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1998 Kobe Bryant 1st All Star Game Worn Adidas Crazy 8 Sneakers--Photo Matched!

UPDATE: Grammar errors corrected.



"He came at me pretty early."--Michael Jordan speaking about his duel with Kobe Bryant after the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.

The 1998 NBA All-Star Game was a meeting between two immovable forces. The universally regarded "greatest player of all-time" and an arrogant nineteen-year old, with talent to burn, who believed himself to be the heir apparent to that throne.

But there were other reasons that this All-Star contest would be one for the ages. It was Kobe Bryant's first of an eventual eighteen, and Michael Jordan's last as a Chicago Bull. Kobe was also the youngest starter in the game's history, while Michael was his mentor and, in many ways, his greatest obstacle to the ultimate immortality he envisioned. In fact, Kobe once acknowledged that the primary reason he decided to bypass college and go straight to the NBA out of high school was that he was afraid that Jordan would retire and he would miss the opportunity to go mano a mano against his idol. And so on February 8th 1998, the learner met the master at Madison Square Garden, "The World's Most Famous Arena."

Part of the backstory of this encounter that has been forgotten by many in the nearly thirty years since, is that Michael almost didn't play in the game. While warding off the pressures of The Last Dance season, pursuing a repeat threepeat and bickering with Jerry Krause, Air Jordan had come down with the flu. "If it were Saturday, I would not have played. I had a hard time sitting up." But for Michael Jordan, there weren't any "nights off" or "load management" excuses. Especially against the kid who was being compared to him. As such, Jordan took antibiotics and played in what should be called his "Flu II Game."

Episode five of "The Last Dance" finds Jordan and the other Eastern Conference All-Stars discussing Kobe's daring play in the locker room, referring to him as "That little Laker boy." Jordan answers a comment that Kobe is trying to take everybody one-on-one with the expected response that he'd be more than pleased to step into such a contest.

From the opening tip-off, the battle was on. Kobe made spectacular dunks, incredible plays and pushed Michael to the limit. But Jordan remained on-point and led the East to victory with a game-high twenty-three points, plus eight rebounds, six assists and three steals, which earned him the game's MVP award. Meanwhile, Kobe led the West with eighteen points, six rebounds and two steals, while giving notice that a new sheriff was on the way.

Offered here are the sneakers Bryant wore in that landmark contest. Late nineties Mamba footwear is of the original player edition variety. Black leather uppers display a rippled zigzag midsole, "Adidas Equipment" tongue tag, "8" near the toebox in Forum purple/gold embroidery, purple/gold tongue and heel pulls, Adidas three-stripe branding on the ankle collar and heel, and "Feet You Can Wear" embossing. Interior tagging confirms size ("14") and "Sample" status. Exhibit evidence of solid game wear, including creases and scuffing to the leather. Note: one of the insoles is no longer present.

Three images from the game yielded conclusive matches to the left shoe, including marks on the heel of the midsole, marks near the inner side of the midsole and marks near the heel of the midsole. That paperwork attends. LOA from Resolution Photomatching. Photo matching LOA from Davious Sports.


Auction Info

Auction Dates
May, 2024
16th-18th Thursday-Saturday
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Sold on May 17, 2024 for: $78,000.00
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