Sotheby’s is currently auctioning off the single artifact from his historic game for the Los Angeles Lakers. On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant’s 81-point victory against the Toronto Raptors was one of the grandest single accomplishments in NBA history.
According to Sotheby’s, Kobe Bryant wore the distinct shooting shirt’ on the day of his 81-point victory. As per the sports memorabilia website, The MeiGray Group, a photo-matching study also links the shooting jersey to at minimum six more critical events. It spans months after the 81-point record.
The “81” special single-lot sale will also feature a one-of-one non-fungible token (NFT) designed by Karvin Cheung. Cheung is the Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Basketball cards developer.
The Particular Shirt
While Bryant has five NBA championships and seven NBA Finals matches to his credit, many supporters regard his 81-point game as his crowning performance. It is the second-highest points made by one player in a match after Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 in 1962.
His iconic Nike Zoom Kobe 1s is now housed at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He wore the Nike Zoom Kobe 1s in his iconic game. The Hall of Fame reportedly wanted the remainder of his uniform, but his wife insisted on keeping it. In an interview with ESPN, Bryant claimed that he had planned on sending the uniform to them. This is because he thought it was great that a player still playing had items in the Hall of Fame. On the other hand, his wife had advised him to keep the uniform. She had told him that he could send the shoes if he genuinely wished to send something. However, the uniform was not going anywhere. As a result, the outfit remained in their home.
What Makes Sotheby Stand Out?
Even though this auction includes an original item, it is also a first of its kind in other ways. Coins will be accepted at Sotheby’s as well. For the first time ever, Sotheby’s will be auctioning athletic goods.
This is also the auction house’s first-time selling sports memorabilia with a matching NFT. Mr. Cheung, a prominent character in the collectible world known as “The Architect,” designed the token. It incorporates aspects of his Chinese ancestry such as the number eight and a red and gold design.
When asked to comment on the design, Mr. Cheung claimed that the Lucky Envelope influenced the red and gold design. Lucky envelopes are a ritual at any event, including birthdays, weddings, and childbirth. For the Chinese New Year, it is uniform among all Chinese people. The number eight denotes success and prosperity, which is why many people desire it to be a part of their daily lives.
The online auction will occur from February 15–22, 2022.
