Kobe Bryant’s father puts Lakers Championship Ring up for auction
Kobe Bryant.
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesKobe Bryant‘s father, Joe Bryantauctions off the replica of the championship ring given to him by his late son.
The 14-karat gold and 40 diamond ring was listed on the online auction website Goudin on the 8th of March. The frame includes several photos of the band, with the words “Lakers” and “World Champions” engraved at the top. The ring also features the phrase “Bling Bling” and Kobe’s name engraved on the side.
The description revealed that the jewelry was a token Kobe gave to his father after the athlete won his first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. According to the site, Kobe had an exact replica of his own championship ring made for his father, and it is the only ring Joe received from his son. The ring came directly from the Bryant family and has a letter of authenticity from Kobe’s mother, Pam Bryant.
Bidding started at $30,000 and is up to $141,000 as of this writing. The auction runs until March 30.
Gone too fast. Kobe Bryant passed away on January 26, 2020 at the age of 41, but left behind quite a legacy. The NBA star and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died in a fiery helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. The Los Angeles County Sheriff confirmed there were nine people on board the helicopter […]
This isn’t the first time Kobe’s parents have tried to sell the ring and other memorabilia. After attempting to sell some of Kobe’s items in 2013, Kobe sued his parents and the auction company, saying he had not allowed them to put the items up for sale. The matter was settled and Kobe’s mother and father eventually apologized.
“We regret our actions and statements regarding the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia,” they said ESPN at the time. “We apologize for any misunderstandings and unintended pain we may have caused our son and appreciate the financial support he has provided over the years. We also apologize to Goldin Auctions for their inadvertent involvement in this matter and thank them for their assistance.”
The decision to sell the ring comes three years after Kobe died in a helicopter crash at the age of 41, along with daughter Gianna, 13, and seven of their friends. Kobe leaves behind a wife Vanessa Bryant and their daughters Natalia, 21, Bianka, 7, and Capri, 4.
A lasting love. The decades-long romance between Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant tragically ended when the NBA legend passed away on January 26, 2020. Despite the heartbreaking conclusion of their relationship, their romance had many highs over the years. Kobe and Vanessa’s love affair began not long after the duo first met in November […]
Earlier this year, Kobe was honored with a statue in the Lakers’ home stadium. Kobe was a beloved member of the team, winning five championships with them during his career. Vanessa, 41, and her daughters were present when the statue was unveiled.
“It goes without saying that today is an especially sad day for us as Kobe and Gigi are not here for what should be an incredibly joyful moment and for Kobe’s legacy,” Vanessa said as she addressed the crowd. “Kobe has so many people who have supported him from the beginning all over the world. And this moment is not just for Kobe, but for everyone who has supported him all these years.”