In April 2025, at Sotheby’s Origins of the Mamba auction in New York, Kobe Bryant’s 1996–1997 rookie-season Los Angeles Lakers jersey sold for a record-breaking $7 million, setting a new world record for any Kobe Bryant item ever sold at auction. This historic result not only underscored the jersey’s cultural and collectible significance, but also helped cement Sotheby’s position at the forefront of the modern sports memorabilia market.

Photo-matched to seven pivotal moments during Bryant’s debut NBA season—including his NBA Media Day, preseason debut (October 16, 1996), and regular-season debut (November 3, 1996)—the jersey is a rare and iconic artifact marking the genesis of one of basketball’s greatest legacies. At just 18 years old, Bryant entered the league with a poise and competitive drive far beyond his years, qualities that would evolve into the legendary “Mamba Mentality.”

This sale took place amid a major shift in the collectibles landscape, where early-career artifacts from generational athletes are seeing explosive demand. From the $7.2M sale of a 1914 Babe Ruth card to Sotheby’s own record-setting $762,000 debut jersey of Victor Wembanyama, rookie memorabilia has become a defining category in the market’s evolution. Bryant’s jersey, last sold in 2012 for just over $115,000, is a prime example of how cultural resonance, and collector demand can converge to redefine value.

With this sale, Sotheby’s now holds the top five prices ever achieved for game-worn NBA jerseys, further reinforcing its leadership in placing modern sports memorabilia alongside fine art and cultural icons.