Basketball star Kobe Bryant shoots, scores, and all the while fans can bid online on the NBA Most Valuable Player's jersey in real-time. The National Basketball Association said on Wednesday it will auction online, starting with opening tip-offs, jerseys worn by players during two games of the league Finals this week between Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. “It's something that our fans have been asking for,” Lisa Goldberg, the NBA's senior director of trading cards and memorabilia, said in a telephone interview. “It's been moving in the direction for not just basketball, but all sports,” she added. “Game-worn merchandise has definitely become a greater part of the market and collectors are wanting it.” Game-worn jerseys have become increasingly popular with collectors looking for unique memorabilia, and the Internet will only drive that interest higher, said Pete Siegel, chief executive of New York City-based Gotta Have It! Collectible Inc, which sells high-end sports, entertainment and historical collectibles. “Whenever one of the so-called leagues takes it into their own hands to auction off the items, it goes for more money because it comes directly from the source,” he said. The NBA's website, NBA.com, saw traffic surge this season, topping 1.2 billion visits including the playoffs. Siegel said he sold the jersey from the rookie season of Jackie Robinson, the Hall-of-Famer who broke baseball's color barrier, for $500,000. He said pro sports leagues are moving to sell game-worn apparel more and more, and that will bring in more revenue.
