Kobe Bryant has left a rich legacy that continues to grow even in his absence. The Black Mamba’s numerous accolades serve as a testament to his unmatched mastery of the game.
The hardware earned through the year of toil is not only a symbol of his excellence but also provides a unique opportunity for his fans to collect it as memorabilia whenever it is up for grabs. From jerseys to shoes to cards, any Black Mamba memorabilia is a treasure to hunt for wealthy collectors. Recently, one such item was auctioned, which drew a lot of criticism. But to clear the air, Gilbert Arenas has taken center stage.
Gilbert Arenas defends Kobe Bryant’s parents decision to sell NBA rings
Gilbert Arenas has supported Kobe Bryant’s parent’s decision to sell his valuable first NBA championship ring at the auction, which he had gifted his father.
The former point guard said, “You can’t be mad at the parents on this one. They broke. They got no money”. Explaining the current situation of Kobe’s parents Arenas spilled, “The money wasn’t left to them. They tryna eat.”
Following the LA Lakers’ dominant victory over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA finals in 2000, Kobe gifted his father, Joe, the 14K championship ring with 40 diamonds on it. Joe recently put up the priceless ring on auction at the Goldin Auctions. As of reports till March 18, the bid had gone up to $94,000, it will be handed to the person with the highest bid till the 30th of this month.
Joe had reportedly tried to sell the ring earlier in 2013 however, the Black Mamba forbade it. Kobe had gifted a similar ring to his mother, Pamela who sold it four years ago at the same sports marketplace. To survive in his absence, his parents financially depend on his belongings.
While the NBA community lashed at the parents for selling off his accolades and not being emotionally attached to them, “Agent Zero” took it upon himself to explain the financial crisis that Joe and Pamela Bryant are going through which pressured them to make such a decision. Although Arenas cleared up the confusion that the winners get multiple rings, the ones Kobe gifted his parents were the “family and friends edition.” Hopefully, the fans can now loosen up their minds.
What was Kobe Bryant’s net worth when he passed away?
Being the highest paid player in the league, Kobe earned over $320 million at the time of his retirement (2016), besides his several endorsements that brought in somewhere between $25 million and $30 million a year.
According to Forbes, the 5-time NBA champion had a whopping $600 million net worth at the time of his demise, which increased afterwards through endorsements.
The Black Mamba had decided to end his contract with Nike and launch his own shoe brand after his moniker, “Mamba.” However, that failed to materialize due to his untimely death. Although the contract with Nike ended, his wife Venessa, who currently takes care of his businesses, recently partnered with the American athletic footwear giants to relaunch Kobe’s shoe line.
Despite all his wealth, the hard time his parents fell into is completely unexpected and the late legends’ legacy is the only option to stave that off.
