The jersey alone would fit like a dress on anyone else. Now, you can wear the whole uniform.
Tucked away in the Heritage Auctions’ Treasures from Planet Hollywood sale is 27-year-old uniform dating to the earliest days of one of the NBA’s most memorable collaborations: a full uniform once worn by Shaquille O’Neal during the 1996-97 NBA season.
Heritage says the uniform has been photo-matched to O’Neal’s use during the first game of 18-year-old Kobe Bryant’s NBA career on Nov. 3, 1996.
It’s part of an auction featuring more than 1,600 props and costumes displayed at Planet Hollywood locations around the world.
O’Neal had signed with the Lakers just months before, leaving the Orlando Magic as a free agent for a seven-year, $121 million deal.
“I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok,” he notably said, shouting out the names of his two biggest sponsors.
The 18-year-old Bryant didn’t appear in the Lakers’ first regular season game but played several minutes in the next one against the Minnesota Timberwolves, his first shot attempt blocked by Cherokee Parks. O’Neal scored 35 points and grabbed 19 points that night.
According to Heritage, the O’Neal uniform has also been matched to use in at least five other games, all of which resulted in double-double stat lines. While the first few years didn’t result in huge successes, the Lakers ultimately won three straight titles during his time in Los Angeles—2000, 2001 and 2002 and O’Neal was the Finals MVP in all three of those years.
The jersey is a size 56 and the shorts are a size 50 to fit O’Neal’s massive 7’1 frame.
According to Heritage, the uniform was originally obtained directly from the Lakers and “exhibits heavy game wear and the threading on the numbers is loose.”
As of early Thursday afternoon, bidding was approaching $100,000 with the buyer’s premium factored in. The auction will end with a live finale on Saturday
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