Kobe Bryant’s parents are facing growing criticism from NBA fans who are upset that the family has put one of the late star’s championship rings on the auction block.
Joe and Pamela Bryant came under fire after fans noticed that Kobe’s first championship ring was up for sale through Goldin auction house. A photo
The ring was gifted to Joe and Pamela following Kobe’s first of five championship wins. Made of 14-karat gold with a total of 40 diamonds, the ring had amassed
$141,000 in bids by March 21.“This is not an executive version of the Championship ring, but the same EXACT ring given to Kobe Bryant and other Lakers players,” the auction site states.
“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,” continued the description, noting the letter of authenticity from Pamela that comes with the ring.
Fans have been sounding off against Joe and Pamela for selling off a high-valued item Kobe personally 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,” added someone else.
Another fan said how “sad” it was to see Kobe’s parents sell an item that the late NBA star “would of never sold.”
It’s not the first time Kobe’s parents have tried to auction off his personal items. “In 2013, Bryant settled a lawsuit with Goldin Auctions related to memorabilia his parents wanted to sell. The settlement allowed for less than 10% of the items initially slated for auction to be sold,” according to CBS Sports.
In 2016, Kobe told ESPN that his relationship with his parents was “sh*t” and cited
the 2013 auction as one cause of the tension. A friend of the family told the Daily Mail shortly after Kobe’s 2020 death that he had recently seen the Los Angeles Lakers player hug it out with his dad at a basketball camp. Kobe’s parents attended his funeral.