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One of the NBA’s finest is about to give new life to Kobe’s sneakers. Fresh off making All-NBA second team, Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan is signing a new four-year deal with Nike that keeps him as the featured face of Kobe Bryant’s iconic line, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium . — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2022
Once again, a one-of-a-kind sports collectible is preparing to rake in the dough, thanks to some help from some of the NBA’s greatest players — LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and the late Kobe Bryant. After being posted to Goldin Auctions (GA) early Wednesday morning (July 20), the Upper Deck Exquisite Triple Logoman card is set to sell for millions, based on not only its association with some familiar faces but the fact that it is a Gem Mint 10. In other words, the card is in perfect condition, TMZ reports.
It’s been a little over two years since Kobe Bryant tragically left us, but his legacy is strong! From continued brand partnerships to children across the world yelling “Kobe” as they attempt a shot – the impact Bryant had is forever imprinted on people’s hearts. With such a positive influence on the world of sports and beyond, coming across Kobe-related memorabilia is a premium. According to TMZ Sports, a Kobe Bryant game-worn jersey just sold for $2.73 million at SCP Auctions.
BodyArmor’s ties with pushing Kobe Bryant’s legacy forward continues. In 2014, the late NBA legend invested $6 million into the sports drink company then, last year it was acquired by Coca-Cola for $5.6 billion — reportedly bringing in over $400 million to his estate — per a previous report by AfroTech. Bryant’s investment into the company greatly paid off and now, BodyArmor is investing right back into his foundation.
Nike is back to being the home for Kobe Bryant’s estate. In April 2021, AfroTech reported that the estate had parted ways with the company after an expired deal. The end of the contract put a halt on the longtime relationship that was built with Bryant before his untimely passing the year before. Now, what initially appeared to be a closed door has reopened. ESPN reports Vanessa Bryant and Nike announced that the contractual relationship has restarted with a new long-term deal to further honor the legacy of the late NBA legend and GiGi through producing footwear and apparel. “We’re excited to announce our partnership with Nike is going to continue!” Vanessa wrote via Instagram. “I am so proud that my husband’s shoes are still the most worn by players on NBA courts and that the demand for his shoes remain so desired by his fans around the world.”
Following the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi, their lives continue to be loved on from around the world. To honor the two, The Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation (MMSF) — a 501(c)(3) to further Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s legacies — announced its store launch on Feb. 24 in alignment with the numbers of their basketball jerseys. The merchandise for the limited edition clothing collection was donated by Champion, as well as “100% of the net proceeds will go towards furthering the Foundation’s mission for creating impact for underserved athletes and boys & girls in sports,” according to the Foundation’s Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mamba & Mambacita Sports Fdn (@mambamambacitasports) The featured apparel for the launch included an MMSF black pullover hoodie with the Mamba & Mambacita logo and the numbers 2, 8, and 24 on the hood and sleeves in remembrance of Kobe and Gigi’s legacies on the basketball court. TMZ Sports reports that the...
Kobe Bryant is once again making history. TMZ is reporting that a rare card featuring the late Black Mamba was sold in a private estate sale, and it was snagged for a gobsmacking $2 million. The card in question is a 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. Initially numbered to 100, only 10 of the cards were ever made, and it’s considered the rarest trading card of its kind in existence today. PWCC was the company that brokered the deal, and they informed TMZ that the card in question had an 8.5 out of 10 rating (in terms of its condition and quality). “This is arguably Kobe’s best card in existence,” PWCC exec Jesse Craig said. “It’s more desirable than even a Kobe Bryant rookie card or a Kobe Bryant autograph. These Precious Metal Gems variants are arguably the most desired insert card in the entire world. These set the tone for the insert market going forward.” The card in question was one of the first-of-its-kind to be made in an “insert” fashion (meaning that the card...
James Harden is tipping his hat to the immortal Black Mamba. According to Boardroom TV, the Brooklyn Nets superstar has just released a new fragrance through Art of Sport that pays tribute to its co-founder — the late, great Kobe Bryant. The outlet reports that James Harden worked throughout 2021 on the packaging, coloring, and scent of the fragrance, which he ultimately called “Defy.” Defy is the second fragrance to ever come out by Art of Sport, with the first being “Victory,” released in 2019. “I named my signature fragrance Defy for every person chasing a dream,” James Harden said in a statement released to the outlet. “I challenge you to keep going until your dreams come true. I picked fragrances to create a smell that’s bold, luxurious, and uplifting. For the packaging color, I wanted something that spoke to Kobe and LA. LA raised me, you can say it raised Kobe, and Art of Sport was born in LA. This one’s for you, Bean! This one’s for the city!” Art of Sport / Steven Counts...
The rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the metaverse are some of the biggest tech phenomenons of the year, and quite arguably some of the most notable innovations since the internet hit society. People may still be coming to terms with what NFTs are, but put more simply, NFTS are blockchain-backed certificates that guarantee the authenticity of a piece of digital media. Look what Jack Dorsey did with his first tweet, which sold as an NFT for $2.9 million. But NFT ownership doesn’t just belong to the big spenders — learn how to mint your first NFT in this recent story Afrotech published. Some experts have also expressed skepticism about the rise and sustainability of NFTs, but for now, they seem promising. As the year winds down and the NFT craze continues to consume the tech industry, check out these NFT collections and projects we’ve been watching.
The famed STAPLES Center in Downtown Los Angeles, CA — home to the NBA’s Lakers and Clippers, the NHL’s Kings and the WNBA’s Sparks — is taking on a new face. The historic sports and entertainment center, which has over 20,000 seats, will be renamed Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 25, 2021, according to arena owner AEG, ESPN reports. The Singapore-based cryptocurrency brokerage will pay $700 million over the next 20 years to AEG, the management company for the building. “This partnership is about the future,” AEG President Dan Beckerman said in a statement, according to the Washington Post. “AEG and Crypto.com not only share a vision about innovation and the future of sports and entertainment, but we also have a shared commitment to our communities where we work and live.” Founded in 2016, Crypto.com is a cryptocurrency platform with reportedly over 10 million users worldwide. Since its inception, it has bolstered its efforts to expand throughout the sports industry landing impressive...
BodyArmor, a sports drink company that received an initial investment from the late Kobe Bryant, will be acquired for $5.6 billion by the Coca-Cola company. According to CNBC, the acquisition will be the largest of its kind by the soft drink company, which will have full control of the brand. The Coca-Cola Company is looking to position BodyArmor as the direct competition to Gatorade, which is owned by Pepsico. Gatorade currently has about 70 percent of the market share in sports drinks, which gives its parent company nearly full dominance over the market. What makes this full acquisition so notable is that Coca-Cola was once the sports drink’s second-largest shareholder. They bought into the company back in 2018 in a deal that gave them 15 percent ownership in the company. At the time, too, the late Kobe Bryant was the third-largest shareholder in the company, as well — and his investment was made just two years after the company was launched. According to the outlet, Kobe Bryant’s...