Open that old shoe box and check your sports cards: You won’t believe how much money this Kobe Bryant card sold for
The $1.22 million sale of a 2003-04 Upper Deck card of Kobe Bryant was announced by Goldin Auctions this week.
A leading auction house has confirmed the sale of a rare Kobe Bryant trading card from the 2003/04 season, potentially sparking a new interest in the star’s collectibles.
Goldin Auctions sold a 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Emblems of Endorsements card of Kobe Bryant for $1.22 million, the third-highest public sale of a Bryant solo card.
The card had been graded a PSA 8 and it’s unique numbering is thought to have pushed up the value. The Bryant card had the serial number 8/15, the same as the No. 8 jersey that Bryant wore for much of his career.
The Exquisite Collection Emblems of Endorsements card also includes a blue ink autograph from the legendary NBA star, along with two two game-used jersey patches.
$1.22M! The All-Time Highest Public Sale for this Kobe Card!
— Goldin (@GoldinCo) December 7, 2025
Final Sale Price on this 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Emblems of Endorsements Kobe Bryant Signed Game-Used Patch Card: $1,220,000
Email Sell@Goldin.com to consign your Kobe or Basketball Collectibles to… pic.twitter.com/ftDNAAwNGD
The card was the most expensive sold in a busy auction with multiple lots going for more than $500,000. Also fetching more than half a million were a 2005 Topps Finest SuperFractor die-cut Tom Brady card ($704,550); a 1997-98 Skybox Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Red Michael Jordan card ($651,334); and a 1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Holo Illustrator Pikachu card ($610,000).
Kobe Bryant already holds the record for the most expensive sports trading card of all time, although he shares that honor with Michael Jordan. Earlier this year a signed card featuring both Jordan and Bryant was sold for $12.932 million. The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Jordan & Bryant, a 1-of-1 card, fetched the record-breaking sum at Heritage Auctions.
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