Kobe Bryant played his last NBA game in April of 2016, and put on a vintage Mamba display. Bryant scored 60 points on 50 shots that game, single-handedly dragging the 16-65 Lakers to a 105-101 victory against the Utah Jazz. This game was a fitting cap to Bryant’s legendary 20-year career. The 18-time All-Star averaged 25 points per game for the Los Angeles Lakers and is a surefire lock for induction to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. The shooting guard out of Lower Merion High School in suburban Philadelphia was selected 13th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by Charlotte and was then traded to the Lakers. Bryant won five NBA championships and the 2007-08 MVP award during his tenure with the Lakers.

     Bryant wore these size 13.5 Adidas sneakers during his 1996-97 rookie season. Although he did not play much at the beginning of the season, Bryant finished the year as the starting shooting guard for the Lakers. In the process, Bryant became the youngest starter in NBA history. These shoes are made of nylon, leather, and patent leather and are mainly white and navy. The face of a cartoon boy is applied to each heel in metallic silver material. A metallic silver Adidas logo is present on the left toe area of each shoe. The navy tongue also has a metallic silver portion with an “Adidas Equipment” logo. The shoes show heavy game wear.

     Bryant signed the toe of each shoe in black ballpoint pen, adding the number he used early in his career, “8.” The style of signature Bryant used, signing his full name, is exceedingly rare and something he only practiced in the beginning of his career. These shoes come with a full LOA from MEARS and JSA (Y87462).

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