obe Bryant with his father Joe Bryant during Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs Los Angeles Dodgers game.Photo:John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty
John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty
A replica of Kobe Bryant’s 2000 Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship ring, which he had gifted to his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, is up for auction, with bids up to $141,000.
Joe, 69, sold the replica ring to Goldin in 2013, and will not profit from this sale once it occurs, PEOPLE can confirm.
2000 was a memorable year for the Los Angeles team, as well as Kobe — the team won theNBA Championshipin a six-game series over the Indiana Pacers. Over the course of his career, Kobe won five total championships, all during his storied career with the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a photo with his parents after winning the NBA Championship on June 19, 2000.Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty
Kobe gifted his parents the ring after the 2000 win, and they sold it in 2013 to the auction house Goldin along with two uniforms from his time at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania.
However, the sale was contentious, and the late player sued Goldin stating that he had not given Joe and his mother Pamela permission to sell the items,ESPN reportedat the time. They eventually settled, with Bryant’s parents writing in a statement that they “regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia.”
“We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we have caused our son and appreciate the financial support he has provided over the years,” they said in astatement at the time.
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Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shows off his 2009 NBA Championship ring before the season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers 2009.Andrew D.Bernstein/NBAE via Getty
Andrew D.Bernstein/NBAE via Getty
The late star’s relationship with his parents was notably rocky — Joe, a former NBA player himself, and Pamela were rumored to have a fractured relationship with their son as early as 2001, as they did not attendhis wedding to Vanessa Bryantin April that year.
Bidding on the ring ends on March 30, and as of Friday afternoon, the price is up to $141,000.
source: people.com
