Kobe's final game at Staples Center on April 13, 2016, culminated with an undeniably fitting speech from the Black Mamba after dropping 60 points against the Utah Jazz. His final words, "Mamba Out," followed by a classic microphone drop would signal Kobe's exit from playing the game he loved and entrance into a world of opportunity and new challenges.
Kobe would go on to win an Academy Award for his short animated film, Dear Basketball, which was aired at Staples Center before his final time in a Lakers uniform and televised to the millions of basketball fans who were tuned in. Kobe's life was going to be spent prioritizing his family life and working as a content creator for his production company Granity Studios. Just when we thought the best of Kobe's work off the court was yet to come, he was gone less than 4 years later. The old cliché is certainly true when discussing one of the most beloved Los Angeles Lakers of all time: only the good die young.
Presented here is a full unused ticket from Kobe's final night of dominance on the basketball court. The ticket is graded and encapsulated by PSA/DNA VG 3. Kobe's autograph appears 8/10 bold black sharpie and is placed in the middle of the ticket. Corners, edges and back are all in stellar condition. The only blemish is a tiny area of sticky residue on back's lower left corner. It should have graded much higher in our opinion. In the PSA/DNA Pop Report, only 17 tickets have been autographed by Bryant. This one is one of two graded VG 3 for its ticket condition, with only two in better shape (allegedly): a VG-EX 4 and EX-MT 6.
Here's the official PSA and PSA/DNA pop report for this ticket: https://www.psacard.com/pop/tickets/2016/l-lakers-apr-13-full/135080