The Best Basketball Cards of All Time | Kobe Bryant

The Story of Kobe on Cardboard and Chrome

Along with Michael Jordan and LeBron James, Kobe Bryant has an unquestioned place on the Mount Rushmore of the modern Basketball Hobby. The five-time champion exceeded the incredible expectations placed on his shoulders as a wildly talented young player, becoming one of the sport’s most legendary stars.

From electric beginnings and his emergence as heir apparent to His Airness, to a dynasty with Shaq and fending off the King who would be Next, to climbing back to the mountaintop and hitting a 60-point send off, Kobe built his legend through elite talent, transcendent competitiveness, and a famous work ethic.

Let’s take a trip through Kobe Bryant’s best Topps cards to tell his story in The Hobby.

1996 Topps Chrome Basketball #138 Kobe Bryant Refractor

As with most athletes in The Hobby, the story of Kobe starts with his rookie cards. At the very top of the list is Bryant’s 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor RC. A debut in more ways then one, this was not only Kobe’s first Chrome card, but part of the first-ever Topps Chrome Basketball release.

The iconic set launched the Hardwood Hobby into the chromium era, buoyed by a historic rookie class that included Bryant alongside Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, and more. A massive leap forward in card technology was met by some of the modern era’s leading stars.

Just like Kobe how would emerge as the best player from his rookie class, his Chrome RC is a centerpiece in one of the most important basketball releases in Hobby history. A PSA 10 sold for $117,000 through Fanatics Collect in October 2025.

1996 Topps Finest Basketball #269 Kobe Bryant RC

Kobe leapt to the NBA straight from his legendary turn at Lower Marion High in Philadelphia. The Gatorade National Player of the Year in his senior year, Kobe showed out in the 1996 McDonald’s All-American game at the end of March. Less than a year later, an 18-year-old Kobe made another leap, announcing himself to the sporting world by becoming the youngest player to ever win the NBA Dunk Contest.

With his star rising exponentially, this 1996 Topps Finest Kobe RC feels like a prophecy in your hand. The most valuable card from the set, Bryant’s Heirs card comes complete with an iconic player image of a young Kobe getting ready to take over the league. This RC, along with his Finest Apprentices RC from the same set, remains one of Kobe’s biggest Topps chase cards.

1996 Topps Basketball Draft Redemption #DP13 Kobe Bryant

Today, it’s fair to say that Kobe was born to be a Laker. An icon among icons, he carried the torch for one of the league’s flagship franchises, with both star power and a boatload of rings. But the perfect marriage between athlete, franchise, city, and stage almost never was.

Twelve teams, including the rival Celtics, passed on Kobe in the 1996 NBA Draft, and he was actually drafted by the Charlotte Hornets at 13th overall. However, Charlotte promptly traded him to the Lakers in one of the most consequential moves in league history.

Kobe’s 1996 Topps Basketball Draft Redemption RC keeps his 13th overall draft spot, but it also shows the rookie in the jersey so nice he’d end up getting it retired twice. The card captures the sliding door from draft day to Hollywood, with Kobe stepping through into Showtime.

1998 Topps Finest Basketball Mystery #M1 Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant Refractor

As a high-flying young prodigy, Kobe Bryant was given the honor of sharing a place on this 1998 Topps Finest card with none other than Michael Jordan. It was a natural pairing, showcasing the GOAT and the young star many already viewed as his successor. In an interview from 2015, Bryant told the story of his first-ever battle against MJ, that shows that Kobe was comfortable coming for the king.

Kobe discussed his first face-off with MJ in the 2015 documentary Kobe Bryant’s Muse. “First time I was getting ready to face Jordan, I had a teammate,” Bryant explained. “He goes to me and says, ‘Hey, you want some advice? Whatever you do, don’t look him in the eye.'” Kobe’s response was exactly what you’d expect from the Black Mamba: “Wait, excuse me? Why the hell would I not look him in the eye? I don’t think my teammate understood that I’m that too.”

On November 30, 2025 this PSA 9 sold for $8,700.

1998 Topps Basketball East West #EW5 Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant Refractor

But wait, there’s more! In the popular 1998 Topps Basketball dual front-back card East West insert, there’s another Kobe/Michael card that continues to appeal to collectors of both legends. On October 12, 2025, this PSA 10 fetched $18,000. Kobe already seemed destined for greatness, and it wouldn’t be long until he reached the rarified air previously reserved for Jordan and select few others.

