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A uniform worn by Shaquille O’Neal during the 1996-97 NBA season, including the game marking Kobe Bryant's NBA debut, sold for $262,500, setting a record for the highest bid for an O’Neal item at public auction. This significant sale featured a gold and purple home uniform tailored for O’Neal’s formidable size, alongside over 1,600 items from Planet Hollywood's collection displayed globally.

Despite Bryant's absence from the Lakers' season opener, he participated in the next game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 3, 1996, witnessing O’Neal's impressive 35-point and 19-rebound performance. This uniform, a size 56 jersey and size 50 shorts, has been authenticated by Heritage Auctions for its use in at least five games, all resulting in double-double stats for O’Neal. The auction item not only symbolizes the early days of a legendary NBA career but also O’Neal's pivotal role in the Lakers securing three consecutive championships between 2000 and 2002, with O’Neal named Finals MVP each time.

Heritage Auctions also confirmed that the uniform, showing extensive game wear and loose threading on the numbers, was acquired directly from the Lakers. The auction featured other memorabilia, including Kevin Costner’s "Bull Durham" uniform and Robert Redford’s attire from "The Natural," each selling for $81,250.