Kobe Bryant was an American professional basketball player. His entire 20-year career was spent with the Los Angeles Lakers in the MBA and he was a shooting guard. Kobe is undeniably one of the greatest basketball players that ever lived. He had numerous career awards and achievements to show.
The Kobe Bryant rookie cards are among the most valuable basketball cards ever released. In many cases, the value of a card is tied to its condition and certain aspects of the design. For example, autographed Kobe Bryant rookie cards can be dramatically more valuable than unsigned rookie cards. In this article, we have put together 19 most valuable Kobe Bryant rookie cards.
Table of Contents
Top 19 Most Valuable Kobe Bryant Rookie Cards: Price List
No. |
Kobe Bryant Rookie Cards |
Grade |
Price |
1. |
1996 Skybox E-X2000 Kobe Bryant Star Date 2000 Rookie Card |
PSA 9 |
$1,849.08 |
2. |
1996-97 Upper Deck Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
BGS 9.5 |
$136.50 |
3. |
1996 Upper Deck Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
PSA 9 |
$117.50 |
4. |
1996 Topps Finest Kobe Bryant W/Coating Rookie Card |
PSA 9 |
$167.50 |
5. |
1996-97 Flair Showcase Row 2 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
BGS 8.5 |
$150.00 |
6. |
1996-97 Fleer Ultra Kobe Bryant All-Rookie Card |
SGC 9.5 |
$240.00 |
7. |
1996-97 Metal Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
BGS 9 |
$102.50 |
8. |
1996 Fleer Metal Kobe Bryant Cyber-Metal Rookie Card |
PSA 9 |
$255.00 |
9. |
1996-97 Skybox Premium Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
BGS 9 |
$150.00 |
10. |
1996-97 Kobe Bryant Lakers Rookie Card |
PSA 10 |
$415.00 |
11. |
1996-97 Flair Showcase Row 1 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
Ungraded |
$100.00 |
12. |
1996 Fleer Metal Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
PSA 9 |
$115.00 |
13. |
1996-97 Bowman’s Best Picks Refractor Die-Cut Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
Ungraded |
$580.00 |
14. |
1996 Topps Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
PSA 10 |
$1,135.00 |
15. |
1996-97 Fleer Ultra Fresh Faces Die-Cut Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
Ungraded |
$197.00 |
16. |
1996 Flair Showcase Kobe Bryant Class of ‘96 Rookie Card |
PSA 9 |
$385.00 |
17. |
1996-97 Upper Deck UD3 Hardwood Prospects Kobe Bryant Rookie Card |
CSG 9.5 |
$183.50 |
18. |
1996-97 Topps Finest Kobe Bryant G Rookie Card |
BGS 9 |
$1,422.00 |
19. |
1996-97 Fleer Z-Force Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Rookie Card |
Ungraded |
$150.00 |
1. 1996 Skybox E-X2000 Kobe Bryant Star Date 2000 Rookie Card
Year: 1996
Price: $1,849.08
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #3
This is a PSA 9 mint Kobe Bryant Skybox E-X2000 Rookie card. It is a beautiful multicolored card of green, blue, etc giving off a cosmic look, it almost looks as if Kobe is running in the Galaxy, for a star like him, maybe that isn’t so strange. After selling for over $1000 you cannot deny that this is a valuable card.
2. 1996-97 Upper Deck Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $136.50
Grade: BGS 9.5
Card Number: #58
A 9.5 mint Beckett graded card, its centering is rated 9.5, its corners 9, its surface 9.5 and edges 9.5, it is definitely a high-quality card. This is an Upper Deck Kobe Bryant Rookie card. It displays Kobbie looking all innocent, “young and fly” with his white shades on his head.
3. 1996 Ultra Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996
Price: $117.50
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #52
A 1996 ultra PSA graded mint 9 cards. This is such a powerful shot of Kobe, the angle is lovely and shows how much passion Kobe put into the game. He looks like the king of the court or king of the ball in this and it makes this such a desirable card.
4. 1996 Topps Finest Kobe Bryant W/Coating Rookie Card
Year: 1996
Price: $167.50
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #74
A Kobe Bryant PSA graded mint 9 w/coating card, it is of superb quality. It displays Kobe in his element, what was he about to do? Slam- dunk? Whatever it was, the energy he put into it is piercing right through the photo.
5. 1996-97 Flair Showcase Row 2 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $150.00
Grade: BGS 8.5
Card Number: #31
A BGS 8.5 Near Mint card in good condition. It’s all or nothing! This displays the seriousness with which Kobe took his craft. He had his heart and soul in this, the profile photo looks like a captain watching over his teammates in anticipation, hoping they make the best moves.
