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Without a doubt, Kobe Bryant is one of the biggest names in the world of professional basketball, even after his tragic passing. His 20-year career in the NBA was filled with everything that makes a legend in this league: championships, clutch moments, and a larger-than-life personality, among others. That’s why his passing has left such a huge void that can never be filled.
The same thought applies to Bryant’s basketball cards. Mention him to a fellow collector and you’ll hear nothing but reverence for the great Black Mamba. His cards, especially from the year he was drafted, have gone up in value during the past year. His high-end cards have drastically increased in price over the past few months.
Listed below are the five Kobe Bryant cards that have commanded the most expensive prices in recent memory.
5. 2019-20 Panini NBA Hoops Art Kobe Bryant and Zion Williamson Autograph BGS 9.5
Coming in at No. 5 is a card that’s signed by both Bryant himself and the No. 1 pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson. This dual-signed card is one of the premier offerings of the 2019-20 NBA Hoops set and was sold on Dec. 30, 2020 for a hefty price of $39,999.99. The card itself is graded by Beckett with a gem mint 9.5 grade, a quality that increases the value of this impressive card more. The fact that both The Black Mamba and the Pelicans rising star signed the card itself makes it a more desirable item for any collector.
4. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant Rookie Card BGS 10
At No. 4 is a card that’s hunted by Kobe fans all over the world: his Topps Chrome rookie card. This one was just sold on Jan. 7, 2021 at a whopping $49,999.99 price tag by an eBay seller from Connecticut. The combination of a sought-after card, timeless chrome design, and a perfect grade makes it the holy grail for most Kobe collectors out there. You can expect this card to go up more since Bryant will soon be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
3. 2017-18 Panini Impeccable All-Star Autographs Kobe Bryant 03/18 BGS 9.5
Coming in tied with the previous card, this one was also nabbed at a price of $49,999.99 on Dec. 20, 2020. With only 18 of these made, the card itself features an on-card signature from Bryant in an immaculate design. The BGS 9.5 gem mint grade also drives the card’s value up and makes it a worthy addition to any Kobe card collection.
2. 1996 Score Board Rookies Kobe Bryant Autograph 93/390 PSA 10
Ask any casual card collector out there if they know anything about Score, and they’ll likely shrug in confusion. Turns out, this brand, along with Upper Deck and Fleer, produced basketball cards back in the ’90s. One of them is the second-most expensive Kobe Bryant card: his PSA 10 Score Board Rookies Autograph. Sold at $72,424.08 on Jan. 03, 2021, the card itself was signed by the Lakers legend and has a very low population count. The card’s pristine condition also adds a lot of value that commanded a high bidding price when it was auctioned.
1. 2019-20 Impeccable Victory Gold Kobe Bryant Auto 1/3
In first place is an autographed card found from Panini’s Impeccable set for the 2019-20 season. This card is signed by Bryant himself and features one of his many clutch moments against the Phoenix Suns that resulted in a victory. The card’s beautiful design and color scheme works well in highlighting Kobe. As a result, this item fetched $129,999.99 on Dec. 2, 2020, making it the most expensive Kobe Bryant card sold, as of this moment.
Now, these five cards are not set in stone when it comes to the title of being the highest-priced Kobe Bryant products. A lot of things can still happen, which will drive these prices to go higher than before. Some cards may come out in the open and make a claim to this title.
What’s true is that The Black Mamba’s cards, especially those deemed high in value, will never experience a drastic drop. As stated earlier, his legendary career and the narrative that came along with it will keep his cards in demand within the community. If you do see the opportunity to grab one of Kobe’s key cards at a low price, you better take the leap right away because the opportunity may never come again.