Kobe Bryant’s ‘Achilles Game’ Sneakers Estimated to Fetch Between $600,000 and $800,000 at Sotheby’s Auction
Kobe Bryant‘s sneakers worn during the famous 2013 “Achilles Game” will be up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York on Feb. 7, the auction house has announced. Estimated to sell between $600,000 and $800,000, the shoes are the Nike Kobe 8 Elite “Lakers Home” sneakers.
The late NBA superstar wore the sneakers during a game against the Golden State Warriors in which he hyper-extended his knee early in the second half then tore his Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter — yet he continued to play, making two free throws standing on one leg. The game is remembered as a historic moment representing Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality.” When he headed to the locker room, he was met by a standing ovation from the Staples Center. His recovery lasted months but he did ultimately return to the NBA.
The shoes are slated to be the focal point of Sotheby’s sale called “The One,” which displays “the finest examples of human achievement in craft, artistry, and excellence.” In 2024, Sotheby’s auctioned three other pairs of sneakers that Kobe Bryant wore in-game.
Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles, said, “There is no moment in Kobe’s career more emblematic of the ‘Mamba Mentality’ than the ‘Achilles Game’, a testament to his unyielding commitment to excellence and competitive spirit. Although blessed with a natural gift for the game of basketball, what really set him apart from the competition was his unrelenting drive to make himself better every day. These game-worn sneakers encapsulate the remarkable fortitude that made him one of the greatest to ever play the game.”
Nike continues to release products under the Kobe line five years after his death in 2020. His wife Vanessa Bryant continues his legacy through the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. Working with the organization, she recently gave away Nike Kobe sneakers to people affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles.