Kobe Bryant’s 2000 NBA Championship ring has been sold for a record price of $927,200 at the Goldin auction. The ring, which Bryant had gifted to his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, broke the previous record set when Bill Russell’s 1957 championship ring was sold for $705,000 in 2021.
RECORD SALE FOR ANY NBA TITLE RING 🏀 💍
A 2000 Lakers Championship Players Ring, gifted by Kobe to his father Joe, has sold in our March Elite.
This is the same ring originally consigned to Goldin by the Bryant Family in 2013, & the new owner (NOT Joe Bryant) is our consignor. pic.twitter.com/ZaUD0PhRs4
— Goldin (@GoldinCo) March 31, 2024
It should be known, that this is not the official championship ring that was given to players. After winning the title in 2000, Kobe ordered an exact copy of the ring that he was given and gifted it to his father. Here is a description of it from Goldin.
“This ring is in Kobe’s ring size 11 ½ and weighs approximately 59.6 grams. This exquisite ring features a total of 40 diamonds, including five larger round diamonds on either side of the face, which display ‘LAKERS’ filled with purple enamel. ‘WORLD CHAMPIONS’ reads in relief lettering. The NBA league logo centers on one side, with the name ‘BRYANT’ at the top and the number ‘8’ at the bottom.”
“Also appearing are banners that reveal both the Laker’s regular season mark of 67-15 as well as their postseason win-loss record of 15-8. An image of a basketball hoop – with a diamond as a basketball – appears on the opposite side along with “BLING BLING” and “2000”. The inside of this ring is marked 14K.”
When it first emerged that this ring was being auctioned, it was thought that Bryant’s father was the one who had put it up. A fair bit of criticism came his way for doing that after his son’s passing, but Joe had actually sold this ring in 2013 via Goldin.
Bryant’s parents tried to sell some of his memorabilia which was in their possession back then and the Los Angeles Lakers star was not happy about it. He claimed he had not given them permission to do so and a legal battle followed.
Eventually, a settlement was reached, with that ring and one that Kobe gifted to his mother, being among the items allowed to be auctioned off. Bryant’s parents issued a public apology in the aftermath for any pain they may have caused to their son by their actions.
Now, the individual who purchased the ring back then has sold it and Bryant’s parents are not getting a penny from this deal. In case you’re wondering if Kobe gifted any more of these rings to his parents, it appears he did not. He had a falling out with them over his decision to marry Vanessa Bryant in 2001 and things were never quite right between the three after that.
Kobe Bryant Won His First Championship In 2000
Bryant would win five NBA championships in his career, with the first one coming in 2000. The Lakers posted a 67-15 record in that 1999-00 campaign and after surviving an almighty scare against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals, beat the Indiana Pacers in six games in the NBA Finals to win the title.
Bryant averaged 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game in that series while battling an ankle injury. He still managed to make his mark in a big way in that series by scoring 22 points in the second half and overtime in Game 4 to lead the Lakers to victory after Shaquille O’Neal had fouled out.
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