images of father and daughter taken courtside at Lakers games.

The Lakers plan to unveil a third statue during the 2024-25 season. (AP photo)

It celebrates Bryant’s pride in being a ‘Girl Dad’.

The statue’s unveiling was purposely timed on August 2, aligning with Kobe’s jersey numbers 8 and 24, and Gianna’s number 2. This date mirrors the previous unveiling of Bryant’s first statue, which commemorates his 81-point game in 2006.

Vanessa Bryant, speaking at the unveiling, reflected on her family’s commitment to women’s sports and equality. She emphasized Gianna’s potential and the barriers she faced due to gender. “In honor of Kobe and Gigi, I ask you this: give young girls your time. Give them your support. Tell them they can do anything any man can do and tell them they can exceed that,” Vanessa Bryant urged.

The Lakers plan to unveil a third statue during the 2024-25 season, making Kobe the first Laker to receive multiple statues.

(With inputs from Vanguard, Daily Gazette, New York Post)

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