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How much are kobe bryant basketball cards worth
13 Most Valuable Kobe Bryant Rookie Cards
With so many great ones to choose from, how can you pick just one favorite Kobe Bryant rookie card?
There are so many great designs on this list...
Many of them are just as exciting in eye appeal as was Kobe's play on the court.
After making the jump from high school to the NBA, Bryant was one of the most hyped young stars of the day.
And, boy, did he live up to it.
I used to love watching him and Shaq play together during that dominant Lakers run.
His dominance on the court left a legacy as one of the greatest players of all-time.
Not to mention the comparisons with Michael Jordan...
There are so many Kobe Bryant rookies but the ones on this list are his most valuable.
Let's jump right in...
More...
Ross Uitts - Owner
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1996 Topps Chrome Refractor #138
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $16,000
Estimated BGS 10 Value: $33,000
This one is without a doubt the most sought after Kobe Bryant rookie card in the hobby and easily the key to a legendary set that features rookies of other stars like Allen Iverson and Ray Allen. The base version is expensive in its own right but its the refractor parallel whose prices are off the charts. Examples of this card that have been graded in PSA 10 condition have been selling for between $14,000 and $17,000 over the past few years. And the last time one of these in BGS 10 condition sold in 2017, it went for an incredible $33,500.
1996 Skybox E-X2000 Credentials #30
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $13,000
The 1996-1997 Skybox E-X2000 featured a limited number of cards but was loaded with high quality, cutting edge designs. The "Credentials" parallels were numbered to 499 and featured die cut images of the players along with off-white colored foil borders. These don't come up for sale very often in top grade due to the extreme condition sensitivity but when they do they go for huge bucks.
1996 Flair Showcase Legacy Row 0 #31
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $5,000
The 1996 Flair Showcase set offered an interesting yet complicated grouping of base cards that were broken into tiers of scarcity that they called "Row 0", "Row 1" and "Row 2". Each player had only one card per row. Row 0 were the most scarce, Row 2 was the least scarce, and Row 1 fell somewhere in between. Additionally, each row also went by another name: Row 0 was labeled as "Showcase", Row 1 was "Grace" and Row 2 went by "Style". Despite all of that complexity and tiered rarity, there were a limit of 150 of each player's parallel cards known as the "Legacy Collection". The front designs are nearly identical to the base versions with the differences coming in the teal foil text used on the front and the black and white imagery on the back sides.
1996 Finest Gold Atomic Refractor #269
Estimated BGS 10 Value: $5,000
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $3,500
Finest products remain heavy collector favorites across the hobby and this gold atomic refractor of Kobe Bryant's 1996 "Heir" subset issue is no exception. The cards were distributed with a thin plastic coating that was meant to protect the extremely condition sensitive fronts. The imagery on this card is one of the more exciting of Bryant's rookies as it shows him going up for a reverse slam.
1996 Ultra Platinum Medallion #P52
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $3,500
The design of this Kobe rookie is also exciting as it features the young legend floating gracefully through the air for a layup accompanied by electrifying text and font. The borders can be extremely susceptible to showing wear and chipping. The base version of the card as well as the scarce "Gold Medallion" and scarcer "Platinum Medallion" parallels all used the same imagery but are easily distinguished by the text coloration on the front.
1996 Flair Showcase Legacy Row 1 #31
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $3,000
The Row 1 or "Grace" Legacy Collection parallel from this iconic set is another one that's worth thousands of dollars in top grade. The card features a great action shot of a young Kobe driving past a defender looking to score. Again, these parallels are easily distinguished from the base versions based on the teal coloration of the front text.
1996 Flair Showcase Legacy Row 2 #31
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $3,000
The Row 2 or "Style" Legacy Collection parallel is another extremely valuable card from that set. The last PSA 10 version of this card sold for around $2,500 in 2014 so I'm guessing it would go for much more in today's market. Moreover, there are actually fewer Row 2's that have been graded PSA 10 than either the Row 1 or Row 0 cards making them a bit more rare. And that should boost the price more in theory. Of the three from this set, this one is my favorite because I think the imagery is much more exciting than on the others.
1996 Skybox E-X2000 #30
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $2,500
The base version of Skybox's E-X2000 set also makes the list. The card is pretty much identical to the rare "Credentials" parallel that we covered earlier except for the different colored border. These are also prone to easily showing wear and chipping along the colored edges.
1996 Finest Refractor #74
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $2,000
The bronze-colored "Apprentices" subset in 1996 Finest also came with refractor parallels and this one isn't cheap in top grade. The imagery on this card is loud as it features a young Kobe looking like he's busting through the card itself on his way up for a jam. It's one of the more interesting design concepts on this list and it screams mid-1990s.
1996 Bowman's Best Atomic Refractor #R23
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $1,900
I think the design of the 1996 Bowman's Best card is easily one of the best of the cards on this list. It's straightforward but modern-looking enough to give it some great pop overall. There are a Refractor and Atomic Refractor parallel of the base version. Both aren't cheap but the Atomic Refractor is more rare and carries a much higher price tag.
