An autographed pair of Adidas EQT Top 10 shoes that Kobe Bryant wore in his first Los Angeles Lakers start have sold for $240,000 (including buyer's premium) with SCP Auctions, the second-largest sum ever paid for a pair of his sneakers.
Photo-matching company Sports Investors Authentication matched the shoes to "being worn by Kobe Bryant on January 28, 1997 -- Bryant's first career NBA game as a starter."
Both shoes are signed, and both autographs include letters of authentication from Professional Sports Authenticator's authentication arm, PSA/DNA.
Bryant played in 34 games before his first Lakers start, averaging 6.4 points in 13 minutes per game. In his first start, Bryant scored 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block in a 102-83 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
In February, the Nike Kobe 8 Elite "Lakers Home" sneakers Bryant was wearing when he tore an Achilles in 2013 sold for $660,000 at Sotheby's.
In January 2020, Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine people who died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
He is still considered one of professional Basketball's best ever players.