Chinese Kobe Bryant fan ‘happy’ stolen high school jersey back where it belongs
- Bryant super fan Liu Zhe returned jersey before it was used in tributes at Philadelphia 76ers and Lower Merion
- NBA legend’s high school among many to mourn, including golfer Tony Finau and footballer Neymar
Kobe Bryant’s stolen high school basketball jersey was back on the wall of his Philadelphia school gym on Saturday night as they mourned the Los Angeles Lakers star.
The Lower Merion high school No 33 jersey was among a number of Bryant-related items stolen from the school in 2017 and it ended up sold to a fan in China, who wrote of his delight at its return on social media.
That fan, 28-year-old Liu Zhe, returned the jersey to the school last March after realising it was stolen.
On Saturday it was unveiled in the Lower Merion High School’s Bryant Gymnasium as the NBA star’s alma mater marked the first game since he was among nine killed in a helicopter crash, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, in California last Sunday.
Super fan Liu, who goes by the handle “kobeliuzhe” on Instagram, shared his thoughts on the social media platform.
“It is the jersey! I am so happy I can do the things for Kobe! Kobe I miss you!” he wrote with a photo shared by the Philadelphia 76ers NBA team.
The NBA team had exhibited the jersey as part of their tribute to Bryant and the other crash victims ahead of their win over the Golden State Warriors in Philadelphia last Wednesday.
Other Instagram users commented with thanks and respect for Liu’s generous act.
Liu, who had met the star several times during the NBA legend’s regular trips to China and has a large collection of signed Bryant memorabilia, had paid US$2,000 for the jersey online before realising it was stolen.
The signed jersey was taken from a display case at the school by two masked men in 2017.
The Harbin native contacted the school through Instagram and returned the jersey back in March, where it went to the police before being certified authentic by a local memorabilia store.
After Liu returned it to the school it went back on display before this week’s tributes at the Philadelphia 76ers and Lower Merion.
Bryant played four seasons at the school, leading the Aces to the Pennsylvania state championship in 1996 before going straight into that year’s NBA draft.
He was drafted at 13 by the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the Lakers, where he would spend two decades, winning five NBA championships.
Golfer Justin Thomas paid tribute to Bryant at the Phoenix Open on Saturday by wearing his Lower Merion uniform, while Tony Finau wore a Bryant Lakers jersey at the same tournament.
Other sports stars who have paid tribute include Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian star Neymar, who warmed up ahead of their Ligue 1 game against Montpellier with a PSG shirt featuring Bryant’s name and the number 24.
