The affect that Kobe Bryant had on the NBA and a complete technology of sports activities card collectors throughout his profession with the Los Angeles Lakers locations him on the Mount Rushmore of recent basketball card legends. Buying and selling playing cards of the 2007 MVP have been graded over half 1,000,000 instances by PSA (Skilled Sports activities Authenticator) to this point, which ranks third amongst basketball gamers for many graded playing cards of all-time. He was additionally constantly among the many 10 most searched athletes throughout all sports activities on eBay all through 2024. The demand and costs of Bryant collectibles endlessly modified following his loss of life in 2020, including one other layer of sentiment to his playing cards, autographs, and memorabilia.
So what are the very best selections for followers trying to construct a set of Bryant’s buying and selling playing cards? Listed below are our picks.
High choose (full suggestions beneath)
1996 Fleer Steel #181 rookie card
Bryant’s 1996 Fleer Steel #181 rookie card is my greatest worth suggestion based mostly on its excessive demand and relative shortage in gem mint copies. It’s arguably certainly one of his most troublesome rookie playing cards to obtain a Gem Mint 10 grade from PSA as a result of its metallic foil-stamped design is very prone to chipping and floor harm (solely 837 examples have been deemed a PSA 10 out of 14,814 graded to this point). The model recognition of ’90s Steel playing cards and the comparatively cheap price of PSA 10 graded Bryant Steel rookie playing cards (presently about $500-$600) makes them enticing and extra obtainable to many collectors.
Issues to know earlier than shopping for
The worth of sports activities playing cards can fluctuate for numerous causes comparable to situation, print runs, or graded inhabitants. Different components that may trigger costs to go up or down embody participant efficiency, market traits, and well being of the broader financial system. The secondary gross sales marketplace for particular person playing cards of a given sport typically hits its lowest level throughout the offseason (in different phrases, you possibly can normally discover higher costs within the offseason than throughout the season). My suggestions should not an try to advertise particular funding conduct or buying and selling recommendation, however to information and inform readers about widespread and distinctive playing cards which might be celebrated by the sports activities card neighborhood.
In the end, the very best playing cards to gather are all the time those you’ll personally get pleasure from most, no matter whether or not they go up or down in worth. The suggestions beneath ought to function a place to begin for playing cards to think about, however a giant a part of the enjoyable in accumulating is the hunt for the playing cards you want.
“Uncooked” playing cards vs. Graded playing cards
Playing cards can come out of the pack (their “uncooked” state) with all kinds of imperfections that may affect their worth. Card grading is a course of through which an professional of the sector determines the situation of a card based mostly on numerous components (together with nook sharpness, picture centering, print imperfections, and extra) and assigns a numerical grade, normally on a scale of 1-10 (with the latter being near good) and sealed in a protecting case. There are a selection of grading firms, every with their very own distinctive grading scales, however PSA (Skilled Sports activities Authenticator) is by far the most important and most outstanding within the trade. Playing cards graded a “PSA 10” can carry a big worth multiplier in comparison with uncooked playing cards or these graded by different firms.
It’s high quality (and sometimes cheaper) to purchase playing cards uncooked, however if you wish to guarantee authenticity and/or a minimal situation stage, and also you’re not skilled at figuring out card situation for your self, chances are you’ll wish to purchase a graded card as an alternative — notably if you happen to’re shopping for on-line and solely capable of see the cardboard in images.
Greatest low-end (~$1-$99) Kobe Bryant playing cards
This can be a class for collectors who’re on a tighter funds or aren’t as involved in regards to the long-term financial worth of the playing cards they purchase.
1996 Higher Deck Collector’s Selection #267 rookie card
Bryant’s 1996 Collector’s Selection rookie card is certainly one of his extra inexpensive rookie playing cards in gem mint grades. Uncooked copies will be bought for round $15 and PSA 10 graded variations for underneath $300.
