Kobe Bryant Doesn't Want Mom to Sell His Stuff

A N.J. auction house is suing the Los Angeles Lakers star.

ByABC News
May 4, 2013, 11:27 AM

May 4, 2013 — -- Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard, is embroiled in a legal spat with his mother and an auction house in New Jersey that is selling over 100 items from his early basketball career..

Goldin Auctions LLC, which is holding an auction on an unspecified date in June of items from Bryant's childhood in Italy, his high school years in Pennsylvania and his early years in the NBA, filed a lawsuit against him on Thursday.

"The Bryant Collection," which was consigned by the sports star's mother, Pamela Bryant, includes trophies, championship rings, medals, plaques, game worn uniforms and other items.

On Saturday, Bryant tweeted: "When u give Give GIVE and they take Take TAKE at wat point do u draw a line in the sand? #hurtbeyondmeasure #gavemenowarning #love?"

Pamela Bryant, 59, made a deal in January with the auction house, receiving $450,000, which she used for a new home in Nevada. Five years ago, she had asked her son what he wanted to do with the items, but he had no interest in them, the Associated Press reported.

"Pamela Bryant also indicated that her son gave these items to her stating 'here mom, these are for you'," the complaint states.

So she had placed the items in a storage unit in New Jersey for $1,500 a month, the AP reported.

The centerpiece of the collection is Bryant's Lower Merion High School basketball uniform with the number 24, which he wore as a freshman before he switched to number 33 for the remainder of his high school career, according to a press release.

"It is believed to be the only authentic game worn #24 Kobe Bryant LMHS jersey in existence. The next time he wore a #24 jersey was when he switched his NBA number to it after the 2005-06 NBA season," the Goldin Auctions press release states. "When he finally removes #24 from his back, it will hang in the rafters alongside, Wilt, Kareem, Magic and Shaq."

Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions, which sold a rare Honus Wagner baseball card last month for a record $2.1 million, declined to comment.

In Photos: Rare Honus Wagner Card and Other Expensive Auction Items

After the auction house publicized the sale on Tuesday, it received a cease-and-desist letter by the end of the day, in which the basketball player asked to halt the planned auction.

On Thursday, Goldin Auctions filed for injunctive relief against the basketball player in the hope that a judge can clarify the ownership of the items.

Kobe Bryant's attorney, Mark Campbell of Loeb & Loeb LLP, provided a statement to ABCNews.com: "We are aware of the lawsuit that has been filed against our client, Kobe Bryant. Mr. Bryant's personal property has ended up in the possession of someone who does not lawfully own it. We look forward to resolving this legal matter through the legal system. There will be no further comment at this time."

Kobe Bryant and his mother could not be reached for comment.

The press release states that other items will be announced closer to the start of the auction in June.

Six rings are included in the collection, the press release states: "a 1996 High School McDonald's All-American ring; 1996 High School State Championship ring; 1998 and 2000 NBA All-Star rings; plus a team-issued Kobe Bryant 2000 Lakers championship ring given by Kobe to his father Joe Bryant and a specially designed version for his mother Pamela Bryant."