Set to sell for the third time in two years, a pair of Kobe Bryant game-used sneakers are heading back to auction, this time with a photo-match to his first NBA start.
Originally sold at Heritage for $28,800 in November 2023, the lot description for the pair mentioned an apparent match to an undated image against the Mavericks. The sneakers originated from a storage unit once owned by NBA guard Derek Harper, who played for the Mavericks during that season in 1996-97.
The same sneakers sold for a slight increase of $34,160 at Goldin in November 2024. Goldin similarly reported the pair was accompanied by an apparent match, but wrote in its lot description, “Sports Investors Authentication have made an apparent photo-match of the shoes to a Lakers road game against the Dallas Mavericks; the match has been made to a Getty image (No. 75045116) likely taken on Jan. 28, 1997.”
What both Heritage and Goldin neglected to mention was the image SIA referenced happened to be Bryant’s first NBA start.
Now, less than nine months later, those same sneakers could sell at SCP Auctions for double its previous price.
SIA has since been able to provide a full match to that game, in which an 18-year-old Bryant became the youngest player to start an NBA game.
Bidding on the lot, which closes Saturday, is currently at $55,000.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.