Feb. 5, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts on the court against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Barclays Center. Lakers won 92-83. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
A New Jersey auction house is now the center of a high-profile family feud between Kobe Bryant and his mother.
Pamela Bryant, the five-time champions mother, enlisted the sports-collectibles firm to sell more than 100 items from her son’s past – estimated worth roughly 1.5 million dollars.
Bryant, already dealing with the drama surrounding the Lakers organization and the matter of rehabbing his torn Achilles, is not taking the matter lightly and will be doing everything in his power to keep the memorabilia for being sold.
Bryant’s mother reportedly wanted $450,000 to buy a new home in Nevada. When her son offered her $250,000, she reportedly turned it down and received the $450,000 up front from Goldin Auctions for the right to sell the NBA star’s jerseys, practice gear and sweatsuits from Lower Merion High School; varsity letters; a trophy for being the outstanding player at the 1995 Adidas ABCD basketball camp; and a signed basketball from the 2000 NBA championship game.
“Kobe Bryant indicated to Pamela Bryant that the items belonged to her and that he had no interest in them,” the auction house’s attorneys wrote. Which it appears she honestly did, as the items had been in her possession for the last 15-years and had been paying to store the items for the last five years.
Kenneth Golden, the auction house’s owner, stated he could not cancel the auction as he’s already paid Bryant’s mother $450,000 and invested in advertising the items.
Kobe Bryant’s lawyer Mark Campbell said in a statement, “Mr. Bryant’s personal property has ended up in the possession of someone who does not lawfully own it. We look forward to resolving this legal matter through the legal system.”