Kobe Bryant's father auctions late player's first NBA championship ring

sports

by tamantha ryan

Kobe Bryant's father, Joe Bryant, is putting up for auction the 2000 NBA championship ring his son gave him.

Goldin said the ring is 14K gold and features 40 diamonds, including five large round diamonds on either side of the face, and the word “LAKERS” filled in with purple enamel.

The jewelry is a former Los Angeles Lakers ring size 11 1/2, weighs approximately 59.6 grams, and comes with a power of attorney from Kobe's mother, Pam Bryant.

But it's not the original ring Kobe won from his first championship, but a replica that the late player ordered for his father, 69.

“Acquired directly from the Bryant family, this ring is truly one-of-a-kind and confirms it to be the only championship ring Kobe ever gave to his father,” the auction site said.

As of this article's publication, bidding has reached a whopping $141,000. Bidding for the ring ends on March 30th.

Kobe had a strained relationship with his parents before his death.

Their relationship began to become rocky when Kobe became engaged to Vanessa Lane, whom he would later marry and have four children with.

The five-time NBA champion told the Los Angeles Times in 2003 that his parents had problems with Vanessa because she wasn't black.

In fact, Joe and Pam did not attend the couple's wedding in April 2001.

Kobe tried to improve his relationship with his father and mother. But all that changed when the NBA star tried to auction off his vast collection of career memorabilia, including his high school jersey and the 2000 Lakers championship ring he gave him.

Kobe then filed a lawsuit against Joe and Pam for not authorizing him to sell his products.

“When you give GIVE and they take TAKE, do you draw a line in the sand? #IncalculableHurt #Warned #Love?” he wrote in May 2013. Tweeted.

After the NBA legend reconciled with his parents, they said in a statement that they “regret our actions and statements regarding Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia.”

“We apologize for the misunderstanding and unintended pain we have caused our son, and we thank him for the financial support he has provided over the years,” the couple added.

To see more of your favorite Page Six…

Kobe tragically died in January 2020, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, when their helicopter crashed into a hillside in northwest Los Angeles. Kobe was 41 years old.

The Oscar winner is also father to daughters Natalia, 21, Bianka, seven, and Capri, four, with wife Vanessa.

Before his death, Kobe was reportedly trying to make amends with his parents and was even seen hugging his father at a basketball camp in California.