1996 SP Holoviews #PC18
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $1,850
This unique card was part of a 40-card set that was randomly inserted into 1 out of every 10 packs. The hologram of Brant in the lower right corner makes it obvious where this card received its name. I think the card has very strong eye appeal overall and was a great concept in design. High grade copies are tough to come by as you can imagine just how condition sensitive they are.
1996 Skybox Premium Rubies #55
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $1,500
These premium cards, as their name suggests, were high quality in both design and content. The base versions use gold foil for the text on the front but the scarcer "Rubies" parallels use a ruby-colored foil instead. Featuring strong eye appeal and a great design, these cards remain high on the list of Kobe collectors.
1996 Hoops Grant Hill's All-Rookie-Team #3
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $1,300
Grant Hill was one of the NBA's biggest young stars of the era and in a nod to his greatness, Hoops created this set in his name. Some other huge names like Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury and Antoine Walker were included but it's Bryant's card that is easily the standout. It's an interesting card overall and including the names of the other players on the card front was a nice touch.
Kobe Bryant's Legacy
Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest players to ever set foot on the court.
Over 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant absolutely dominated the competition.
He played with intensity and a determination that you just don't see too often.
The all-time Lakers scoring leader would also go on to achieve the following:
18x All-Star
5x NBA Champion
2x NBA Finals MVP
NBA MVP (2008)
11x All-NBA First Team
9x NBA All-Defensive First Team
2x Olympic Gold Medalist
His legacy as one of the NBA's greatest players of all-time and extreme popularity as a member of the Lakers will keep his rookie cards in high demand for a long long time.
Ross Uitts
Updated August 24, 2022
Ross Uitts
Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Contact him at [email protected]
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How Much Are Kobe Bryant’s Rookie Cards Worth?
Written By Bilal G. Morris
, Senior Editor
Posted February 23, 2022
@blogzworth
Bilal Morris is the senior editor at NewsOne. He is based in Atlanta and covers Black folklore, politics, and race. He also specializes in SEO and evergreen content. Bilal was hired by Interactive One in 2021, but has worked for the company for over 10 years. He started at Radio One in 2010 as an Online Editor in Richmond, VA. Before his time at NewsOne, Bilal was the Regional Online Editor In Atlanta, GA. He has also worked at iHeartRadio in New York City. He is a professional photographer, dog lover, gamer, and has quite the green thumb. You can find him on Instagram and Twitter. @blogzworth
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Source: MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images / Getty
UPDATED: 12:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 23, 2022
Calling all card collectors! If you somehow have a Kobe Bryant basketball card in your possession, hold on to it tightly.
Kobe Bryant basketball cards continue to break the internet, selling for unbelievable amounts. One of his rarest cards, the 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Emerald, recently sold for $2 million, breaking the record for the most expensive basketball card in the world.
Source: Anthony Parisi / iOne Digital
The card, which was sold through the PWCC Marketplace, is one of the most desirable of all time. There are only 10 of each issue in existence.
“This is arguably Kobe’s best card in existence,” said Jesse Craig, Director of Business Development at PWCC. It’s more desirable than even a Kobe Bryant rookie card or a Kobe Bryant autograph.
Source: Anthony Parisi / iOne Digital
If you grew up before the 2000s then the hobby of collecting sports cards shouldn’t be foreign to you. Having the coolest cards from some of your favorite athletes was like a badge of honor in the streets. But as a kid, you don’t truly understand the concept of value. Things like basketball cards end up stuffed away in your parent’s garage with the rest of the junk you didn’t take to college. But what if there are millions stuffed away in that box? Not likely, but maybe…
The death of Kobe Bryant on January 26, 2020, was heart-breaking, traumatic, and still to this day hard to believe. But his death left a void that a lot of his fans tried to fill with memorabilia. According to eBay, just two weeks after Kobe Bryant’s death, his basketball cards increased in sales by 600%. If it had Kobe’s face on it, people wanted it, from t-shirts, jackets, posters, etc.
In March 2021, a Kobe Bryant card sold for a record $1.795 million in an online auction house called Goldin Auctions. The hefty price tag made the card one of the most expensive basketball cards ever sold. The “1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractors #138 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card, is just one of two in the entire world still in perfect condition. According to Goldin Auctions, the card qualified for “black label” recognition.
“Kobe Bryant was one of the fiercest competitors of all time and a truly larger-than-life figure. His rookie card is one of the rarest in existence and one of only two on earth in black label pristine condition, which is the highest possible obtainable grade,” said Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions. “The fact that it sold for the final auction price of $1.795 million, the record for any Kobe Bryant card, speaks to just how beloved he was around the world.”
Yes, this card is very rare, but it’s not the only Kobe Bryant rookie card that could be worth good money. Let’s take a look at some of Kobe Bryant’s most valuable, as well as most affordable rookie cards. If you don’t own one, here’s your opportunity to get in while you can.
Source: MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images / Getty
1996-97 E-X2000 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card #30
This unique Kobe rookie card has foiled glossy borders. Kobe’s seen driving to the basket with clouds in his backdrop. Interesting choice for a backdrop of a rookie card, but it makes it stand out. This card comes with a steep price tag and on eBay will run you anywhere from $1000 -$6500, depending on the seller.
