Kobe Bryant's Staples Center Locker Sells For $2.8 Million At Auction

The locker Kobe Bryant used during his historic NBA career has found a new owner ... and the final price was a whopping $2.88 MILLION!!

The bidding for the extremely rare piece of Kobe memorabilia closed on Friday, August 2 ... the same day the Black Mamba is slated to be honored with a second statue outside the venue he made famous, with this iteration featuring his daughter, Gianna .

The final price for the locker -- which was removed from the Staples Center during renovations in 2008 -- was $2,880,000, far exceeding the estimated amount.

As we previously reported, Sotheby's Auction told us they expected the locker to sell up to $1.2 million .

Of course, any Kobe fan with the funds would go above and beyond to get something used/touched by the Black Mamba. He was one of the greatest NBA players ever and is widely considered one of the best Lakers of all time.

During his 20-year NBA career, he scored 33,643 points, had 7,047 rebounds, 6,306 assists, and set several records ... including becoming the all-time leading scorer in Lakers history.

KOBE MURALS IN LA

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He also gave back to the community ... and started a nonprofit organization for after-school programs in 13 cities, a charity in China for education and health programs, became a founding donor for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and much more.

REMEMBERING KOBE BRYANT

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Sotheby's said it will actually donate a portion of the final bid to The Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation ... to honor Bryant and his legacy of "philanthropy and community impact."