Bryant’s towel fetches $33,000 at auction, report

443

LOS ANGELES, March 30, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The towel that Kobe Bryant wore
over his shoulders during his farewell speech after his final National
Basketball League game has fetched over $33,000 at auction, the US media said
on Sunday.

With the towel draped around him to help mop up his sweat, the Los Angeles
Lakers superstar closed his speech with his signature phrase, “Mamba Out.”

The towel ended up in the hands of a fan as Bryant walked off the court and
was then sold several times before the latest online auction.

The winning bid on Sunday was $33,077. The buyer also received two used
tickets to the April 13, 2016 Lakers game.

Bryant scored 60 points in the Lakers’ 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz that
night.

Jeff Woolf, president of Iconic Auctions, told American news broadcaster
CNN that the winning bidder is famous for having a large Lakers memorabilia
collection.

“He is a devoted Lakers fan,” Woolf said. “His long-term plan is to create
a museum in southern California.”

Bryant died in January at age 41 in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles
that killed eight others, including his daughter Gianna.

Bryant played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers. The superstar
guard led the club to five NBA titles during his stay.

He was an 18-time NBA All-Star and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and
also helped the United States capture Olympic gold in 2008 at Beijing and
2012 in London.