2025-04-25 / Boardroom

JUST IN: Kobe Bryant’s 1996-97 rookie debut jersey sold for $7 million at Sotheby's—a new record for any Kobe memorabilia. Last auctioned for $115K in 2012, its value has skyrocketed thanks to unmatched rarity and cultural weight. Worn in seven games—including his NBA debut—the jersey captures the start of Kobe’s rise from high school phenom to global icon. More than a jersey, it’s the birth of the Mamba Mentality—five rings, two Finals MVPs, and a legacy that changed basketball forever.