A piece of history from one of the seminal moments of Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career is now on the auction block at Sotheby’s: The championship-clinching basketball used during Bryant’s first NBA title in 2000, signed by multiple members of the championship team including Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
With a single bid thus far at $400,000, the lot has already met its reserve. The auction will run until Dec. 11.
There has been an unquenchable thirst for all things relating to Bryant among high-end collectors, especially at Sotheby’s, which over the past few years has handled multiple record-breaking auctions of Bryant jerseys (led by the $7 million sale of his rookie debut gamer), sneakers and more.
The same auction also includes the championship-clinching ball from the following year, also signed by 13 Lakers, which has a current bid of $250,000.
Earlier this year, Sotheby’s sold the championship-clinching ball from the 2025 Finals for more than $100,000.
Additionally, a jersey worn by Bryant during two games of the 2010 NBA playoffs — a year which would end in a title for Bryant and the Lakers, is up for bidding, currently sitting at $200,000 on 45 bids and no reserve.
Want more stories like this? Subscribe to the cllct newsletter and follow cllct on X and Instagram.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.