Kobe Bryant High School Jersey Fetches Record Price

The basketball star's game-worn jersey from his junior year sold at auction for over $2 million.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive illustration of a vintage maroon basketball jersey in a spotlight, representing the record-breaking sale of sports memorabilia. — Kobe Bryant’s game-worn junior year jersey from Lower Merion High School sold at Sotheby’s for a record $2.176 million on Tuesday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Kobe Bryant's maroon No. 33 high school jersey sold for a record-breaking $2,176,000 at a Sotheby's auction. The sale marks the highest price ever paid for a high school basketball jersey at auction.

Why it matters

The record-setting sale highlights intense collector demand for authentic artifacts representing the formative early careers of legendary basketball players. This result significantly elevates the valuation of memorabilia from stars' high school years.

The jersey commanded a final price of $2,176,000 following 26 bids from seven individual participants. This represents a 4,133% increase in value compared to its previous auction sale of $51,400 in 2013.

The players

Kobe Bryant

He was an iconic professional basketball player whose early career and high school years in Pennsylvania have become focal points for sports memorabilia collectors.

Sotheby's

This is a world-renowned fine art and luxury goods auction house that manages the sale of high-value collectibles and historical artifacts.

SIA Photo Match

This organization specializes in the professional authentication of sports memorabilia through the systematic comparison of artifacts to historical photographic records.

The details

Worn by Bryant during his 1994-95 junior season at Lower Merion High School, the garment was authenticated by SIA Photo Match using period-correct images. The final price exceeded pre-sale expectations that ranged between $1 million and $2 million.

Kobe Bryant wore the jersey during his 1994-1995 junior season.
The jersey previously sold for $51,400 at Goldin Auctions in 2013.
A LeBron James jersey set a then-record of $1.3 million in 2024.
The auction for the jersey closed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This record-shattering sale follows the precedent set by the 2024 sale of a LeBron James jersey for $1.3 million. By establishing a new high-water mark for high school memorabilia, this event redefines the market valuation for foundational player artifacts.

This auction result confirms that elite basketball memorabilia has moved into a new price tier for high-end collectors. Potential investors in sports assets should note that authentic, photo-matched jerseys from Hall of Fame players now routinely exceed seven-figure valuations.

The takeaway

Collectors continue to prioritize verified, game-worn gear from the early years of legendary athletes. This sale reinforces the trend of exponential value growth for historical items linked to basketball icons.