Bryant's Lakers Debut Jersey Sells For $7m

The jersey worn by Kobe Bryant connected his Los Angeles Lakers debut successful 1996 has sold for $7m (£5.26m) astatine auction.

The jersey, worn by Bryant during his 1996-1997 rookie season, becomes nan fourth-most costly game-worn sports jersey of each time.

The American spent his full profession pinch nan Lakers, winning nan NBA Championship 5 times and being crowned nan Most Valuable Player erstwhile successful 2008.

The jersey was first sold for $115,242 successful 2013, 7 years earlier Bryant and his girl Gianna died successful a chopper crash.

"Debut games are genuinely one-of-a-kind moments successful an athlete's career," said Brahm Wachter, caput of modern collectibles astatine auctioneers Sotheby's.

Babe Ruth's "called shot" jersey, sold for $24m successful August, remains nan astir costly match-worn point of sports memorabilia sold astatine auction.

Second connected nan database is nan $10.1m spent connected Michael Jordan's "Last Dance" jersey from his last play pinch nan Chicago Bulls, followed by nan $8.8m spent connected Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" shirt, worn during Argentina's World Cup quarter-final triumph against England successful 1986.

Bryant made his NBA debut against nan Minnesota Timberwolves connected 3 November 1996.

He ended his rookie play arsenic an all-star prime and was named an all-star 18 times during his 20-year career.

He is 4th connected nan NBA's all-time scorer list, pinch 33,643 points.