Collector’s Selection units had been certainly one of Higher Deck’s low-end basketball releases within the Nineties focused to children and new collectors. The 1996 set was launched in two sequence, however followers gained’t discover Bryant’s #267 rookie card in Sequence 1 — it will probably solely be pulled out of Sequence 2 packs. Nevertheless, Higher Deck produced factory-sealed full units and crew packs that includes the identical card. It’s price noting that Bryant’s rookie card included within the Lakers crew pack has a special card quantity (LA2) on the again than ones positioned in packs and full units.
It’s an affordable, but recognizable rookie card. It additionally options a picture of Bryant with the solid he wore on the very starting of his NBA profession after fracturing his wrist simply earlier than his rookie season started. That solid later offered at public sale for $722.98.
1996 Fleer Extremely #52 rookie card
One other entry-level Bryant base rookie card that’s modestly priced in uncooked and excessive grades is from 1996 Fleer Extremely Sequence 2. The cardboard options fascinating images and exhibits Bryant gliding to the basket. It additionally features a “rookie” designation stamp underneath the Fleer Extremely brand on the highest left of the entrance of the cardboard.
The basketball card passion exploded in recognition within the Nineties, prompting a surplus of latest releases made by Fleer, Topps, Higher Deck, and extra. Fleer continued its success in producing basketball playing cards from the Eighties by creating revolutionary units with recent designs and distinctive themes. Extremely’s introduction of the uncommon gold and platinum medallion parallels added an exhilarating chase aspect to the set which might be nonetheless extremely coveted by collectors.
Despite the fact that his base rookie card presently sells for round $20 in uncooked situation, PSA 10 graded variations promote for an enormous premium as a result of it’s difficult to seek out them in gem mint situation. Out of the ten,000 or so Bryant Extremely base rookie playing cards graded by the corporate, solely three p.c have acquired a PSA 10 grade. Its shortage within the highest grade has resulted in PSA 10 gross sales eclipsing $1,000, however you could find 9s (nonetheless a “mint” designation) within the $100 ballpark.
1996 additionally occurs to be the tenth anniversary of Fleer’s iconic 1986 launch and is well known by Extremely’s guidelines together with a cool “Decade of Excellence” reprint insert of Michael Jordan’s Fleer rookie card.
Further variations and parallels: Gold Medallion (inserted 1:12 Sequence 1 packs on common) Platinum Medallion (inserted 1:180 Sequence 1 packs on common)
Greatest worth (~$100-$499) Kobe Bryant playing cards
This can be a class for collectors trying to pay a bit extra for playing cards which have a point of shortage and have a greater likelihood at retaining or rising in worth long-term.
1996 Topps #138 rookie card
The five-time NBA champion’s 1996 Topps #136 card is undeniably his hottest rookie card, and PSA has graded it extra instances than every other Bryant card.
Topps basketball paper playing cards (versus the Topps Chrome variations, which we’ll contact on later) weren’t notably recognized for prime gross sales costs on the secondary market throughout this period, however its ultra-high demand in the present day makes it certainly one of his most transacted playing cards. PSA 9 copies are promoting for round $150 whereas SGC and BGS 9.5’s (mint+ and gem mint, respectively) are within the $300 vary.
Further variations and parallels: NBA fiftieth Silver Foil (inserted 1:3 packs on common)
1996 Fleer Steel #181 rookie card
The 1996 Fleer Steel guidelines features a few first-year playing cards of the Lakers’ all-time main scorer, however I feel his #181 card stands out due to its excessive transaction quantity and rising demand for gem mint graded copies.
Regardless of it being his second-most graded base rookie card by PSA, lower than 900 examples have acquired a ten grade. Fleer Steel playing cards submitted to PSA for grading have a low gem price as a result of the foil-etched design is definitely prone to scratching and chip marks alongside the sides.
Based mostly on the comparatively low variety of Gem Mint 10 graded playing cards in comparison with his different base rookies, the ~$500 price ticket is an inexpensive price to personal a Bryant PSA 10 rookie card from a well known model comparable to Steel.
It might not be the primary rookie card of the Los Angeles famous person that involves thoughts, however the rising recognition of ’90s Steel playing cards in recent times has elevated demand and worth.
