For the majority of the basketball viewing public, Kobe Bryant’s career finale was an occasion to be enjoyed through a screen, either with a live streaming package or on ESPN2. Watching from home on the East Coast presented a nightcap hoops junky’s dream of tracking the Golden State Warriors’ record-breaking ascent to 73 wins while watching “The Black Mamba” cap his 20th season with the most Kobe game ever: 50 shots, 60 points and a 101-96 comeback victory.
On top of the vintage performance, fans who made it to the Staples Center for the last pit of Bryant’s farewell tour were treated to some insane freebies. It must have been a special atmosphere, and one sports fan has realized how rarefied the smog was in L.A. that day.
On Sunday afternoon, eBay user cardemon_huskers2015 listed an item to the auction site described as “Kobe Bryant Last Game Used Air Autograph Bag 60 pts” along with a picture of a plastic bag, clearly still full of air, autographed in black marker. By Sunday evening, the price had climbed to $4,599.99.
If you doubt the authenticity of the memorabilia, just know it originally hails from society’s source of truth and sincerity, Craigslist.
The ad reads:
“Kobe Bryant Last Game Used Bag of Air Signed by Kobe Bryant on April 13th 2016 at Staples Center. I bought this from a guy off of Craigslist.The Autograph looks authentic to me,judge for yourself.This is your chance to own this amazing collectible.The bag reads Kobe Bryant Last Game Used Air Autograph Bag Staples Center 4-13-16 60 pts.Due to the scarcity,I will be accepting reasonable offers only.This is by PayPal only. Good luck bidding.”
Taking into account the degree of difficulty for signing a bag of air, the Bryant signature could be real. Forensically inclined readers can compare the autograph on the bag to the signed box score Nick Young shared on Instagram after Kobe trashed his Adidas sneakers.
Skeptics can point out discrepancies. But isn’t it more fun to believe we live in a world in which $5,000 buys you a chance to share air with one of the world’s most self-indulgent superstars?
