Cam’ron and Ma$e are theorizing why Kobe Bryant‘s parents are auctioning off his first NBA Championship ring. On the Friday (Mar. 22) episode ofIt Is What It Is, the duo pointed to the late basketball icon’s relationship with his parents as a motive.
“History has shown a little bit that Kobe and his parents weren’t on the best of terms, because of their relationship,” he explained. “I think that could play a part into why they selling the ring…Your family can sometimes do you the worst; it could be worse than what you get in the street.”
Former NFL player Maurice Clarett, the episode’s special guest, surmised that the ring was being sold to make a little money since Vanessa Bryant and Kobe’s estate isn’t supporting the rest of his family. Allegedly, of course. Clarett admitted he gathered his information based on hearsay and was merely speculating on the matter.
Cam echoed Ma$e’s sentiments and explained how the acclaimed basketball player’s strained relationship with his mom and dad could be the most obvious reason. Cam’ron then detailed how Vanessa stayed committed to Kobe even through the alleged infidelity. The Dipset rapper used the alleged affair as an example of how loyal Vanessa is to Kobe and standing by the late athlete.
“Like Mo said, everybody knows Kobe wasn’t f**king with his parents because his parents weren’t f**king with Vanessa,” Cam said. “He met Vanessa at a young age. They told him, ‘You bugging out, you don’t need to get with this girl. You’re gonna meet 100 girls.’ He went against his parents, ended up meeting Vanessa, ended up being his wife.
“[She] never got caught cheating. Kobe got caught cheating, and she didn’t leave,” he added. “She coulda [gotten] divorced and got half of it, but she stuck with him.”
Gilbert Arenas also speculated why Joe and Pam Bryant are auctioning off the gift. During a recentNo Chill Gilepisode, the former NBA player explained that his estranged parents “are broke.”
“The money wasn’t left to them,” he said. “They trying to eat…but this is the second time they tried to sell his memorabilia. And the first time, Kobe had to take ’em to court for [trying] to sell without his permission. But this goes out to all parents out there: when you’re living off of your kids, eventually they cut you off. When you start becoming more of a bill, they cut you off—it happens across the board.”
As of the publication date of this article, the ring is still up for auction onGoldin. The item is listed as “2000 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship Ring 14K-40 Diamonds – Laker Issued Player Ring Gifted by Kobe to Joe Bryant – Pam Bryant LOA,” with the leading bid currently priced at $141,000. The starting bid for the piece of memorabilia was priced at $30,000.
Sports Illustratedreports that Bryant’s parents first considered selling the replica ring in 2013, eight years before Kobe Bryant’s untimely passing. Bryant commissioned the ring bling for his parents as a replica of his first NBA Championship ring with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000.
