Records expected as Kobe Bryant’s “Grinch” sneakers go up for auction
The green sneakers of the former NBA star are set to fetch huge numbers.
This year, the Grinch really could steal Christmas. More than 15 years after they first appeared on a court, one of the most memorable pairs of basketball shoes ever worn could sell for an extraordinary sum that just might eclipse all records.
Back on Christmas Day 2010, Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers played the Miami Heat in a holiday matchup that featured some of the biggest stars of the era. In addition to battling LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the scoreboard, Bryant brought another kind of excitement to fans that day: a striking new colourway of his Nike signature sneaker.
Known today simply as the “Grinch”, these Zoom Kobe VI trainers immediately captured attention for the festive context of their debut.
Anthony Davis breaks out the “Grinch” Kobe 6, exactly 10 years after Kobe Bryant wore them on #NBAXmas
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) December 26, 2020
“[The best] Christmas shoe is definitely the Grinches. I don’t think no one can argue that,” says @AntDavis23 pic.twitter.com/dKeccFiBBZ
Released in limited numbers along with special versions for Lakers teammates, the Grinch colourway was an instant talking point among collectors and basketball fans alike.
The Kobe 6 is now the most popular sneaker in the NBA, according to Kixstats (via Yahoo), with the “Grinch” top of the pile. While they originally retailed for $130, pairs on StockX routinely go for thousands today.
“Nike (and players) have kept them in the limelight,” said Sneakonomic Growth author Dylan Dittrich, explaining the resonance of sneakers. “Nike started making Kobe ‘Protros’ in 2018 — basically, they remake Kobe’s signature shoes with more modern performance tech. That paved the way for Kobes to become the most popular on-court choice in the NBA, which they still are. Other models like the GT Cuts and Sabrinas have drafted off the Kobe aesthetic.”
Today the story of those shoes has taken an unexpected turn. JOOPITER, a high-end auction house specialising in rare sports memorabilia, has listed what it describes as the only pair worn in that 2010 game, and interest from deep-pocketed collectors is expected to be intense. They are signed by Bryant and described as “a fixture of global youth culture.”
After 15 yrs of mystery, Kobe Bryant’s original game worn “grinch” Kobe 6s have surfaced in Los Angeles.
— Rally (@OnRallyRd) December 11, 2025
The only general release pair available on StockX are $2,389…
Current estimate on the originals: $10M pic.twitter.com/cZHVFf6QyV
Bidding is by private inquiry only, but people involved with the sale say offers above $10 million are being entertained. If the final price reaches that level, it would dwarf the current record for the highest sneaker sale ever recorded - a game-used pair of Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals shoes that went for about $2.2 million.
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