What happened: A game-worn No. 33 Lower Merion High School jersey from Kobe Bryant sold for $2.2 million at Sotheby's on Friday, setting an all-time record for high school basketball memorabilia. Bryant wore the uniform during his 1995 junior season in a matchup against Hazleton Area. The auction drew 26 bids from seven competing collectors before hammering down.

Why it matters: The sale eclipsed the previous high school jersey mark set by LeBron James' St. Vincent-St. Mary uniform, which fetched $1.3 million in 2024. The Lower Merion piece is the only competitive uniform Bryant wore before entering the NBA draft directly in 1996 without Los Angeles across his chest. Bryant's top memorabilia benchmark remains a 2007 Upper Deck dual-autograph card with Michael Jordan that sold for $12.6 million in 2022.

What to watch: Auction houses continue testing market appetite for vintage 1990s basketball artifacts as high-end game-worn memorabilia draws broader institutional interest. Collectors will watch whether upcoming sales bring additional prep-era pieces to market.