When Kobe Bryant is officially inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this August, who could ever have imagined that the Lakers legend will be enshrined posthumously. The helicopter crash that tragically took his life along with 13-year-old daughter Gianna on January 26th sent shockwaves across the globe. Kobe was not just one of the greatest basketball players to walk this earth. Among athletes, there may never be a more celebrated international icon. On the court, the Black Mamba was the ultimate competitor, a killer like his idol Michael Jordan. Off it, he was a workaholic and obsessive student of the game, a devout Catholic and loving family man with so much more left to offer.
When it comes to Kobe memorabilia, his game-used jerseys and signature model sneakers set the bar. What were already sacred keepsakes before his death are now among the most coveted artifacts for basketball collectors. With a heavy heart, SCP Auctions is honored to present this significant pair of Kobe’s 2008 Western Conference Finals game-worn shoes, which have been professionally photo-matched to L.A.’s Game 4 victory over their heated rivals from San Antonio. Mamba led the Lakers with 28 points and 10 rebounds as the Lakers held off the Spurs by a nail-biting 93-91 margin to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Behind Kobe’s 39 points in Game 5, L.A. closed it out and advanced to face their bitter rivals from Boston. These historic sneakers, dual-signed and inscribed by Kobe, were gifted directly to San Antonio’s visiting team ball boy in the locker room right after Game 4 at AT&T Center on May 27, 2008. They are being offered here for the first time.
In 2007-08, Mamba played all 82 regular-season games and averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists to earn his one and only league MVP award. He led the Lakers to the NBA Finals, the first of what would be three straight trips. Kobe led all scorers during the 2008 playoffs at 30.1 per contest but did not get enough help from his supporting cast that June to match Boston’s “Big Three” of KG, Pierce and Allen. He would make sure the Lakers got sweet revenge against the Celtics the following season.
The Nike Zoom ‘Kobe III’ shoes come in black leather with, as sneaker designer Eric Avar puts it, a black “one-piece mesh upper, an injected mold, Zoom Air cushioning and a full Sphere Liner.” Kobe’s Sheath logo appears on the tongues, heels and insoles in yellow. Each shoe is signed by Kobe and inscribed with his No. “24" over the toes in lovely 8-9/10 silver marker. The size 14 sneakers have proper Nike tagging on the interior (manuf. dates “09/12/07” and 11/02/07”), come with their original black laces, and show wear consistent with on-court usage. With so much questionable game-used Kobe material having been offered since his death three months ago, this lot represents an incredible opportunity to acquire a pair of Mamba’s playoff-worn shoes with impeccable provenance and indisputable documentation.
Includes LOA from JSA for the autographs, a letter of provenance from the Spurs ball boy, and a letter from Resolution Photomatching, who used the creasing and scuff marks in the lower toe area to determine a conclusive match to the 5/27/08 game. Getty 81251420 is the image used for the photomatch. Other good shots of the shoes are 81251043, 81251491, 81310485 and 566054907.