Kobe Bryant "Lakers" Message From 8th Grade Up For Auction

BY Erika Marie 2.9K Views
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Kobe Bryant Auction
The teen basketball star had his eyes set on his favorite team years before he was drafted to the team.

Another piece of celebrity memorabilia is set to hit the auction block. There have been numerous Kobe Bryant related products offered up for auction in the last month since the beloved basketball icon died in a helicopter accident. Some sellers have used to opportunity to cash in while others have hocked fake items to scam the public. This latest item is said to be the real deal and features a sweet foreshadowing message from the Los Angeles Lakers legend.

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According to a report made by TMZ, Iconic Auctions will be selling off a middle school yearbook that features a message from Bryant. In 1992, the basketball star was just a 13-year-old eighth-grader attending Bala Cynwyd Middle School in Pennsylvania. After his father retired from the NBA when Bryant was six-years-old, he moved his family to Italy. The Bryants remained there until Kobe was 13.

TMZ shares that because Bryant arrived in the middle of the school year, he doesn't have a traditional photo included in the student lineup of the yearbook. The teen is only shown in the basketball team's picture and signed his friend's yearbook by writing: "In a few years you probably will be dunking on me. Not!! How bout those Lakers. Your friend Kobe Bryant #24."

Four years later, a 17-year-old, fresh-out-of-high-school Bryant became a Laker. Iconic Auctions stated that the auction for the yearbook closes in just a few days and is expected to fetch $20K. Check out the yearbook message below.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.