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Quick Bytes
- Kobe Bryant’s Staples Center locker sold for a record $2.9 million at Sotheby’s.
- The locker sale supports the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation.
- A second statue honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant was unveiled by the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant’s Legacy Cemented with Record-Breaking Locker Sale and New Statue
In a remarkable auction, Kobe Bryant’s Staples Center locker has fetched $2.9 million, setting a new record for locker sales and becoming the third most expensive piece of Bryant memorabilia ever sold.
The intense bidding war concluded on August 2, with the price soaring in the last 20 minutes thanks to four determined bidders. Sotheby’s Head of Modern Collectibles, Brahm Wachter, emphasized the locker’s significance as a “profound relic” of the basketball icon’s storied career. The locker, documented in photos since the 2003-04 NBA season, witnessed Bryant’s unforgettable 81-point game and back-to-back championships.
Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation, honoring Bryant’s legacy off the court. The locker’s preservation was a stroke of luck, saved by a maintenance worker during 2018 renovations and later sold to a collector before making its way to auction.
Adding to the week’s tributes, the Lakers unveiled a second statue featuring Kobe and his daughter Gianna, capturing their bond and love for basketball. This statue is part of a series, with the third expected in the 2024-25 season.
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