Over the weekend, a player-issued ring from the Los Angeles Lakers' 2000 NBA title was sold for an impressive $927,000, including buyer's premium, through the collectibles marketplace Goldin. This ring was originally gifted from Kobe Bryant to his father, Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant.
The auction for the ring was highly competitive, with 43 bids placed, resulting in the highest amount ever paid for an NBA championship ring. The 2000 championship ring was a significant piece as it marked Kobe Bryant's first of five NBA titles and was the only time he gifted a ring to his father.
The ring is an identical copy of the one given to Kobe, featuring 'BRYANT' etched on one side, along with matching sizing (11 ½), weight (59.6 grams), and etchings. Originally consigned to Goldin in 2013 by Pam and Joe Bryant, the ring was sold for $173,000 at that time. The recent resale of the ring includes a letter of authenticity from the Bryant family.
While the $927,000 price tag is substantial, it falls short of the all-time record for a championship ring sale. That record still belongs to the $2.09 million paid by Charlie Sheen for Babe Ruth's 1927 World Series title ring.