Further variations and parallels: Valuable Steel (inserted 1:36 packs on common)
1996 Skybox X — X2000 #30 rookie card
Skybox’s E — X2000 playing cards are a number of the most revered of the ’90s and Bryant’s #30 base card within the 1996 set is an instance of their distinctive magnificence. Ungraded, this card sells for round $150, however the newest sale of a PSA 10 instance of the cardboard (with a inhabitants of simply 24) offered for greater than $24,000 in October 2024. Bryant’s Star Date 2000 insert from this set, with its outer-space design, is one other coveted and distinctive card that has been promoting ungraded for between $350-$500 just lately.
Further parallels: Credentials /499
Greatest high-end (~$500+) Kobe Bryant playing cards
This can be a class for collectors trying to purchase probably the most desired Bryant playing cards available on the market.
1996 Topps Chrome #138 rookie card
Topps Chrome basketball units throughout the Nineties and 2000s produced a number of the hottest rookie playing cards within the passion due to their polished look and excessive standing amongst collectors.
Its debut in 1996 launched a premium model of Topps flagship units that included a brand new chase card coined “the Refractor.” A Refractor parallel has a reflective rainbow-like impact when held into the sunshine and is a restricted card that runs parallel to the bottom set. In addition to the quantity printed, the distinction between refractors and base playing cards will be within the coloration, design, picture, or sample. These days, The sports activities card passion is accustomed to newly launched units having fairly a number of variations of the refractor parallel, however 1996 Topps Chrome basketball solely provided one normal refractor parallel.
Trying again, the timing of Topps Chrome Basketball’s first launch in 1996 and the dominant rookie class featured within the set had been completely aligned. Collectors had the possibility to tug rookie playing cards of not solely Bryant, but in addition future Corridor of Famers Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, and Ray Allen. Bryant driving via the lane on his strategy to the basket isn’t probably the most favored motion shot on his first-year playing cards, but it surely has a particular look and is identical picture used for his Topps flagship rookie card.
In accordance with PSA, there are lower than 7,000 examples of Bryant’s Topps Chrome rookie card graded by the corporate and fewer than 900 have acquired a PSA 10 grade. (For comparability, there are round 46,000 PSA graded examples of his 1996 Topps and about 5,000 PSA 10s.)
One of many notable condition-related issues with Bryant’s Topps Chrome rookie card is “greening” or “hulking.” This refers back to the picture on the cardboard turning inexperienced over time brought on by issues with the chemical compounds initially used within the printing course of. Topps resolved the greening downside for future chromium card releases in 1998, but it surely’s confirmed to have affected lots of the Chrome units from the mid-’90s. This subject has definitely impacted the variety of PSA 10 Bryant Topps Chrome base rookie playing cards in existence and its worth in excessive grades.
The revolutionary chromium-style basketball playing cards had been and are nonetheless thought of a best choice for hardcore hoops followers who acquire rookie playing cards of gamers from the Nineties and 2000s. In my view, it’s the crown jewel of Bryant’s base rookie playing cards. PSA 9 examples of his high-end base rookie card are promoting on eBay for near $1,300 and PSA 10’s are fetching between $5,000-$7,000.
Further variations and parallels: Refractor (inserted 1:12 packs on common)
1996 Topps Most interesting Heirs #269
There are specific playing cards which have a creative enchantment to them that captures the eye of collectors, and Bryant’s 1996 Topps Most interesting Heirs #269 is certainly one of them. For starters, the images used for the entrance of the cardboard is museum-esque and elegantly portrays the 18-time All-Star flying backwards towards the ring. The “Heirs” banner above his head provides off a regal vibe and presents Bryant as ascending basketball royalty. However my favourite facet of this card is how its gold borders stylishly corresponds with Bryant’s yellow Lakers uniform.
