A towel used by Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who died suddenly in January during his last NBA game in April 2016, was bought for more than 33,000 dollars (29,778 euros), the auction company announced on Sunday. Iconic Auctions. The napkin, white and in the colors of a sponsor of Bryant, was sold for the sum of 33,077.16 dollars precisely and was the subject of 16 auctions.
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A museum project
Auctioneer Jeff Woolf said on CNN television that the buyer already had a very large collection of Lakers-related items: "He's a staunch supporter of the Lakers and his project the long term is to create a museum in Southern California, "he said.
Bryant, five-time NBA champion with the Lakers and double Olympic champion with the United States, said goodbye to the NBA and basketball on April 13, 2016 after the last game in the 2015-16 regular season won by his team against Utah (101-96 after extra time).
"Mamba out"
Number 24 of the Lakers, nicknamed "Black Mamba", had written during this meeting 60 points and then delivered, the famous towel on his shoulders, a speech that has since become legendary and concluded with the formula "Mamba Out" (literally, it is finished for Mamba).
Bryant died at the age of 41 on January 26 near Los Angeles in the crash of his helicopter, with eight other people, including his eldest daughter Gianna.