The late, great Kobe Bryant won five rings in his legendary career, but the one heading to auction this month is perhaps the most sentimental of the quintet.
The glitzy gold rarity, which will go under the gavel at Goldin’s upcoming March Elite Sports Auction, commemorates the shooting guard’s first championship victory. Bryant helped the Lakers win the 2000 NBA title in a six-game series over the Indiana Pacers, despite suffering from a sprained ankle during Game 2 and Game 3. In Game 4, he played 47 of 53 minutes and scored 28 points for his team. The victorious Lakers were then awarded coveted championship rings.
The ring heading to auction is not the executive version the players received but is “the same exact ring,” according to Goldin. Bryant reportedly ordered an extra copy of the ring as a special gift for his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant. He famously played in the NBA for eight seasons and scored an average of 8.7 points per game from 1975 to 1983.
Crafted from 14-karat gold, the size 11 ½ ring weighs a substantial 59.6 grams and is set with an impressive 40 diamonds. The word “Lakers” sits at the center in purple enamel, while “World” and “Champions” run across the top and bottom of the design. Bryant’s name is plastered across one side with banners showing the Laker’s regular season mark of 67-15 and their postseason win-loss record of 15-8. The other side features the words “Bling Bling” and a tableaux of a ball—a diamond ball, naturally—going into a hoop.
Goldin says this is the only championship ring Kobe ever gifted his father. It was obtained directly from the family and comes with a Letter of Authenticity (LOA) from Pam Bryant.The lot has no pre-auction estimate, but it will likely fetch a pretty penny. Bidding is currently sitting at $54,000, with 15 days left on the sale.
Bryant isn’t the only NBA star with memorabilia at the Elite Sports Auction, of course. Other highlights include LeBron’s 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers NBA championship ring, Kevin Durant’s game-worn Golden State Warriors jersey from 2017, and Steph Curry’s twice-signed Under Armour sneakers. In addition, rare basketball cards signed by Michael Jordan will be up for grabs.
The online auction wraps up on March 31, so you still have some time left on the shot clock.
Authors
Demetrius Simms
Demetrius Simms is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. Following a brief stint in public relations, their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture publications such as Men's Health, Complex…
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FAQs
This is the third time Bryant's ring has been sold since it was auctioned in 2013 by his parents, Joe and Pam. It was most recently sold a year ago by SPC Auctions. The ring comes with a letter of authenticity signed by Pam Bryant, which has accompanied the ring since the first time it was auctioned.
Who sold the Kobe Bryant 2000 championship ring? ›
Goldin Auction's consignor was the prior owner of the ring. Joe Bryant sold it to the consignor in 2013, when Kobe was still in the league, for $173,000, which was the record price at the time for a ring gifted by a player to someone else.
How much is the Kobe Bryant championship ring worth? ›
A buyer has purchased Kobe Bryant's 2000 Lakers championship ring for $927,000. The fee included the buyer's premium, and is the highest price ever paid for an NBA title ring. The previous high mark was $705,000 for Bill Russell's 1957 ring (the first of his 11 championships), paid in 2021.
Did Kobe sell his ring? ›
Kobe ended up taking his parents to court over them selling his ring and basketball memorabilia. The lawsuit reached a settlement, and Kobe's parents were allowed to sell the ring and other items. Now, the buyer has sold the ring thirteen years later.
How did Kobe's parents get his ring? ›
Kobe died in January 2020 along with his daughter Gianna and seven others in a tragic helicopter crash. He ordered the ring as a special gift for his father after the Lakers prevailed over the Indiana Pacers to snatch 2000's NBA title.
What age did Kobe get his first ring? ›
Kobe Bryant was 21 years old when winning >0 championships in 1999-00.
How many rings did Kobe earn? ›
The late, great Kobe Bryant won five rings in his legendary career, but the one heading to auction this month is perhaps the most sentimental of the quintet.
How much is this year's NBA championship ring worth? ›
The value of an NBA ring is between 50,000 and 150,000 dollars. It is said that one of the most expensive was the one worn by Drake, a Toronto Raptors fan, when the Canadian franchise became champions in the 2019 season.
How much is LeBron James ring worth? ›
For LeBron James, Ring Worth At Least $10 Million.
How much is Kobe Bryant's wife's ring worth? ›
Late basketball legend Kobe Bryant gifted his wife, Vanessa, a new engagement ring in the early 2000s. The eight-carat emerald-cut purple diamond, worth about $4 million, features an infinity band.
Just two years after Ring got kicked off “Shark Tank” without a deal, O'Neal saw the potential and not only invested but also became a brand ambassador. He appeared in a number of commercials for Ring, which was later acquired by Amazon.com Inc. for $1 billion.
How much did Kobe's dad sell his ring for? ›
Share Video. Link copied! A 2000 NBA title ring that late Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant gifted to his father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, has sold for $927,000 at an auction. The 43-bid auction was held by Goldin Auctions and is the highest price tag ever paid for an NBA championship ring.
Who inherited Kobe's money? ›
Since his wife, Vanessa, survived him, legally she would inherit his entire estate.
Did Kobe's parents attend his funeral? ›
John Salley talks about Kobe Bryant's parents
Bryant's parents were present at the funeral, however, they chose not to speak. His sisters Shaya and Sharia were also present. Both were seated in the front row.
