The best Kobe Bryant cards to collect — rookie cards, autographs, and iconic pairings

The impact that Kobe Bryant had on the NBA and a whole generation of sports card collectors during his career with the Los Angeles Lakers places him on the Mount Rushmore of modern basketball card legends. Trading cards of the 2007 MVP have been graded over half a million times by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) to date, which ranks third among basketball players for most graded cards of all-time. He was also consistently among the 10 most searched athletes across all sports on eBay throughout 2024. The demand and prices of Bryant collectibles forever changed following his death in 2020, adding another layer of sentiment to his cards, autographs, and memorabilia.

So what are the best choices for fans looking to build a collection of Bryant’s trading cards? Here are our picks.

Top pick (full recommendations below)

1996 Fleer Metal #181 rookie card

Bryant’s 1996 Fleer Metal #181 rookie card is my best value recommendation based on its high demand and relative scarcity in gem mint copies. It’s arguably one of his most difficult rookie cards to receive a Gem Mint 10 grade from PSA because its metallic foil-stamped design is highly susceptible to chipping and surface damage (only 837 examples have been deemed a PSA 10 out of 14,814 graded to date). The brand recognition of ’90s Metal cards and the relatively reasonable cost of PSA 10 graded Bryant Metal rookie cards (currently about $500-$600) makes them attractive and more obtainable to many collectors.

Things to know before buying

The value of sports cards can fluctuate for various reasons such as condition, print runs, or graded population. Other factors that can cause prices to go up or down include player performance, market trends, and health of the wider economy. The secondary sales market for individual cards of a given sport generally hits its lowest point during the offseason (in other words, you can usually find better prices in the offseason than during the season). My recommendations are not an attempt to promote specific investment behavior or trading advice, but to guide and inform readers about popular and unique cards that are celebrated by the sports card community.

Ultimately, the best cards to collect are always the ones you will personally enjoy most, regardless of whether they go up or down in value. The recommendations below should serve as a starting point for cards to consider, but a big part of the fun in collecting is the hunt for the cards you like.  

“Raw” cards vs. Graded cards

Cards can come out of the pack (their “raw” state) with a wide variety of imperfections that can impact their value. Card grading is a process in which an expert of the field determines the condition of a card based on a number of factors (including corner sharpness, image centering, print imperfections, and more) and assigns a numerical grade, usually on a scale of 1-10 (with the latter being close to perfect) and sealed in a protective case. There are a number of grading companies, each with their own unique grading scales, but PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is by far the largest and most prominent in the industry. Cards graded a “PSA 10” can carry a significant value multiplier compared to raw cards or those graded by other companies. 

It’s fine (and often cheaper) to buy cards raw, but if you want to ensure authenticity and/or a minimum condition level, and you’re not experienced at determining card condition for yourself, you may want to buy a graded card instead — particularly if you’re buying online and only able to see the card in photographs. 

Best low-end (~$1-$99) Kobe Bryant cards

This is a category for collectors who are on a tighter budget or aren’t as concerned about the long-term monetary value of the cards they buy. 

1996 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice #267 rookie card

 

Bryant’s 1996 Collector’s Choice rookie card is one of his more affordable rookie cards in gem mint grades. Raw copies can be purchased for around $15 and PSA 10 graded versions for under $300.

Collector’s Choice sets were one of Upper Deck’s low-end basketball releases in the 1990s targeted to kids and new collectors. The 1996 set was released in two series, but fans won’t find Bryant’s #267 rookie card in Series 1 — it can only be pulled out of Series 2 packs. However, Upper Deck produced factory-sealed complete sets and team packs featuring the same card. It’s worth noting that Bryant’s rookie card included in the Lakers team pack has a different card number (LA2) on the back than ones placed in packs and complete sets.

It’s an inexpensive, yet recognizable rookie card. It also features an image of Bryant with the cast he wore at the very beginning of his NBA career after fracturing his wrist just before his rookie season began. That cast later sold at auction for $722.98. 

1996 Fleer Ultra #52 rookie card

Another entry-level Bryant base rookie card that’s modestly priced in raw and high grades is from 1996 Fleer Ultra Series 2. The card features captivating photography and shows Bryant gliding to the basket. It also includes a “rookie” designation stamp under the Fleer Ultra logo on the top left of the front of the card.

The basketball card hobby exploded in popularity in the 1990s, prompting a surplus of new releases made by Fleer, Topps, Upper Deck, and more. Fleer continued its success in producing basketball cards from the 1980s by creating innovative sets with fresh designs and unique themes. Ultra’s introduction of the rare gold and platinum medallion parallels added a thrilling chase element to the set that are still highly coveted by collectors.

