The towel that was draped over Kobe Bryant's shoulders while he delivered his farewell speech the night of his final NBA game in 2016 was sold along with two tickets from the event for slightly over $33,000 in an online auction on Sunday.
The items, which formed part of the Iconic Auctions’ March collection, had 16 bidders battling it out and avid Lakers fan and SCP Auctions founder David Kohler won with a winning bid of $33,077.16.
"He is a devoted Lakers fan," Jeff Woolf, the Iconic president, told CNN. "His long-term plan is to create a museum in Southern California."
The towel was initially obtained by a fan who grabbed it as Kobe exited the court. That same year he sold the towel along with two tickets from the game in a separate auction for $8,365.00 but the value of the items have increased dramatically since Kobe was killed in a helicopter crash with his daughter and several others earlier this year.
The new owner of the memorabilia contacted Icon Auctions last month in hopes of reselling the items. Kohler was more than happy to fork out for the towel and tickets. He was also eager to pay nearly $30,000 last month for a 1992 middle school yearbook that Bryant had signed.
"In a few years you probably will be dunking on me — Not!! How about those Lakers. Your friend, Kobe Bryant," the inscription read, as quoted by CNN.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.