At their three-year peak, the Shaq and Kobe Lakers were among the most dominant dynasties the NBA has ever seen. An incredible combination of athletic dominance, basketball IQ, and showmanship launched the team into the stratosphere, taking the torch from Jordan and running with it.

2002 Topps Chrome Basketball #21 Kobe Bryant White Refractor /249

Kobe’s Chrome run during the Lakers dynasty features some fantastic offerings, with cards that capture a champion in his early prime. This 2002 Topps Chrome White Refractor is a beautiful, clean card with a brilliant action image of Bryant scoring amongst the trees, as he did with mind-boggling regularity during the dynasty.

A 2000 Topps Chrome Combos card featuring the back-to-back-to-back title-winning duo is another great option that helps tell the story of their reign and captures the personality of both superstars. This BGS 9.5 sold for $108 in 2024.

2008 Topps Chrome Basketball #24 Kobe Bryant Gold Refractor /50

Kobe may have been the leading man in the NBA in the post-Jordan era, but it wasn’t long before the hunter became the hunted, as the next straight-from-high-school prodigy with a sky-high ceiling announced himself as a contender for the crown. Kobe & LeBron’s battles quickly became appointment viewing, and Nike launched one of its most popular campaigns of the era, featuring puppets of the two superstars living together as roommates.

While the two would sadly never battle it out on the NBA Finals stage, 2008 Topps Chrome Basketball released this stunning and hugely significant Kobe Bryant card, in which the Lakers star is shown while fiercely defended by James. In September 2025, a BGS 10/Black Label version of the card sold for $276,000. The brilliantly color-matched, jersey-numbered, generation-bridging card remains one of the most popular Kobe cards ever made.

2009 Topps Chrome Basketball #4 Kobe Bryant Refractor

With Shaq long since departed, the Lakers built another championship team, as Kobe ascended to Magic-like status among the Lakers’ faithful. From 2008 to 2010, Bryant and L.A. made three straight NBA Finals, capturing championships in ’09 and ’10, with Kobe taking Finals MVP on both occasions.

This fantastic 2009 Topps Chrome card sees Kobe once again back at the rim, this time scoring over future champion and Finals MVP Kevin Durant.

With his last title in 2010, Kobe fittingly tied Magic Johnson with his fifth championship ring. Four years after his tragic passing in 2020, his statue outside the Lakers’ home arena was unveiled. Kobe is also the only player to have two different jersey numbers retired by the same franchise. All these tributes are perfectly fitting for a player who willed himself to the very top of both the game and The Hobby.

Kobe Bryant Card Collector FAQs

• What is Kobe Bryant’s most important Topps rookie card?
  • Kobe’s most important Topps rookie is widely considered to be his 1996 Topps Chrome Basketball #138 Refractor RC, which also comes from the first-ever Topps Chrome Basketball release. It anchors a historic rookie class.
• What are some of Kobe Bryant’s other top rookie cards?
  • 1996 Topps Finest Basketball #269 and 1996 Topps Basketball Draft Redemption #DP13 are both popular Topps rookie card options.
• Why are Kobe Bryant cards so important in the Basketball Hobby?
  • Kobe’s cards document one of the most complete careers in NBA history, from teenage prodigy to five-time champion. Collectors value them for both on-court legacy and the way his career aligned with major eras in Topps Basketball.
• Why is the 2008 Topps Chrome Basketball Kobe Bryant Gold Refractor with LeBron so coveted?
  • The 2008 Topps Chrome Basketball #24 Kobe Bryant Gold Refractor /50 card is beloved because it pairs Kobe with LeBron James defending him, symbolizing the bridge between two eras of NBA superstardom. A low print run and iconic photography have made it one of the defining Kobe Topps cards in the modern Hobby.

Key Facts

• 5x Champion; 18x NBA All-Star
• 1996 Topps Chrome rookie card remains a Hobby grail
• Dual Cards capture Kobe with Michael Jordan
• Kobe’s 2008 Topps Chrome Basketball card featuring LeBron James remains highly sought-after

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