Kobe Bryant’s father auctions off late athlete’s first NBA championship ring

Before his death, Kobe had a strained relationship with his parents.

Their relationship began to get rocky when Kobe got engaged to Vanessa Laine, whom he would later marry and have four kids with.

The five-time NBA champion told the Los Angeles Times in 2003 that his parents had an issue with Vanessa because she was not black.

In fact, both Joe and Pam did not attend the couple’s wedding ceremony in April 2001.

Kobe tried to work on his relationship with his mom and dad. Still, things took a turn when they attempted to auction off a large collection of memorabilia from the NBA star’s career, including his high school uniforms and a pair of Lakers championship rings from 2000 that he gifted them.

Kobe subsequently sued Joe and Pam, stating that he had not permitted them to sell the items.

“When u give Give GIVE and they take Take TAKE at wat point do u draw a line in the sand? #hurtbeyondmeasure #gavemenowarning #love?” he tweeted in May 2013.

After the NBA legend settled with his parents, they said in a statement that they “regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia.”

“We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we have caused our son and appreciate the financial support he has provided over the years,” the couple added.

Kobe tragically died alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people when their helicopter crashed into a hillside northwest of Los Angeles in January 2020. He was 41.

The Oscar winner was also dad to daughters Natalia, 21, Bianka, 7, and Capri, 4, whom he shared with wife Vanessa.

Before his death, it was reported that Kobe tried to make amends with his parents and had been seen hugging his dad at a basketball camp in California.