Even though his base rookie card currently sells for around $20 in raw condition, PSA 10 graded versions sell for a huge premium because it is challenging to find them in gem mint condition. Out of the 10,000 or so Bryant Ultra base rookie cards graded by the company, only three percent have received a PSA 10 grade. Its scarcity in the highest grade has resulted in PSA 10 sales eclipsing $1,000, but you can find 9s (still a “mint” designation) in the $100 ballpark.

1996 also happens to be the 10th anniversary of Fleer’s iconic 1986 release and is celebrated by Ultra’s checklist including a cool “Decade of Excellence” reprint insert of Michael Jordan’s Fleer rookie card.

Additional variations and parallels: Gold Medallion (inserted 1:12 Series 1 packs on average) Platinum Medallion (inserted 1:180 Series 1 packs on average)

Best value (~$100-$499) Kobe Bryant cards

This is a category for collectors looking to pay a bit more for cards that have some degree of scarcity and have a better chance at retaining or increasing in value long-term. 

1996 Topps #138 rookie card

The five-time NBA champion’s 1996 Topps #136 card is undeniably his most popular rookie card, and PSA has graded it more times than any other Bryant card.  

Topps basketball paper cards (as opposed to the Topps Chrome versions, which we’ll touch on later) were not particularly known for high sales prices on the secondary market during this era, but its ultra-high demand today makes it one of his most transacted cards. PSA 9 copies are selling for around $150 while SGC and BGS 9.5’s (mint+ and gem mint, respectively) are in the $300 range.

Additional variations and parallels: NBA 50th Silver Foil (inserted 1:3 packs on average)

1996 Fleer Metal #181 rookie card

The 1996 Fleer Metal checklist includes a few first-year cards of the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer, but I think his #181 card stands out because of its high transaction volume and rising demand for gem mint graded copies.

Despite it being his second-most graded base rookie card by PSA, less than 900 examples have received a 10 grade. Fleer Metal cards submitted to PSA for grading have a low gem rate because the foil-etched design is easily susceptible to scratching and chip marks along the edges. 

Based on the relatively low number of Gem Mint 10 graded cards compared to his other base rookies, the ~$500 price tag is a reasonable cost to own a Bryant PSA 10 rookie card from a well-known brand such as Metal.

It may not be the first rookie card of the Los Angeles superstar that comes to mind, but the growing popularity of ’90s Metal cards in recent years has increased demand and value.

Additional variations and parallels: Precious Metal (inserted 1:36 packs on average)

1996 Skybox X — X2000 #30 rookie card

Skybox’s E — X cards are some of the most revered of the ’90s and Bryant’s #30 base card in the 1996 set is an example of their unique beauty. Ungraded, this card sells for around $150, but the most recent sale of a PSA 10 example of the card (with a population of just 24) sold for more than $24,000 in October 2024. Bryant’s Star Date 2000 insert from this set, with its outer-space design, is another coveted and unique card that has been selling ungraded for between $350-$500 recently.

Additional parallels: Credentials /499

Best high-end (~$500+) Kobe Bryant cards

This is a category for collectors looking to acquire the most desired Bryant cards on the market. 

1996 Topps Chrome #138 rookie card

 

Topps Chrome basketball sets during the 1990s and 2000s produced some of the hottest rookie cards in the hobby because of their polished look and high status amongst collectors. 

Its debut in 1996 introduced a premium version of Topps flagship sets that included a new chase card coined “the Refractor.” A Refractor parallel has a reflective rainbow-like effect when held into the light and is a limited card that runs parallel to the base set. Besides the amount printed, the difference between refractors and base cards can be in the color, design, image, or pattern. Nowadays, The sports card hobby is accustomed to newly released sets having quite a few versions of the refractor parallel, but 1996 Topps Chrome basketball only offered one standard refractor parallel.

Looking back, the timing of Topps Chrome Basketball’s first release in 1996 and the dominant rookie class featured in the set were perfectly aligned. Collectors had the chance to pull rookie cards of not only Bryant, but also future Hall of Famers Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, and Ray Allen. Bryant driving through the lane on his way to the basket isn’t the most liked action shot on his first-year cards, but it has a distinctive look and is the same image used for his Topps flagship rookie card. 

According to PSA, there are less than 7,000 examples of Bryant’s Topps Chrome rookie card graded by the company and less than 900 have received a PSA 10 grade. (For comparison, there are around 46,000 PSA graded examples of his 1996 Topps and about 5,000 PSA 10s.)

One of the notable condition-related concerns with Bryant’s Topps Chrome rookie card is “greening” or “hulking.” This refers to the image on the card turning green over time caused by complications with the chemicals initially used in the printing process. Topps resolved the greening problem for future chromium card releases in 1998, but it’s proven to have affected many of the Chrome sets from the mid-’90s. This issue has certainly impacted the number of PSA 10 Bryant Topps Chrome base rookie cards in existence and its value in high grades.

