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Kobe Bryant
Basketball · Los Angeles Lakers · Swingman
Kobe's rookie-year 1996-97 cards are the core of the hobby: the Topps Chrome #138 base and its refractor sit at the top, with the flagship Topps #138 and Bowman's Best #R23 as more affordable entry points. The market is strong at the top: a 2021 Chrome refractor black-label sale hit $1.8 million, and recent PSA 10 comps for the Chrome refractor run from about $100K to $150K in thin, lumpy volume. I found no true rookie autograph with recent sold prices, and no overseas card, so those tiers are omitted.
Prices are recent sales we found on Oct 8, 2026 and refresh weekly while people are looking. Check the sold prices before you buy.
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- Flagship rookie
1996-97 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant #138 Rookie (base)
The main Kobe rookie card and the chrome-era centerpiece of his rookie class; it is the card most buyers mean when they say Kobe rookie.
Sold comps from Sept 2026 on eBay (PSA 10 roughly $13,200 to $21,100); raw comp is one July 2026 sale ($900.99), so older than 90 days. Some guide sites show far lower PSA 10 asking values, so check recent sold listings.
$950
raw, recent sale
PSA 10 $17,000
Top sale $21,100
- Flagship rookie
1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Kobe Bryant #138 Rookie
The refractor version of the Chrome rookie is one of the hobby's best-known high-dollar cards, and top grades are extremely scarce.
Thin market: the newest PSA 10 comp I found is one June 2026 CardLadder sale; other PSA 10 sales ran about $102K to $369K in 2021 to 2023, and a Fanatics PSA 10 sold for $117,000 in Oct 2025. Top sale is a 2021 BGS Black Label 10 at $1.7958M. Raw copies rarely trade, so I left raw null.
$152,500
PSA 10, recent sale
Top sale $1,795,800
- Flagship rookie
1996-97 Topps Kobe Bryant #138 Rookie (flagship base)
The regular Topps flagship rookie, a cheaper companion to the Chrome card that many collectors buy as their first Kobe rookie.
Recent eBay sold comps from late Sept 2026 for raw and PSA 10 copies; the raw figure is a range across recent sales ($93 to $175), so treat it as an estimate.
$110
raw, recent sale
PSA 10 $3,135
Top sale $3,135
- 1st Bowman / prospect
1996-97 Bowman's Best Kobe Bryant #R23 Rookie (base)
Bowman-brand rookie card from his first season; Bowman's Best prospect cards are a well-known alternate way to collect the rookie year.
Raw sales from Dec 2025 to Mar 2026 ran roughly $55 to $75 (older than 90 days). PSA 10 sales from Oct 2025 cluster around $850 to $930, with one $2,300 eBay sale in Jan 2026.
$65.00
raw, recent sale
PSA 10 $900
Top sale $2,300
- 1st Bowman / prospect
1996-97 Bowman's Best Refractor Kobe Bryant #R23 Rookie
The refractor parallel is the key color version of the Bowman's Best rookie, with high-end demand from Kobe collectors.
Raw sales from Mar 2026 ran roughly $1,100 to $1,600. Graded comps include a PSA 8 at about $2,940 to $3,480 (Aug 2026) and a PSA 9 at $6,900 (Aug 2026). I did not find a recent sold PSA 10, so it is left null.
$1,600
raw, recent sale
Top sale $6,900
- Autograph
2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autograph Jordan/Kobe 1/1
A one-of-one autographed card with both Jordan and Kobe signatures and patches; it is the record-setting card in the Bryant market.
One-of-one record sale: $12.932M at Heritage in Aug 2025, graded PSA 6. Not a rookie card, and it is a single-copy sale, so no typical price is given.
$12,932,000
top recent sale
- Numbered parallel
1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Kobe Bryant Green (1 of 10 green)
The green-foil PMG variant is one of the scarcest Kobe cards; only the first ten copies of each player's PMG print run are green, and this copy is serial-numbered 009/100.
Thin market: one sale, to Alt for $3.15M in April 2026, which was a PSA 5 with only one graded higher. Not a PSA 10 comp, so psa10Price is left null.
$3,150,000
top recent sale
- Key insert / SSP
1996-97 Topps Chrome Youthquake Kobe Bryant #YQ15
A rookie-year insert from the Topps Chrome set; it is a more affordable Kobe rookie-era card that still draws steady collector interest.
PSA 10 eBay sales from Mar 2025 to Jun 2025 at about $1,750 to $2,425; the newest comp is older than 90 days. Raw copies are not priced.
$2,425
PSA 10, recent sale