Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, parents reach settlement on auction items

A New Jersey auction house will sell only six items of memorabilia from Kobe Bryant’s career as part of a settlement between the Lakers star and his family that included an apology from his mother and father and a percentage of the proceeds from the auction going to charity.

Bryant’s mother, Pamela, had originally consigned a significantly larger number of items to Goldin Auctions, fetching a $450,000 advance that she intended to use to buy a house in Nevada. Bryant’s lawyers contended that Pamela Bryant was not authorized to sell the items, prompting Goldin Auctions to file suit in U.S. District Court in New Jersey for the right to proceed with the sale.

The trial was scheduled to start next week.

Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions, said Monday he expected the items that will be sold in an auction open from June 17 to July 19 would “generate over $500,000.” As part of the settlement, Goldin said he could not disclose whether Pamela Bryant would get to keep her advance or receive a percentage of sales from the auction.

Pamela and Joseph Bryant, Kobe’s father, also apologized to their son in a statement released by Kobe Bryant’s attorney, Mark Campbell.

“We regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia,” Pamela and Joseph Bryant said. “We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we may have caused our son and appreciate the financial support that he has provided to us over the years. We also would like to apologize to Goldin Auctions for their inadvertent involvement in this matter and thank them for their assistance.”

The Bryant items that will be sold are a pair of jerseys the shooting guard wore while playing for Lower Merion High in Ardmore, Pa.; an all-star medallion and ribbon he was given from the 1996 Magic Roundball Classic; his 2000 NBA All-Star game ring; and a pair of 2000 NBA championship rings that Bryant had given to his parents.

According to terms of the settlement, 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the items, except the championship rings, will be donated to charity.

“I’m confident I will be writing a nice six-figure check to charity,” Ken Goldin said.

Goldin said he could not divulge who had taken possession of the Bryant memorabilia not included in the auction. Pamela Bryant had originally consigned fewer than 100 items, Goldin said.

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