The innovative chromium-style basketball cards were and are still considered a top choice for hardcore hoops fans who collect rookie cards of players from the 1990s and 2000s. In my opinion, it’s the crown jewel of Bryant’s base rookie cards. PSA 9 examples of his high-end base rookie card are selling on eBay for close to $1,300 and PSA 10’s are fetching between $5,000-$7,000.

Additional variations and parallels: Refractor (inserted 1:12 packs on average)

1996 Topps Finest Heirs #269

There are certain cards that have an artistic appeal to them that captures the attention of collectors, and Bryant’s 1996 Topps Finest Heirs #269 is one of them. For starters, the photography used for the front of the card is museum-esque and elegantly portrays the 18-time All-Star flying backwards toward the hoop. The “Heirs” banner above his head gives off a regal vibe and presents Bryant as ascending basketball royalty. But my favorite aspect of this card is how its gold borders stylishly corresponds with Bryant’s yellow Lakers uniform.

Topps Finest sets during this time provided a protective coating on the surface of each card that can be removed. PSA has graded these for some time and will even label the card “w/Coating” if the protective film is still on the card. As a result, the price and PSA population of Bryant’s Heirs rookie insert varies based on whether the coating was removed from the card or kept on when submitted for grading. Depending on other factors that determine a card’s condition, Bryant Heirs inserts with the coating still on them are worth slightly more.

This beauty is at the top of my list of Bryant rookie cards with the best eye appeal.

Additional variations and parallels: Refractor (inserted 1:12 packs on average)

Upper Deck SPx Winning Materials autographed cards

Any Bryant fan would want to have one of his autographed cards in their collection, but since his death they have risen exponentially in value. Upper Deck’s SPx Winning Materials inserts, which feature Bryant’s autograph on the card (as opposed to on a sticker affixed to the card, which are less desirable among collectors) and pieces of his game-worn uniform or warm-ups are some of the nicest examples of Bryant autographed cards available. However, his autographed cards later produced by Panini in high-end sets like National Treasures and Flawless are top options, as well.

Other cool Kobe Bryant Cards

2008 Topps #24

Upon its release 16 years ago, I doubt collectors expected to see sales of this common base card reach as high as $100 in 2025, but there’s no denying how unique the photo on Bryant’s 2008 Topps card is. The image captures a special moment of Bryant backing down LeBron James in a heated matchup between the Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Topps wisely used the same photo in the 2008 Topps Chrome set and offers a few refractors if you are a fan of Chrome and looking for a more limited version of this card.

What’s compelling about cards like this is that they weren’t necessarily desired or valuable upon release, but significance has evolved over time.

Additional variations and parallels: Gold Foil, Gold (/2008), Orange (/1199) Black (/51), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates (1/1)

1998 Topps East-West #EW5

Continuing with the theme of two NBA icons on one card, Topps produced a unique East-West insert card featuring Jordan on the front and Bryant on the back. 1998 was a monumental season for both Hall of Famers — Bryant was selected to his first NBA All-Star game and Jordan won his fifth MVP award. The design gives off cosmic energy with the Earth taking up most of the background and is accompanied by each player’s action shot as the center of attention.

The 1998 Topps Series 2 East-West subset included a 20-card checklist and was inserted in 1:36 packs on average. So the odds of pulling even one of them, let alone the Jordan/Bryant card weren’t great. The set also offers an extremely limited refractor parallel card with numerous sales in the four figures.

Additional variations and parallels: Refractor (inserted 1:144 Series 2 packs on average)

Getting the best price

Prices for a certain trading card can vary wildly and fluctuate quickly, making it important to check recent sales of a given card to make sure you’re buying at a fair value. You can check recent sales of an item on eBay by selecting the “sold items” filter on search results. You can also run a search on 130point.com, which is a free site that provides sales data from a number of top online marketplaces. There are also several apps that provide more in-depth sales data, often charging subscription fees for full access. 

To account for outliers and scams, it’s important to consider multiple previous sales, not just the single most recent. It’s also important to note the recency of those sales and any real-world factors that could affect changes in value. 

Why you should trust us

As a second-generation collector, Tyler Holzhammer started collecting cards and attending the National Sports Collectors Convention at 10 years old. He’s evolved his passion as a collector into a career, previously providing sports card content and market analysis for companies like Sports Card Investor and Goldin Auctions. Tyler’s sports card collection is centered around players from his favorite teams, the Los Angeles Rams and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.

(Top photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images; card images: eBay)