Kobe Bryant merchandise has sold out on Nike's website after the athlete's death

• Nike told Business Insider it had sold out of Kobe Bryant merchandise on its website following the athlete's sudden death on Sunday.
• ESPN reported on Monday that the company pulled the merchandise to evaluate the best way to release the former Los Angeles Lakers star's signature shoe series.
• Following Bryant's death, many resellers raised the prices of pairs of Bryant's shoes on resale marketplaces like StockX.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nike, a longtime endorser of Kobe Bryant, has sold out of the athlete's merchandise on its website following his sudden death on Sunday, Nike confirmed to Business Insider in an email.

As of Tuesday morning, the only Bryant-related items on Nike.com were two Los Angeles Lakers-themed Nike gift cards. A search of the word "Kobe" redirected people to the brand's memorial statement, in which it said Bryant was a "beloved member of the Nike family."

ESPN reported on Monday that the company pulled the merchandise to evaluate how to continue releasing the athlete's shoe series.

Bryant partnered with Nike and Adidas for various sneaker releases during his lifetime.

Following Bryant's death in a helicopter crash on Sunday, his branded merchandise skyrocketed in value on resale marketplaces like StockX. Pairs of shoes on StockX that had gone for less than $200 were being sold for upwards of $1,000 on Sunday.

Resellers were criticized as profiting from tragedy for raising the prices of pairs of Bryant's shoes on marketplaces.

Some consignors made it clear that such practices would not be allowed. Jaysse Lopez, the founder of Urban Necessities, a multimillion-dollar consignment-and-resale company, told those who consign with him that they would be barred from upping the prices on Bryant-branded items in the wake of the tragedy.

Correction: An earlier version of this post said Nike had pulled the merchandise from its website.

SEE ALSO: People are slamming sneakerheads jacking up the prices of Bryant shoes in the wake of his sudden death, and it reveals a darker side of sneaker culture

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