Considering the lengthy list of accomplishments on Kobe Bryant's decorated GOAT-esque resume, one would assume he won multiple league MVPs. That's what made the 2007-08 NBA season so special. It's his only one. Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while playing all 82 games. On February 1st, 2008, the Lakers made a franchise-altering trade for All-Star Pau Gasol, giving Kobe a talented big man and turning L.A. into a juggernaut once again. With the Lakers' added firepower, they finished atop the Western Conference with a 57-25 record. Perhaps it was fitting that Kobe's lone Most Valuable Player season coincided with making the NBA Finals for the first time without Shaq's help, silencing critics who had harped on Kobe since Deisel left for Miami in 2004. The Lakers would ultimately fall short in the 2008 Finals against the Celtics, but Kobe's only MVP season set the precedent for the Lake Show to win back-to-back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010.
Presented in this lot is Kobe Bryant's 2007-08 Los Angeles Lakers game-worn home shooting shirt that has been conclusively photo-matched to an impressive 17 games including a 45-point outburst on Opening Night and two Western Conference Finals contests. Resolution Photomatching made probable photo-matches to five additional games, including two in the NBA Finals (Games 3 & 4 at home). Getty 81522797 captures Kobe greeting Spike Lee while warming up for Game 3 of the Finals against Boston; he torched the C's for 36 points that night.
The gold shooting shirt features an Adidas logo along with "LAKERS" in purple-on-white tackle twill on the chest. Both sleeves have three purple Adidas stripes running all the way down the long white sleeves. The left sleeve features a "Minneapolis * Los Angeles 60th Anniversary Lakers" team patch, while the right sleeve dons the ever-important NBA Finals patch to confirm its use in the six-game series against Boston. The Adidas NBA Authentics jock tag is located on the left front tail and has Kobe's iconic jersey number "24" penned in black [presumably by the equipment manager]. Inside the collar is a "3XL Tall" size tag indicating 100% polyester material. The rear neck features an NBA logo atop another Adidas logo. While the warm-up/shooting shirt shows definitive signs of wear, it remains in excellent condition with no staining or blemishes. Complete photo-matching paperwork from Resolution Photomatching is included.
ResMatch Dates:
10/30/2007 (Opening Night, home loss vs. HOU) – 45 points, 8 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl
11/16/2007 (home win vs. DET) - 19 pts, 4 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl
11/27/07 (home win vs. SEA) – 35 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast
11/29/07 (home win vs. DEN) - 24 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl
12/28/07 (home win vs. Utah) – 31 pts, 4 reb, 7 ast, 4 stl
1/4/2008 (home win vs. PHI) - 15 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast
1/11/2008 (home win vs. MIL) – 37 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast
1/17/08 (home loss vs. PHO) – 30 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast
2/19/2008 (home win vs. ATL) – 23 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 5 stl
2/28/2008 (home win vs. MIA) – 21 pts, 1 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl, 2 blk
3/7/2008 (home win vs. LAC) – 16 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl
3/21/2008 (home win vs. SEA) – 23 pts, 2 reb, 5 ast
3/26/2008 (home loss vs. CHA) – 27 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk
4/15/2008 (home win vs. SAC) – 20 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl
5/7/08 (WC Semis Game 2, win vs. Utah) – 34 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast
5/21/08 (WC Finals Game 1, win vs. SAC) – 27 pts, 5 reb, 9 ast
5/23/08 (WC Finals Game 2, win vs. SAC) – 22 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast
Probable/Likely Photo-matches:
11/2/2007 (home win vs. PHO) – 16 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl
1/21/2008 (home win vs. DEN) – 17 pts, 5 reb, 11 ast, 2 stl
2/26/2008 (home win vs. POR) – 30 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl
6/10/2008 - (NBA Finals Game 3, win vs. BOS) – 36 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl
6/12/2008 - (NBA Finals Game 4, loss vs. BOS) – 17 pts, 4 reb, 10 ast, 4 stl