LOS ANGELES (AFP) — A jersey worn by American basketball legend Kobe Bryant — who died three years ago in a tragic helicopter accident — sold at auction for $5.8 million.

The sale y Sotheby's in New York set a new record for any Bryant item at auction but came in under the upper pre-sale estimate of $7 million.

The price was comfortably more than the previous high of $3.7 million paid for a jersey worn by the Los Angeles Lakers titan, who won five NBA titles and two Olympic gold medals.

Game-worn sports memorabilia is big business.

Michael Jordan's 1998 National Basketball Association Finals jersey, which sold for $10.1 million in September 2022, is currently the most valuable such item.

Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" jersey sold for $9.3 million at Sotheby's in London last year.

Bryant's iconic yellow-and-purple No. 24 jersey, put up for sale by an anonymous owner, was worn by the legendary Laker in 25 games during the 2007-2008 season, Bryant's only as the NBA's Most Valuable Player.

In one of those appearances — a postseason game against the Denver Nuggets on 23 April 2008 — photographers famously captured Bryant celebrating after a successful three-point shot, gripping his jersey and letting out a primal scream.