This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 9/7/2012.
As a rookie, Kobe Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest. Bryant led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. He was awarded the regular season's MVP in 2008. After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, earning the NBA Finals MVP Award on both occasions. He is the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. Since his second year in the league, Bryant has started in every NBA All-Star Game that has been held with fourteen All-Star appearances, winning the All-Star MVP Award four times. In 2009, Sporting News named Bryant the top NBA player of the 2000’s decade. On the left front tail is the “Champion” manufacturer’s tag with wash instructions and jersey size “46”. Adjacent is the “96-97 Designed & Tailored Exclusively for Los Angeles Lakers Body Length +4” tag. Across the front is “LAKERS”. Player number “8” appears on both the front and back. Player name “BRYANT” appears across the back. All numbers and letters are done in purple on white tackle twill. On the left chest is the official NBA logo embroidered in gold. Kobe has signed the back below the number in black marker adding the inscription “8” rating a 7-8. Inside the rear waistband of the matching home shorts are the same two “Champion” tags with size “40”. Player number “8” is written in black marker. Inside the rear inner seam are four flag tags, “100% Nylon”, “3 Inch Extra Inseam”, “2 Inch Extra Rise” and “1996-1997”. Kobe has signed the front right leg, rare full vintage signature with added inscription “8” rating an 8-9. Adjacent is the official NBA logo embroidered in gold. The uniform is properly tagged, was presented to us as game-used and in our opinion, shows appropriate use. Accompanied by a LOA from JSA.