Kobe Bryant Jersey From First All-Star Season to Be Auctioned Starting at $20K

The day after Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and more stars honored Kobe Bryant at a memorial at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, an auction is readying to offer memorabilia from the late L.A. Lakers star. 

Nate D. Sanders Auctions on Thursday will host a Kobe Bryant auction, starring one of the game-worn jerseys from his first All-Star season in 1998-1999. Bidding begins at $20,000. Other items to hit the block include three basketballs signed by Bryant (starting at $3,750 each) and trading cards signed by Bryant, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

“The tragic death of Kobe Bryant has devastated the city,” owner Nate Sanders said Tuesday in a statement. “People continue to grieve and mourn the loss of the most popular player to wear the Purple and Gold. This is an opportunity for fans to remember their hero by owning memorabilia from his remarkable career.”

Ten percent of the profits will go to one of Bryant’s favorite nonprofits, After-School All-Stars, which has served 90,000 kids in 13 states to help lower-income children.

Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died along with seven others last month in a helicopter crash outside L.A. On Monday it was announced that Bryant’s widow Vanessa is suing the helicopter operator for wrongful death.

On Thursday, Julien’s Auctions announced its own Sports Legends auction that will be held on April 30 and feature Bryant’s number 8 home Lakers uniform, which was worn during the 1999-2000 NBA Finals (estimated value of $10,000-$20,000). His handprints in cement from the Chinese Theater are estimated to get $4,000-$6,000; his number 24 jersey from the 2006-2007 season is expected to fetch $4,000-$6,000; and a pair of signed Adidas sneakers is estimated to sell for $2,000-$4,000. 

Julien’s Auctions is inviting fans to attend the free public exhibition, which opens April 27, at its gallery in Beverly Hills.

At the memorial, Vanessa called Bryant her “soulmate” and read a love letter to her late daughter and husband. She also revealed that Bryant had an affinity for memorabilia himself and even gave her the original dress and notebook from the 2004 film The Notebook: “He was truly the romantic one in our relationship.”

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Feb. 27, 3 p.m.: Updated with Julien’s Auctions information.