Chijioke Gabriel
Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers debut jersey in 1996 has sold for $7m (£5.26m) at auction.
The jersey, worn by Bryant during his 1996-1997 rookie season, becomes the fourth-most expensive game-worn sports jersey of all time.
The American spent his entire career with the Lakers, winning the NBA Championship five times and being crowned the Most Valuable Player once in 2008.
The jersey was first sold for $115,242 in 2013, seven years before Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash.
“Debut games are truly one-of-a-kind moments in an athlete’s career,” said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at auctioneers Sotheby’s.
Babe Ruth’s “called shot” jersey, sold for $24m in August, remains the most expensive match-worn item of sports memorabilia sold at auction.
Second on the list is the $10.1m spent on Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance” jersey from his final season with the Chicago Bulls, followed by the $8.8m spent on Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt, worn during Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final victory against England in 1986.
Bryant made his NBA debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 3 November 1996.
He ended his rookie season as an all-star pick and was named an all-star 18 times during his 20-year career.
He is fourth on the NBA’s all-time scorer list, with 33,643 points.
Flying Eagles Set for AFCON Under-20 in Egypt
Reports coming from camp of the Flying Eagles indicate that the team can’t wait to engage their opponents as the clock ticks ahead of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Midfielder Kingsley Awodi is optimistic the team will have a good outing at the tournament being hosted by Egypt after Côte d’Ivoire withdrew from hosting.
Aliyu Zubairu’s side will be targeting a record extending eighth title in Egypt.
Awodi, who is delighted to make the squad for the competition believed the Flying Eagles have the quality to win the trophy.
“It is certainly a thing of joy to represent your country in this kind of prestigious competition,” the Kings FC player said from the team’s base in Cairo.
” I can’t express how excited I am and also confident our team will do well in the tournament. ”
The Flying Eagles will kick off their campaign against Tunisia on 1st May at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.