6. 1996-97 Fleer Ultra Kobe Bryant All-Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $240.00
Grade: SGC 9.5
Card Number: #3
This here is an SGC graded 9.5 Fleer Ultra Kobe Bryant card. Focus! Kobe! Focus! This is what this card spells, apart from the lovely contrasting shades on this photo, the way he holds onto the ball, calculating the next best move to make is what makes this card exceptional.
7. 1996-97 Metal Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $102.50
Grade: BGS 9
Card Number: #181
A metal Beckett graded Kobe Bryant card with edges and surface rated 9, while its centering is rated 10 and corners 9.5, this card is surely in good condition. It displays Kobe caught in a shot with a stance that looks like he was bouncing the ball from side to side with both hands.
8. 1996 Fleer Metal Kobe Bryant Cyber-Metal Rookie Card
Year: 1996
Price: $255.00
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #5
A cyber metal PSA gem mint 9, 1996 metal card of Kobe in action with an alien-looking figure in the background but nothing distracts Kobe when he has his eyes on the ball.
9. 1996-97 Skybox Premium Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $150.00
Grade: BGS 9
Card Number: #55
This is a BGS mint 9 card of Kobe, it’s a high quality card with corners, and surface edges rated 9, while its centering is rated 9.5. He was about to make such a powerful shot for the net from a rather interesting angle.
10. 1996-97 Kobe Bryant Lakers Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $415.00
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #134
This is a high-quality PSA graded gem mint 10 cards of a young and charming Kobe in his Lakers jersey posing with the ball.
11. 1996-97 Flair Showcase Row 1 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $100.00
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #31
This is an ungraded, Flair showcase card. This picture shows a rather relaxed and almost cocky Kobe, gliding through the court with so much ease, tongue out! catch me if you can.
12. 1996 Fleer Metal Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996
Price: $115.00
Grade: PSA 8
Card Number: #137
A PSA Fleer Metal Near Mint 8 card. This broad charming smile is definitely one of the reasons Kobe is loved, he displays his No 8 , Fresh Foundation Lakers jersey with so much pride here.
13. 1996-97 Bowman’s Best Picks Refractor Die-Cut Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $580.00
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #BP10
This is a refractor die-cut card of Kobe in absolute control of the ball, calculating his next move, he looks like he owns the court.
14. 1996 Topps Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996
Price: $1,135.00
Grade: PSA 10
Card Number: #138
A PSA graded gem mint 10 1996 Topps card. This shows Kobe was aiming for greatness with his teammate and opponent around him, maybe he was trying to pass the ball or make a shot for the net but this is definitely a lovely card.
15. 1996-97 Fleer Ultra Fresh Faces Die-Cut Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $197.00
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #3
A Fleet ultra die-cut fresh faces ungraded card of Kobe Bryant. He had already gotten to the net, looks like he was about to make a perfect shot, probably after overcoming many obstacles, now he is here, there is no stopping him.
16. 1996 Flair Showcase Kobe Bryant Class of ‘96 Rookie Card
Year: 1996
Price: $385.00
Grade: PSA 9
Card Number: #4
A 1996 PSA graded mint 9 card of Kobe Bryant. This shot displays Kobe taking strides with the ball. He looks unstoppable and ready to dribble the life of anyone who comes his way.
17. Upper Deck UD3 Hardwood Prospects Kobe Bryant Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $183.50
Grade: CSG 9.5
Card Number: #19
An Upper Deck CSG 9.5 gem mint Kobe Bryant hardwood card. This is a bright and beautiful card of Kobe posing for a shot. Since he isn’t shooting the ball, a nice-looking shot like this won’t hurt.
18. 1996-97 Topps Finest Kobe Bryant G Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $1,422.00
Grade: BGS 9
Card Number: #269
Beckett 9 mint grade card, Its centering, corners, and edges are rated 9 while its edges are rated 8.5. Kobe coming through, please make way for him, from the angle of this photo it seems like there’s no stopping Kobe until he makes his shot.
19. Fleer Z-Force Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Rookie Card
Year: 1996-97
Price: $150.00
Grade: Ungraded
Card Number: #142
An ungraded Fleer Z-Force card of Kobe Bryant. Determination or anticipation? It’s hard to tell what was on Kobe’s mind but one thing was for sure, he had all his eyes on the ball.
Conclusion
Throughout the 2000s decade, Bryant was the League’s leading scorer. He accumulated 21,065 points in regular seasons. He became the youngest player to reach 25,000 points in his career during the 2009-10 season. In 2008, Bryant won his fifth championship and earned his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP Award. Bryant desired the sixth Championship to match Jordan’s total. He became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points.
In his last NBA game, Brian scored an NBA season High, 60 points against Utah. Unfortunately, he passed away on the 26th of January 2020 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. He was posthumously voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.
