Sotheby's Auctions Kobe Bryant High School Jersey
The No. 33 jersey worn by Kobe Bryant during his junior season at Lower Merion is officially up for auction.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Basketball
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Sotheby's has listed a high school jersey worn by Kobe Bryant during his junior season at Lower Merion. The auction house authenticated the item through a detailed photo-matching process.
Why it matters
This auction highlights the enduring market value for authentic memorabilia linked to Bryant, who played in the No. 33 jersey during his high school career.
The jersey previously commanded $51,400 at auction, significantly trailing the $2.73 million paid for a Bryant rookie Lakers jersey in 2022. Additionally, a high school jersey belonging to LeBron James sold for $1.3 million in September 2024.
The players
Kobe Bryant
He was a legendary professional basketball player who won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sotheby's
This is a multinational corporation that functions as a high-end auction house for art, jewelry, and collectible memorabilia.
LeBron James
He is a prominent professional basketball player currently competing in the NBA.
The details
Experts verified the authenticity of the junior season jersey by comparing specific fabric details and construction against historical photographs of Bryant. The item has been unavailable for public sale for over a decade since its last transaction.
Timeline
Lower Merion won a state championship in 1996.
Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in 2020.
Bryant's white home jersey was sold for $50,000 in 2021.
A rookie Lakers jersey sold for $2.73 million in 2022.
A LeBron James high school jersey sold for $1.3 million in September 2024.
Season Trajectory
This auction follows the pattern set by the 2024 LeBron James high school jersey sale, which demonstrated substantial market interest in pre-professional gear. It marks a continued trend of high valuations for artifacts documenting the early development of legendary NBA stars.
Interested collectors should note the $51,400 baseline established by the previous sale as a primary data point for current bidding. The item represents a rare segment of basketball history that predates Bryant's professional career in the NBA.
The takeaway
Collectors tracking this auction should weigh the item's historical significance against recent market trends for similar high school memorabilia. This sale serves as a barometer for how secondary markets currently value early-career artifacts from iconic athletes.
Further reading
Learn more about the collector market for basketball memorabilia at United States Basketball.
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