Topps Most interesting units throughout this time offered a protecting coating on the floor of every card that may be eliminated. PSA has graded these for a while and can even label the cardboard “w/Coating” if the protecting movie remains to be on the cardboard. In consequence, the worth and PSA inhabitants of Bryant’s Heirs rookie insert varies based mostly on whether or not the coating was faraway from the cardboard or stored on when submitted for grading. Relying on different components that decide a card’s situation, Bryant Heirs inserts with the coating nonetheless on them are price barely extra.
This magnificence is on the high of my checklist of Bryant rookie playing cards with the very best eye enchantment.
Further variations and parallels: Refractor (inserted 1:12 packs on common)
Higher Deck SPx Profitable Supplies autographed playing cards
Any Bryant fan would wish to have certainly one of his autographed playing cards of their assortment, however since his loss of life they’ve risen exponentially in worth. Higher Deck’s SPx Profitable Supplies inserts, which characteristic Bryant’s autograph on the cardboard (versus on a sticker affixed to the cardboard, that are much less fascinating amongst collectors) and items of his game-worn uniform or warm-ups are a number of the nicest examples of Bryant autographed playing cards obtainable. Nevertheless, his autographed playing cards later produced by Panini in high-end units like Nationwide Treasures and Flawless are high choices, as nicely.
Different cool Kobe Bryant Playing cards
2008 Topps #24
Upon its launch 16 years in the past, I doubt collectors anticipated to see gross sales of this frequent base card attain as excessive as $100 in 2025, however there’s no denying how distinctive the photograph on Bryant’s 2008 Topps card is. The picture captures a particular second of Bryant backing down LeBron James in a heated matchup between the Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Topps properly used the identical photograph within the 2008 Topps Chrome set and affords a number of refractors if you’re a fan of Chrome and on the lookout for a extra restricted model of this card.
What’s compelling about playing cards like that is that they weren’t essentially desired or precious upon launch, however significance has developed over time.
Further variations and parallels: Gold Foil, Gold (/2008), Orange (/1199) Black (/51), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates (1/1)
1998 Topps East-West #EW5
Persevering with with the theme of two NBA icons on one card, Topps produced a novel East-West insert card that includes Jordan on the entrance and Bryant on the again. 1998 was a monumental season for each Corridor of Famers — Bryant was chosen to his first NBA All-Star sport and Jordan gained his fifth MVP award. The design provides off cosmic vitality with the Earth taking on many of the background and is accompanied by every participant’s motion shot because the focus.
The 1998 Topps Sequence 2 East-West subset included a 20-card guidelines and was inserted in 1:36 packs on common. So the percentages of pulling even certainly one of them, not to mention the Jordan/Bryant card weren’t nice. The set additionally affords a particularly restricted refractor parallel card with quite a few gross sales within the 4 figures.
Further variations and parallels: Refractor (inserted 1:144 Sequence 2 packs on common)
Getting the very best worth
Costs for a sure buying and selling card can differ wildly and fluctuate rapidly, making it vital to examine latest gross sales of a given card to be sure to’re shopping for at a good worth. You possibly can examine latest gross sales of an merchandise on eBay by choosing the “offered objects” filter on search outcomes. You can too run a search on 130point.com, which is a free website that gives gross sales knowledge from numerous high on-line marketplaces. There are additionally a number of apps that present extra in-depth gross sales knowledge, usually charging subscription charges for full entry.
To account for outliers and scams, it’s vital to think about a number of earlier gross sales, not simply the one most up-to-date. It’s additionally vital to notice the recency of these gross sales and any real-world components that would have an effect on adjustments in worth.
Why you need to belief us
As a second-generation collector, Tyler Holzhammer began accumulating playing cards and attending the Nationwide Sports activities Collectors Conference at 10 years outdated. He’s developed his ardour as a collector right into a profession, beforehand offering sports activities card content material and market evaluation for firms like Sports activities Card Investor and Goldin Auctions. Tyler’s sports activities card assortment is centered round gamers from his favourite groups, the Los Angeles Rams and the St. Louis Cardinals.
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(High photograph: Christian Petersen/Getty Photos; card photographs: eBay)
