A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
Bryant wore the shoes on Christmas Day in 2010 during a high-profile game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat.
The moment became instantly iconic, as the sneakers — vivid green and mismatched with the Lakers’ uniform — marked the first time in NBA history that a player had taken the court in such a bold departure from team colours.
“So these Kobe 6 Grinch sneakers came about on 25th December, 2010,” said Caitlin Donovan, Joopiter’s global head of sales.
“That game became one of the most famous sneaker moments in history, and Kobe only wore these sneakers once in his entire career.”
The one-of-a-kind pair is being auctioned by Joopiter, the digital auction house founded by Pharrell Williams. Each shoe is signed by Bryant and had remained largely unseen for nearly 15 years, having come from a private collector.
“These sneakers were worn once in history and then hidden for many years,” Donovan said. “This is only the second time the world has seen them, which makes this moment incredibly exciting for fans and collectors alike.”
Joopiter expects the sneakers to sell for more than $10 million, placing them among the most valuable sports collectibles ever offered.
“It’s really hard to put a number on something that has had such an important part in history,” Donovan said. “These shoes have transcended sports collectibles to become items of cultural property, and we expect them to fetch $10 million plus.”
The sneakers are currently on display at Canon Collectibles in Beverly Hills, giving the public a rare chance to view the historic footwear before it heads to auction later this month.
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