The Most Valuable Kobe Bryant Rookie Cards

Kobe Bryant is an NBA star who is not only a great athlete but also an iconic figure in the sport. His rookie card is one of the most sought after and valuable pieces of sports memorabilia on the market. A pristine copy can fetch a price of several thousand dollars, while a rare autograph can be worth a fortune. There are many different types of Kobe Bryant rookie cards available. Here are some of the most valuable.

The 1996-97 Topps Chrome #138 is considered the holy grail of Kobe rookie cards. This card is printed on a thin stock and features an awesome brick wall pose with a rainbow foil shot. Its obverse is blue ink with a letter-segment jersey patch.

During the NBA playoffs in 1997, Bryant signed this card at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City. He inscribed the words “Gold 2008” and “Gold 2012” next to his signature. Although this card hasn’t been certified by PSA, it is still very desirable because it is signed. Despite this, it’s not the most valuable Kobe Bryant rookie card.

Another high-value Kobe Bryant rookie card is the Flair Showcase Row 2 card. This card is rare and features Kobe’s infamous fadeaway. The design is very unique and can be very expensive. If you’re looking for a bargain, try searching eBay for Kobe Bryant rookie cards. Many of these common versions can be found for $25.

One of the more unique and rare Kobe Bryant rookie cards is the 1997 Skybox Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems No. 81. This card features young Bryant in his number eight jersey. It’s a rare, autographed rookie card and only one of its kind.

The 1997 E-X2000 #30 is the second most valuable Kobe Bryant rookie card. Though it was a highly sought-after card in the 1990s, it’s not the most popular. The oversized design and shredded curtain background give this card a strange look. But if you’re patient, you can find an ungraded version of the card for cheap.

The 1996-97 Z-Force card is not the most valuable Kobe Bryant rookie, but it does feature the busiest design of all. Its fonts are a little strange. And centering is a bit tricky. However, the overall quality of this card makes it well worth a try.

The most recent auction of this card was $3,500. Despite this, the card still holds a value of at least $5,000, and could easily go for much more.

Other highly valued Kobe Bryant rookie cards include the 1997-98 Upper Deck Chrome UD3 #1, which was recently sold for $922,500 at an auction. As with any sports memorabilia, this card has a potential to reach millions of dollars.

The most expensive Kobe Bryant rookie card isn’t a rookie card at all. It’s the only photo-matched jersey from Bryant’s 1997 playoff run. That jersey could be worth more than $5 million at an auction.

The Beckett Basketball Card Price Guide is not comprehensive. For example, it does not account for the numerous parallels of Kobe Bryant’s cards. To make things more complicated, it also does not include inserts.