This landmark sale establishes a new record for any piece of memorabilia associated with Bryant, who tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020.

The sum surpasses the previous record of $5.85 million, which was paid for Bryant’s signed, game-worn jersey from his 2007-08 MVP season. Sotheby’s confirmed the newly auctioned yellow No 8 jersey has been photo-matched to Bryant’s 1996-97 rookie season.

An 18-year-old Bryant wore this specific jersey during his first media day, his pre-season debut, and his official regular-season debut on 3 November 1996, as well as in four other games. In his regular-season debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bryant played six minutes and did not score, CNN reports.

Described by the auction house as a “bridge between the raw potential of a teenage prodigy and the refined greatness that would follow”, the jersey had previously sold for $115,242 in 2012. Despite a modest 7.6 points per game average in his rookie year, Bryant would retire as one of basketball’s all-time greats, with five NBA championships to his name.

This sale places Bryant’s rookie jersey as the fourth most expensive game-worn sports jersey ever auctioned, ranking behind items from Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan (his 1998 NBA Finals jersey), and Diego Maradona. Notably, it also exceeded the sum fetched for Michael Jordan’s own debut season jersey.