Kobe Bryant, the injured Los Angeles Lakers guard, is adding a legal battle to the fight he is already waging to revive his playing career following a torn Achilles tendon late in the season.
Bryant is engaged in a legal war with his mother, Pamela Bryant, who is auctioning off memorabilia from Kobe's high school playing days in Pennsylvania as well as from his first few years with the Lakers. The collection of Kobe memorabilia contains 900 items, and is worth a staggering $1.5 million.
Pamela has received a $450,000 payment from Goldin Auctions, a Berlin, New Jersey auction house that recently unloaded a Honus Wagner baseball card for a record-setting $2.1 million. In court documents, Goldin alleges Pamela asked her son what he wanted her to do with the loads of memorabilia. Kobe Bryant indicated to Pamela Bryant that the items belonged to her and that he had no interest in them," Goldin said.
Mark Campbell, Kobe's legal representative, is challenging Goldin and Pamela's version of events. "Mr. Bryant's personal property has ended up in the possession of someone who does not lawfully own it. We look forward to resolving this legal matter through the legal system."
Kenneth Goldin, auction house owner, has said he cannot cancel the auction because he's already advanced the $450,000 to Pamela who is planning to buy a house in Nevada with that money.
Items being sold off include game jerseys, practice gear, Lower-Merion High School issued team sweatsuits, varsity letters, a 1995 ABCD Adidas Basketball Camp Most Outstanding Player award, and a signed ball from the 2000 NBA Finals.
The superstar shooting guard is dealing with all this while trying to recuperate from a devastating torn Achilles tendon he suffered toward the end of the regular season. Bryant's career is in jeopardy, his team could be undergoing a complete makeover this offseason, and now he's fighting his mom in court.
Times have been better for Kobe Bryant.
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