Lakers Auctioning Off Hardwood No. 8 From Kobe Bryant’s Last Game
The Lakers are auctioning off the No. 8 that was on the Staples Center floor for Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game
Though it was two weeks ago now, Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game for the Los Angeles Lakers on April 13 is one of those moments that will live vividly in the minds of fans forever. That would’ve been the case if Bryant had shot 3-12 from the floor and played 15 minutes on the night. As we all know, though, Kobe left it all on the floor as he score an unfathomable 60 points on 50 shots to finish out his career.
Kobe’s last game with the Lakers would’ve been special no matter what happened in the 48 minutes of the season finale with all of the stops that the organization pulled out throughout the night. One subtle, but great touch was undoubtedly the No. 8 and No. 24 painted on two parts of the hardwood floor of Staples Center. After the game, Bryant even took time to autograph the clean white No. 8.
And now that piece of the floor can be yours—for quite a pretty penny, of course.
On Wednesday, the Lakers announced that they would be selling the piece of the Staples Center floor as a one-of-a-kind piece of Kobe memorabilia through the NBA Auctions site:
"You could own the #8 that was on the hardwood for Kobe's final game!!"
Auction
After only four hours of the auction being live, the five bids for the hardwood No. 8 already soared over $12,000. With 18 days left in the auction, the selling price could be astronomical when everything’s said and done.
This is truly a unique piece of sports memorabilia that will never be replicated. Kobe only has one final NBA game with the Lakers and there was only one decal on the floor in Los Angeles on that night. So that someone from one of the most passionate fanbases in the world would be willing to pay thousands—and maybe 10s of thousands before this is over—for a collectible like this shouldn’t be surprising.
Perhaps the best news about this piece of the Staples Center floor being sold, though, is that the proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation, the in-house charity that works to help provide underprivileged youth with the necessary tools to succeed in terms of the classroom, their health, and even in sports.
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So if you have the money, definitely consider placing a bid on this No. 8 from Kobe’s last game. Not only will it be something that no other Lakers or Kobe fan can ever have as a one-of-a-kind item, but the money will got towards a great cause.