Joe Bryant, the father of the late Kobe Bryant, has put the 2000 NBA championship ring gifted to him by his son up for auction. The ring, made of 14-karat gold, boasts 40 diamonds and prominently showcases the word “LAKERS” filled with purple enamel.
The championship ring being auctioned is in Kobe Bryant’s former ring size of 11 ½, weighing approximately 59.6 grams. It includes a letter of authorization from Kobe Bryant’s mother, Pam Bryant.
It’s not the original ring Kobe Bryant won during his first championship but a replica he ordered for his father, Joe Bryant, who is 69 years old.
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“Obtained directly from the Bryant family, this ring is a true one-of-a-kind, and we can confirm that it is the only championship ring ever given by Kobe to his father,” the auction site read.
The current bid for Kobe Bryant’s championship ring has soared to $141,000 as of this report, with bidding scheduled to close on March 30. The auction highlights the continued fascination with Kobe Bryant’s legacy even after his passing.
But his parents have been criticized by some NBA fans for selling an item that Kobe Bryant gifted to them. “Idk why his family would sell his ring, it’s not like Kobe did not leave 800 million dollars for his family??,” one X user wrote.
“Shame on his parents,” another wrote.
Prior to his death, Kobe Bryant’s relationship with his parents was strained, particularly after he became engaged to Vanessa Laine, whom he later married and had four children with.
Kobe Bryant revealed to the Los Angeles Times in 2003 that his parents, Joe and Pam, had reservations about his relationship with Vanessa because she was not black. This tension was evident when they did not attend the couple’s wedding in April 2001, according to Page Six.
Despite Kobe Bryant’s efforts to reconcile with his parents, relations soured further when they attempted to auction off a large collection of memorabilia from his career, including items he had gifted them, such as his high school uniforms and championship rings.
Kobe Bryant took legal action against his parents, Joe and Pam, alleging that he had not given them permission to sell the memorabilia items.
“When u give Give GIVE and they take Take TAKE at wat point do u draw a line in the sand? #hurtbeyondmeasure #gavemenowarning #love?” he tweeted in May 2013.
After the storm settled, Kobe Bryant’s parents said 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,” the couple added.
Kobe Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, perished in a helicopter crash in January 2020 at the age of 41.
Survived by his wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia, Bianka, and Capri, Kobe Bryant’s untimely passing shocked the world.
Prior to his death, reports emerged suggesting Kobe’s efforts to reconcile with his parents, as he was seen in one of the moments embracing his father at a basketball camp in California.
