Jordan and Kobe: Trading Card Achieves Historic Record of $12.9M

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Jordan and Bryant Sports Card Sets New Price Record

A collectible sports card signed by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant reached an astonishing $12.932 million at auction, setting a new record as the most expensive sports card ever sold. This historic card, belonging to the Upper Deck Exquisite collection from the 2007-08 season, features the signatures of Jordan and Bryant, and is a unique piece (1 of 1). This achievement surpasses the previous record of $12.6 million set by a 1952 Mickey Mantle card. The sale of the Jordan/Bryant card was managed by Heritage Auctions. The acquisition was made by a group of investors, including Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary, collector Matt Allen (known as Shyne150 on social media), and entrepreneur Paul Warshaw. The Jordan/Bryant card becomes the second most valuable sports collectible item in history, surpassed only by the Babe Ruth jersey worn in the 1932 World Series, which sold for $24.12 million. Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage, recalled the time when Upper Deck launched Exquisite, with five-card packs at $500. This launch included a LeBron James rookie card that reached $5.2 million, holding the previous record for a basketball card until this sale.

“He reached a demographic that wasn’t interested in gimmicks: they just wanted the best of the best”.

Chris Ivy
The Jordan/Bryant card is a highly valuable collector’s item, especially in the realm of modern basketball, as it is the only one that combines the signatures of Jordan and Bryant in a Logoman design. This rarity explains its high price, despite receiving a grade of 6 from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA).
Tarjeta deportiva de Michael Jordan y Kobe Bryant
The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite collection card with the signatures of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant sold for $12.932 million, surpassing a 1952 Mickey Mantle card as the most expensive sports card sold at auction. Ivy also highlighted that the authenticity of Bryant and Jordan’s card is “unshakeable”, especially in the context of Brett Lemieux’s fraudulent memorabilia scandal. Lemieux is accused of flooding the market with fraudulent Kobe Bryant items after his death in 2020. This historic sale coincides with what would have been Kobe Bryant’s 47th birthday.
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