Kobe Bryant spent two decades wearing a Los Angeles Lakers uniform, battling night in and night out in pursuit of victory. Unfortunately, Father Time catches up to even the best of us, and Bryant’s basketball career came to an end in April.
Before the final buzzer sounded, Bryant treated Lakers fans to one final mesmerizing performance. In his last game, Kobe went off for an unfathomable 60 points while leading Los Angeles to a come-from-behind win against the Utah Jazz. It was an unforgettable performance and one that just may go down in history as the greatest farewell game ever. Lakers supporters turned out in droves to thank their five-time NBA champion, but in the end, it was Bryant who presented his fans with one final show of appreciation.
The Lakers installed a large “8” and “24” into the Staples Center floor to commemorate the evening and had Bryant sign them after the game. The “8” piece was put up for auction by the MeiGray group, with the proceeds from the sale going to the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation.
The online auction, which began on April 27th, came to a close shortly after midnight on May 16th. The winning bid will pay a whopping $179,100 in order to own a piece of Lakers history, according to auction.nba.com.
While that may be a massive sum, the impact that Bryant has had on the game of basketball and the Lakers organization dictated a high price. When Bryant’s incredible final performance on that floor is factored in, it’s not surprising that someone with deep pockets would be willing to fork over that much cash.
The Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation helps underserved youth develop their potential by providing positive experiences and resources in education, health and wellness, and sports. The money will help kids who need it, and one lucky fan will now have an incredible piece of memorabilia for their collection.