How much did Kobe Bryant’s ring get sold for? Closer look as late Lakers legend’s memorabilia breaks record 

The 2000 NBA Championship ring belonging to Kobe Bryant was successfully auctioned off at Goldin on Saturday for a staggering $927,000, surpassing the previous record for an NBA ring by over $200,000.

‘Black Mamba’ presented the ring to his father, retired NBA player Joe Bryant, as a generous gesture. Its sale surpassed the previous record set by Bill Russell’s 1957 championship ring, which was sold for $705,000 in 2021.

According to Goldin, the championship ring is comprised of 40 diamonds and crafted from 14-karat gold. The front of the ring displays the logo of purple and gold as well as the phrase “World Champions.”

The ring displays the words “Ring Bling”and the year on one side, with Kobe Bryant’s name, the Laker’s 2000 regular season record of 67-15, and their postseason record of 15-8 on the other side. The underside is adorned with the number 8, which Bryant wore during the first half of his successful career. Later on, he switched to the number 24.

According to Goldin, as reported by Sports Illustrated, the ring was not the official version given by the team to executives. Instead, it was a duplicate that Kobe Bryant had specifically commissioned as a special present for his father. The auctioneers noted this in their description.

“Obtained directly from the Bryant family, this ring is a true one-of-a-kind, and we can confirm that it is the onlyhchampionship ring ever given by Kobe to his father.”

Kobe Bryant leads the Lakers to victory over the Indiana Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals

In six games, Kobe Bryant and his superstar teammate Shaquille O’Neal led the 2000 NBA title victory over the Indiana Pacers, marking Bryant’s first championship win.

O’Neal was awarded the Finals MVP title for his impressive performance, averaging 38 points and 16.7 rebounds. In contrast, Bryant’s stats of 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over five games were overshadowed by a sprained ankle he suffered in Game Two, causing him to miss Game 3.

Nevertheless, the Lakers’ 13th overall draft pick from Lower Merion high school in Philadelphia in 1996 bounced back with determination in Game 4, ultimately guiding his team to an overtime win after O’Neal’s disqualification.

Despite playing 47 out of a possible 53 minutes, he managed to score 28 points, make five assists, grab four rebounds, block two shots, and steal the ball. This victory also gave the Lakers a 3-1 series lead, which ultimately led to the Pacers’ defeat.

Bryant and O’Neal continued their successful, yet tumultuous, partnership and won two additional titles in 2001 and 2002. However, their dynamic duo came to an end in 2004 when ‘Shaq’ was traded to Miami.

In 2009, Bryant once again claimed an NBA title, this time leading the Lakers, alongside Pau Gasol, to victory against the Orlando Magic in a five-game series. The following year, they triumphed once more, defeating their rivals, the Boston Celtics, in a hard-fought seven-game series.

Despite retiring in 2016, Kobe Bryant’s legacy as a five-time NBA champion, one-time NBA MVP (2008), and 18-time NBA All-Star will never be forgotten. Tragically, he and his daughter Gigi passed away in January 2020 due to a helicopter crash.