This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/26/2016.
The 2000-01 NBA season resulted in the Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive NBA championship. Kobe Bryant averaged 24.6 points per game in the 4-1 series victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. On the front left tail is a Nike size “52” manufacturer’s tag with a “LENGTH + 4” flag tag attached below. On the left seam is a Nike “DRI FIT” tag. On the left inseam is a materials tag with washing instructions and a Nike “2000-01” year tag. On the left chest is the official “NBA” logo embroidered and on the right chest is a “NBA FINALS” patch embroidered. Across the chest reads, “LAKERS” and across the back reads the player name “BRYANT”. These are done in purple on white tackle twill. The player number “8” appears on both the front and on the back in white on purple tackle twill. Bryant signed both player numbers in black pen. JSA was uncomfortable forming an opinion on the autograph. We have yet to uncover a conclusive photo-match from the limited availability of period images for this item. It is more than possible that Bryant was issued more than one shirt for this event (ie: first half, second half, PR event, back-up etc.). This jersey is properly tagged, was presented to us as game-used and in our opinion shows appropriate use. Accompanied by an LOA from D.C. Sports.
This lot is part of a family owned collection of some of the best Kobe Bryant memorabilia ever publicly auctioned. Every item is hobby fresh. The timing could not be more perfect, as the basketball world recently celebrated Bryant's final farewell season in the NBA. Bryant is one of the league's greatest players of all time and will be remembered for being one of the only players who could muster up a killer instinct akin to Michael Jordan. Bryant won five NBA championships, was a two-time NBA Finals MVP and was named the regular season MVP once. Bryant holds the record for the most consecutive All-Star Game appearances with 18 and was named to 15 All-NBA Teams. Bryant put in the work on both ends of the floor and was named to nine NBA All-Defensive First Teams. The two-time scoring champion is the Los Angeles Lakers all-time leading scorer and ranks third on both the league's all-time regular season scoring and all-time postseason scoring lists. Grey Flannel Auctions is honored to offer this lot of the soon-to-be Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee to our bidders.