Ten million dollars. That is the starting price of the legendary Nike Kobe 6 ‘Grinch’, the green sneakers with which Kobe Bryant played in the 2010 Christmas game against LeBron James’ Miami Heat. The auction is run by Joopiter, the trading platform created by artist Pharrell Williams.L
The model, in a bright green with a scale texture, was born as a tribute to the nickname of the man himself. Kobe, the ‘Black Mamba’. But their premiere on December 25th changed history: since then, the basketball world renamed them the ‘Grinch’, in reference to the grumpy creature that hates Christmas.
“Its minimum price is 10 million,” Caitlin Donovan, global sales director of Joopiter, confirmed to EFE. The sneakers, autographed by Bryant himself, are on display this week in Beverly Hills along with other collectibles from the Los Angeles myth, awaiting bidders with pockets and devotion.
That day, at the Staples Center—now Crypto.com Arena—Kobe scored 17 points on a gray afternoon for the Lakers, defeated 80-96 by the Heat of James, Wade and Bosh. Still, those sneakers became an instant icon.
This is not the first time that an object linked to the genius of the Lakers breaks the mold: last August, a trading card signed by Bryant and Michael Jordan sold for more than $12.9 million, a record figure for a sports card in the United States. Another blow of eternity for the legend of 24.
Sofia Reyes
Sofia Reyes covers basketball and baseball for Archysport, specializing in statistical analysis and player development stories. With a background in sports data science, Sofia translates advanced metrics into compelling narratives that both casual fans and analytics enthusiasts can appreciate. She covers the NBA, WNBA, MLB, and international basketball competitions, with a particular focus on emerging talent and how front offices build winning rosters through data-driven decisions.
