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otheby’s is privileged to present a collection of objects that define how modern sports history is written—not in statistics alone, but in moments when the course of a franchise, a league, or the culture of the game changes forever. Each highlight is rooted in a specific moment: a victory, a breakthrough debut, a tribute, or a dynasty beginning. Together, they capture inflection points in the careers of icons whose impact extends far beyond their arenas.
This Shohei Ohtani ‘Jackie Robinson Day’ & ‘50/50 Season’ Dodgers Game-Worn Jersey was worn on April 15, 2024, during Jackie Robinson Day, Ohtani’s first with the Dodgers — when every Major Leaguer takes the field wearing No. 42 in honor of the man who integrated baseball and changed the trajectory of American civil rights. That Ohtani, widely acknowledged as the greatest two-way player in modern baseball history, should wear Robinson’s number during his first Dodgers season feels almost predestined. This jersey is photo-matched to Stolen Base No. 3 of his 50 home run / 50 stolen base NL MVP campaign (inscribed by Ohtani on the jersey), a season in which he redefined the upper limits of athletic capability. Signed in Japanese, the jersey reflects his international resonance: a player bridging continents as Robinson bridged barriers. In this item, one Dodger legend honors another, and the past and future of baseball meet on the same path.
The collection also includes the 2000 NBA Finals Game 6 Championship-Clinching Ball from June 19, 2000, when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers 116–111 at the Staples Center. With the score close coming down the stretch and the championship within reach, 21-year-old Kobe Bryant seized the opportunity to establish himself as a generational talent, scoring crucial points to secure his first NBA championship.
Signed by Kobe and the championship roster, the ball marks the genesis of a dynasty that would culminate in five titles and cement Bryant’s global influence, both on and off the court. This is the ball where a superstar’s ascent became undeniable.
The Complete Set of Chicago Bulls Championship Rings offers the full arc of basketball’s most celebrated dynasty, spanning the 1991–1993 three-peat and the 1996–1998 three-peat following Michael Jordan’s return to the league. Each ring represents a chapter in NBA history and global culture, capturing moments of dominance, innovation, and transcendent athleticism. Together, the set forms a narrative of ambition realized, and an embodiment of Jordan’s enduring impact on sport, fashion, and identity, illustrating how one athlete and his team reshaped the game forever.
Finally, this game-worn jersey from Kevin Durant’s Regular Season Debut with the Golden State Warriors on October 25, 2016, against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena, captures a turning point in the modern NBA. Durant scored 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting in a game that marked the beginning of a super-team era that would redefine competitive balance, strategy, and championship expectations in professional basketball. This jersey represents the moment Durant’s presence altered the trajectory of the league and the formation of a team that would claim consecutive championships in 2017 and 2018.
Durant’s move to Golden State was more than a shift in jersey; it represented a shift in league dynamics. As a physical artifact, this jersey represents more than Durant’s first game; it is a piece of the Golden State Warriors’ history, marking the moment the franchise began a new chapter that would define the modern era of basketball. It embodies the arrival of a transformative talent who altered the team’s trajectory, helping to establish a dynasty characterized by consecutive championships and an unprecedented style of play. The jersey is a museum-quality object, offering collectors and institutions a direct connection to a pivotal moment in professional sports.
