This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/26/2016.
On the front left tail is a “Champion” size “46” manufacturer’s tag with washing instructions. Adjacent is a “Champion” distributor’s tag that reads, “DESIGNED & TAILORED 95-96 EXCLUSIVELY FOR LOS ANGELES LAKERS BODY LENGTH +4”. On the left inseam is a materials tag. This jersey is a carryover from previous year's stock, as indicated by the purple and gold “NBA” logo on the left chest. A red, white and blue logo has been covered up by a patch denoting NBA’s 50th anniversary. This is a positive attribute, as we have seen period imagery of Bryant on the court with this characteristic. Across the chest reads, “LAKERS” and across the back reads the player name “BRYANT”. These are done in yellow on white tackle twill. The player number “8” appears on both the front and on the back in white on yellow tackle twill sewn directly onto the purple mesh jersey. Bryant signed the front player number in black pen and in our opinion, rates an 8-9 overall. This jersey is properly tagged, was presented to us as game-used and in our opinion shows excellent use. Accompanied by an LOA from JSA and 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.