As Kobe Bryant’s career comes to an end, people are becoming more and more antsy, including those selling merchandise, who have dollar signs in their eyes.
Limited-edition items are being made by Anschutz Entertainment Group, the group that runs the Staples Center. Some of the merchandise is ridiculous, such as a snakeskin-textured jersey that goes for $424, as well as a hat that costs $38,024, according to ESPN’s Darren Rovell. That is not a typo – 38 grand for a hat.
Some of the items will be available to purchase at the Los Angeles Lakers’ online store at, appropriately, 8:24 AM Pacific time on Thursday according to Rovell. Other items will be available at the Lakers store in Staples Center on Wednesday, April 13 when Bryant’s career comes to an end against the Utah Jazz.
Kobe merchandise for final game is insane. A lamb & snake skin New Era hat with 18K gold "24" selling for $38,024! pic.twitter.com/1ZqorWVd1s
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 7, 2016
“This city is all about spectacle,” said Sean Ryan, vice president of AEG Merchandise. “Derek Jeter might have represented the blue-collar people of New York, but Kobe is more about showtime, so we had to think of diamonds and gold.”
This purple cashmere hat is also limited, and extremely expensive like the hat shown above. There will only be eight of them sold:
Kobe last game merchandise from AEG: Purple Diamond Cashmere New Era Diamond Hat for $24,008 each! pic.twitter.com/yRIW9vveGT
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 7, 2016
More from Rovell on the hats, and other merchandise:
Both hats come in a custom black leather box with Bryant’s number and an embossed Lakers logo. The prices all have “8” and “24” in them, the two numbers that he has worn throughout his 20-year career with the team.
Hats that are slightly more affordable, but certainly not cheap, include the “81” cap, which is divided into quarters and features the points he had each quarter in his 81-point game in 2006. Made with Swarovski crystals, this hat is limited to 248 pieces and will sell for $248.24. Liquid metal caps that feature various Bryant accomplishments will retail for either $82.48 or $72.48.
A limited-edition snake print Bryant jersey will retail for $824, as will a leather jacket with gold leather logos that has a limited edition plaque on the jacket’s inside. The most expensive piece of Bryant outerwear is a lambskin and snakeskin jacket with Swarovski rhinestones that will cost $5,824.
Uber is getting in on the fun as well. The memorabilia will be available locally through the Uber Eats app for immediate delivery.
Rovell also reports that the high-end merchandise was made quickly because the majority was made here in the United States. Despite the extremely high prices, expect every last bit of the merchandise to be gone. It is Los Angeles, after all.
[ESPN]
