Who would have thought that such a treasure was hidden in the “locals” locker room at the Staples Center? No, it's not gold bars hidden in the ceiling, but simply the locker of Kobe Bryantwhich a worker had the good idea to preserve in 2018, during the renovation work on the Lakers stadium.
Unfortunately, it was not this anonymous worker who pocketed the jackpot, since the latter then sold it to a private collector, who recovered everything, with the plaque bearing the name of the Lakers legend, and who therefore hit the jackpot following an auction that became historic as reported by Sotheby's, a company specializing in auctions.
Four times the original estimate!
Initially estimated at $750,000, already a tidy sum for a metal cabinet, the former locker of the “Black Mamba”, which was used from 2003 to 2016, finally went for $2.9 million! Four potential buyers made the price soar in the last 20 minutes of the sale, it's the game of bidding and it therefore brought in a lot of money.
Which obviously makes it the most expensive “sports locker” in the history of auctions. It is also the third biggest sale in history for an item related to the late Kobe, who died in January 2020, after a signed jersey from his rookie season accompanied by a photo ($3.7 million in 2021), and another jersey, also signed and decorated with a photo, this time dating from his only MVP season, in 2007-2008 ($5.6 million).
“Kobe Bryant's locker is not just a collector's item,” said Brahm Wachterhead of modern collectibles at Sotheby's. “This is a profound relic of the history of one of the greatest basketball players in history. Today’s award highlights not only Kobe’s enduring legacy, but also the exceptional nature of this unique object.”
Please note that part of the sale will be donated directly to the “Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation”.
