Kobe Bryant-Signed Hardwood Floor from His Last Game at Staples Center Sells for $631K
In what’s been a crazy 2020, one of the many losses and heartaches people have experienced this year was when basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and seven others passed away in a tragic helicopter crash on their way to a youth basketball game.
Since that day in January, fans around the world have been reflecting and remembering Bryant’s life and one fan recently got to take home a part of history—the #8 part of the court Kobe autographed after his last game at the Staples Center.
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The piece of the court was a part of Heritage Auctions’ Michael Jordan & Basketball Icons event and sold for $631,200. The bid started out Saturday morning at $230,000 and sold for well beyond its $500,000 pre-auction estimate.
The piece of the court has four panels, each measuring four by eight feet and was taken out of the Staples Center on his way out of the door after his last game playing there, The #24 part of the court is still at the Lakers’ practice facility, per Heritage Auctions.
You probably remember that last game where he signed the court. It was a fitting end to Bryant’s historic career as one of the best basketball players to ever play the game as he put up 60 points that night.
Heritage Auctions also mentioned the consignor donated 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale to the Mamba & Mambacita Foundation, a nonprofit intended to further Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s legacy through charitable endeavors in sports. As a whole, the event took in $4,264,661 with more than 6,400 bids through the event.
Among the other pieces auctioned off that night were the 1986-87 game-worn Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls jersey, which ended up selling for $480,000, and LeBron James‘ 2004 Topps Chrome card, which sold for $720,000.
Charlie Lapastora is a sports/news multimedia journalist who’s reported, written, produced, anchored, shot video/edited on different NBC, ABC, and FOX shows in multiple TV markets, along with digital & new media companies. Charlie has traveled the country telling national sports, news, feature, and original stories on a cable news network, airing on top 10 TV markets, satellite radio, and digital platforms. He is passionate about his faith, family—being a husband to whom he calls the G.O.A.T. of women—about reppin’ his home state of Michigan and Detroit teams (yes, including the Lions), good coffee, and loves how sports brings people together. He’s traveled the world leading and coaching sports camps and has also worked at the Detroit Pistons and LA Clippers’ NBA teams.