At the beginning of the 2001-02 NBA season the Los Angeles Lakers were the two-time defending champions... at the end they were an NBA DYNASTY! The daunting challenge of winning three titles in a row was put to the test in a grueling seven-game Western Conference title series against the Sacramento Kings that found the Lakers on the brink of elimination. Led by perennial All-Stars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant they went on to sweep the New Jersey Nets in the 2002 NBA Finals and forever put their stamp on history.

Presented here is a very significant pair of Kobe Bryant’s Game Ready Adidas THE KOBE model shoes. The size 14 pair is the same as those Kobe wore in the 2002 NBA Finals including the series clinching (Three-Peat) Game 4. These were Kobe’s back-up pair that was acquired by Peter Vecsey’s son Joseph Vecsey directly from Kobe in the locker room following Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals.  Amidst the championship celebration Kobe signed both shoes on the back quarter-panel for Joseph however the dark marker against the black shoe provides little contrast.  It is important to note that this was the last game in which Kobe wore Adidas.  In the Summer of 2002 Kobe paid a reported $8M to be released from his Adidas contract and ultimately signed with Nike the following season.

The incredible timing and circumstances of Joseph Vecsey’s postgame encounter with Kobe in the Locker Room on the historic date of June 12 2002 make these arguably the most important non-game worn signed Kobe shoes in existence.  Includes full LOAs from PSA/DNA for both shoes.