Lakers ring Kobe gifted to father sells for $927K
Written by I Dig SportsA ring from the Los Angeles Lakers' 2000 NBA title -- gifted from Kobe Bryant to his father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant -- sold for $927,000, including buyer's premium with collectibles marketplace Goldin, over the weekend.
The hotly contested 43-bid auction resulted in the most ever paid for an NBA championship ring.
The 2000 championship, Kobe's first of five titles, was the only time he gifted his father with a ring. Goldin noted that it is an identical copy of the one given to Kobe: BRYANT etched on one side, with the same sizing (11), weight (59.6 grams) and etchings.
The ring was originally consigned to Goldin in 2013 by Pam and Joe Bryant and sold for $173,000. For this weekend's sale, the 2013 buyer consigned the ring, which comes with a letter of authenticity from the Bryants.
It isn't, however, an overall record paid for a sports championship ring; that still belongs to the $2.09 million netted by Charlie Sheen for Babe Ruth's 1927 World Series title ring.