996-97 Skybox E-X2000 Credentials Kobe Bryant Rookie Basketball Card No. 30
Hindman AuctionsA collection of 150 Kobe Bryant rookie cards from a single private owner will be auctioned on later this month through Chicago-based Hindman Auctions, with an estimated total value between US$100,000 and US$165,000.
The 150 cards, produced during Bryant's rookie season in 1996, will be grouped into 81 lots to honor Bryant’s 81-point performance in a 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors. The live auction will take place on Aug. 24 to pay tribute to his jersey numbers, 8 and 24, says James Smith, a specialist for sports memorabilia at Hindman.
“This auction celebrates one collector's passion for the legendary career of Bryant,” he says. “It is inspired by Bryant’s unmatched ‘Mamba Mentality’—a focus on excellence.”
“Basketball card collections of this caliber are few and far between, and we are eager to see how bidders respond to cards from a basketball icon,” he adds.
The auction house declined to name the collector.
1996-97 Flair Showcase Legacy Collection Row 0 Kobe Bryant Rookie Basketball Card
Hindman AuctionsThe collection will be highlighted by rare cards with high grades. The top lot is a 1996-97 Skybox E-X2000 Credentials Kobe Bryant rookie card, with a presale estimate between US$15,000 and US$25,000. This card features a die cut image of Bryant, foiled borders, and cloud background, and is “arguably the most coveted Bryant rookie card on the market,” according to Hindman Auctions.
Additional highlights include a 1996-97 Flair Showcase Legacy Collection Row 0 card, with a high estimate of US$25,000; and a 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor card, with a high estimate of US$20,000. Some lots have a starting bid as low as US$100.
Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, five-time NBA champion, and four-time All-Star game MVP. He died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif., in January 2020 at age 41.
Kobe Bryant basketball cards have been popular among fans and collectors. One of the most expensive Bryant cards was a 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Emerald Kobe Bryant card, which realized US$2 million at a private sale at PWCC Marketplace in February.