LOT #80181 |
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1999-2001 Kobe Bryant Signed Basketballs Lot of 100....
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Description
Long-lost signing finally sees the light of day!
1999-2001 Kobe Bryant Signed Basketballs Lot of 100.UPDATE: The headline, title and description have been updated with new dates and details.
There's an interesting but somewhat complicated article that can be located online by searching Google for the title, "Kobe Bryant v. Score Board Inc." that delves deeper into the weeds of this story more deeply than is necessary here, but we'll run down the key issues for you. In the immediate aftermath of Kobe Bryant's ascension from high school to the National Basketball Association, the ascendant seventeen-year-old superstar entered into an autograph signing contract with well-known sports memorabilia purveyor Score Board, Inc. to create an inventory of autographed basketball and trading cards.
As is common for any such contract, the finer points of compensation and scheduling traveled through several stages and Bryant began fulfilling his autograph duties not long after his eighteenth birthday on August 23, 1996. He'd continue to produce this signed memorabilia for about eighteen months to follow. Over time, perhaps due in part to Kobe's rapid ascent to superstardom that made the compensation seem paltry, perhaps due to concerns about the timeline for that compensation, the partnership began to sour, and Kobe withdrew. Ultimately, the original contract between Bryant and Score Board, Inc. was sold through bankruptcy court and our consignor purchased that agreement, which was later enforced. Subsequently, Bryant continued to fulfill his obligation under the new contract owner, the product of which is offered here.
While the tragic helicopter crash in early 2020 slammed the door on supply of autographs from this hardcourt icon, this particular model of Kobe Bryant signed basketballs had already been established as uniquely rare due to the evolution of his autograph toward a single-name format. "Kobe" signed basketballs are quite rare, but those signed "Kobe Bryant" are extraordinarily so.
This auction contains one hundred of those early career "Kobe Bryant" signed basketballs, each autograph applied in bold black sharpie to Official NBA (Stern) game balls. A few of the balls are even stamped with 2001 NBA Finals logos. The bulk of them remain just as strong as they were when signed by the teenaged phenom, but we strongly advise interested bidders to view all one hundred at our online lot listing for the most unbiased assessment possible. Each ball is accompanied by its own certificate of authenticity from PSA/DNA, greatly simplifying the process for any dealers interested in selling them individually. COA from PSA/DNA for each basketball.
Auction Info
2024 August 23 - 25 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction #50072 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2024
23rd-25th
Friday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 12
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,045
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
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Charges to be determined based on Actual Shipping Costs incurred. Note: Additional invoice may follow original. Please contact us for more information. Sales Tax information
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Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms