One of the most significant sneakers in Kobe Bryant’s storied NBA career is up for sale — for the price of a small home.
While it may not be the flashiest pair in Bryant’s sneaker history, this game-worn Nike Kobe 7 is undoubtedly one of the most important. It was worn by the late Los Angeles Lakers legend on December 5, 2012, during a seemingly inconsequential road game against the Charlotte Hornets.
But for Bryant, the game was etched in history when, in the second quarter, the 34-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to accumulate 30,000 career points. This feat toppled fellow Lakers legend Wilt Chamberlain, who at the time held the record at 35. Along with Chamberlain, Bryant was entered into elite company alongside other 30,000-point club members including Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.
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On foot, Bryant wore his seventh Nike signature sneaker in a rather unremarkable colorway — at least when compared to some of the other shoes in his catalogue. Colored in a Lakers-apropos black, white, purple and yellow color combination, this particular Nike Kobe 7 didn’t feature a catchy nickname like many of Bryant’s sneakers.
The game-worn pair, which has been photomatched and verified as the exact pair Bryant wore during the record-setting moment, features the star’s autograph and a dated inscription noting the 30K points. It’s currently up for auction at Sotheby’s alongside numerous other rare sneakers belonging to the likes of LeBron James, Jordan and more.
A letter of provenance from the consignor, who calls himself ”one of the biggest Kobe fans and Kobe game-worn collectors to ever exist” explains how he obtained the sneakers — and why he decided to sell them.
“I have enjoyed this pair immensely in my private collection for the last twelve years, and now, in Nike’s year of the Black Mamba, 2025, I have decided to make it available to another top collector,” wrote the consignor.
The auction, which is set to close on March 25 at 2:01 p.m. ET, is expected to close at between $200,000 to $300,000. As of publishing, bidding currently sits at $150,000. Readers can find more details here.
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