1996-97 Bowman’s Best Kobe Bryant Rookie Card #R23
This rare Kobe Rookie Card shows him baby-faced and smiling, ready to make a play. Bowman’s Best did not last long in the card-making industry thus making the care more valuable. On eBay, starting bid for this car is all over the place. Some reputable sellers have it listed for $1259, but there are significantly lower bids on some auctions at $180 starting.
1996-97 Topps Kobe Bryant Rookie Card #138
Topps is one of the most popular trading card brands in America. They have cards from players still in the NBA that are worth millions. This particular Kobe Bryant rookie card doesn’t have any of the premium elements as the card above, but it’s still one of the most popular cards on the market. This Kobe card will run you anywhere from $200-$2500, depending on the condition and the seller.
1996-97 Finest Kobe Bryant Rookie Card #74
When it came to Topps basketball cards, Finest was top of the line. Bryant appeared in two separate cards for the series and one is slightly more valuable than the other. Each card originally came with a protective film. On eBay, the cards are listed at $360-$900.
This is by far one of the coolest Kobe Bryant rookie cards ever made. The Flair Showcase card was a multi-image card with a side portrait blending with an action shot of the late star. They are one of the most coveted Kobe Bryant cards on the market. This card will run you anywhere from $150-$1,850.
ALSO SEE:
Mamba Mentality: Kobe Bryant’s Top 5 Career Highlights
Kobe Bryant’s Shrewd Investment In Sports Drink Bodyarmor Will Pay His Family $400 Million
The Makings Of Black Mamba: Kobe Bryant Through The Years
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A statue of National Basketball Association (NBA) star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna have been erected in California. The monument stands at the site of the crash of the helicopter in which the basketball player was flying
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A monument to NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna was unveiled in the US on the second anniversary of their deaths in a plane crash. The monument was erected in the city of Calabasas, California, at the site of a helicopter crash with Bryant and his daughter.
View this post on Instagram
The monument to Bryant and his daughter was created by sculptor Dan Medina, who also posted his photo on his Instagram. Kobe is depicted in the Los Angeles Lakers uniform and hugs Gianna with his left arm, the same holds a basketball in her left hand. The statue is made of bronze and weighs 160 pounds (just over 72.5 kg).
Also engraved on the statue are the names of all the other victims of the helicopter crash.
Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020 near Los Angeles. They were on their way to Ventura County, California to play a basketball game at Bryant's Mamba Sports academy.
Kobe Bryant was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, but was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe became the first defenseman to be drafted into the NBA right out of high school. The athlete spent his entire career with the Lakers, becoming a club and league legend. During his playing career, Bryant managed to become a five-time NBA champion, MVP of the regular season (season 2008/2009), as well as two-time NBA Finals MVP (in 2009 and 2010). In addition, he won the slam dunk competition (1997), participated in 18 NBA All-Star matches, and was named to the NBA All-Star Team 11 times. Internationally, Bryant won gold medals at the Beijing and London Olympics, as well as gold at the American Championships (2007).
Bryant scored 33,643 points throughout his career. For a long time he was ranked third in the list of the best scorers in the NBA (in the first place is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 38,387 points, the second - Karl Malone with 36,928 points).
Each player had only one card per row. Row 0 were the most scarce, Row 2 was the least scarce, and Row 1 fell somewhere in between. Additionally, each row also went by another name: Row 0 was labeled as "Showcase", Row 1 was "Grace" and Row 2 went by "Style". Despite all of that complexity and tiered rarity, there were a limit of 150 of each player's parallel cards known as the "Legacy Collection". The front designs are nearly identical to the base versions with the differences coming in the teal foil text used on the front and the black and white imagery on the back sides. 
The imagery on this card is one of the more exciting of Bryant's rookies as it shows him going up for a reverse slam.
The hologram of Brant in the lower right corner makes it obvious where this card received its name. I think the card has very strong eye appeal overall and was a great concept in design. High grade copies are tough to come by as you can imagine just how condition sensitive they are.
It's an interesting card overall and including the names of the other players on the card front was a nice touch.
He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Contact him at [email protected] 
He has also worked at iHeartRadio in New York City. He is a professional photographer, dog lover, gamer, and has quite the green thumb. You can find him on Instagram and Twitter. @blogzworth 
If it had Kobe’s face on it, people wanted it, from t-shirts, jackets, posters, etc.
Let’s take a look at some of Kobe Bryant’s most valuable, as well as most affordable rookie cards. If you don’t own one, here’s your opportunity to get in while you can.
They are one of the most coveted Kobe Bryant cards on the market. This card will run you anywhere from $150-$1,850.
Help your dream NBA squad reach the pinnacle of success with your favorite online basketball sports game. Become the King of the Court and compete against millions of basketball players in 5-on-5 basketball games, 3-on-3 basketball practice and 7-game championships. Enjoy new themes, new basketball games and new NBA events in this all-in-one free online sports game. 
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The monument was erected in the city of Calabasas, California, at the site of a helicopter crash with Bryant and his daughter. 
They were on their way to Ventura County, California to play a basketball game at Bryant's Mamba Sports academy. 
