Kobe Bryant's High School Jersey Fetches Record $2.2 Million at Auction
The game-worn No. 33 jersey from Lower Merion High School became the most expensive high school jersey ever sold.
Kobe Bryant's high school basketball jersey has set a new auction record, selling for $2.2 million. The No. 33 jersey, worn by Bryant during his time at Lower Merion High School, was sold by Sotheby's, making it the most expensive high school jersey ever sold at auction.
Sotheby's described the jersey as the starting point of Bryant's storied career, predating his NBA championships and the "Mamba Mentality." The auction house stated that the jersey "symbolizes that greatness has a beginning."
The jersey generated significant interest, with 26 bids from seven different bidders. This sale surpasses the previous record held by LeBron James' St. Vincent-St. Mary jersey, which sold for $1.3 million in 2024. That jersey was worn during James' famous 2002 Sports Illustrated cover shoot.
Bryant wore the auctioned jersey during his junior season, including a game against Hazleton, Pa., Area in March 1995. This particular jersey is unique among his game-worn attire as it does not feature "Lakers" or "Los Angeles" across the chest, as he entered the NBA draft directly after high school.
The jersey was previously sold in 2013 for $51,400. The record-breaking sale adds to the extensive list of valuable memorabilia associated with Bryant. In August 2022, a 2007-2008 dual-autograph card featuring Bryant and Michael Jordan sold for $12.6 million.
Bryant played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, earning five NBA titles, two Finals MVP awards, one league MVP, and 18 All-Star selections. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2017, the Lakers retired both of Bryant's No. 8 and No. 24 jersey numbers, a distinction unique in NBA history. He was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.