Unbelievable $12.9 Million Sale of Rare Michael Jordan-Kobe Bryant Card Shatters Records—But What Makes It So Valuable?

How much money are you willing to spend on your hobby of sports cards? Is it million?

It surpassed the .6 million paid for a 1952 Mickey Mantle card sold in 2022. The Kobe/Jordan card shattered the previous record for the highest price paid for a basketball card, .2 million for a 2003-04 Exquisite Collection LeBron James Gold Rookie Patch Autograph card. This card is now the second-highest price paid at auction for any sports collectible, trailing only the .2 million forked over a year ago for Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series “called shot” jersey.Heritage’s director of sports auctions, Chris Ivy, called it “the finest modern basketball card in the world.” When the auction opened, Heritage estimated that the card would sell for million, still an NBA record, but the competitive bidding drove up the price — the auction had 82 bids.A one-of-a-kind, 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Michael Jordan-Kobe Bryant Logoman card — one featuring NBA uniform logos and is signed by both legends — sold for .9 million at Heritage Auctions to become the most expensive sports card sold at public auction. Ever wonder just how deep someone’s passion for sports cards can run? Picture this: a rare 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection featuring none other than Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant — signed by both icons and showcasing their NBA uniform logos — fetching a staggering .9 million at Heritage Auctions. That jaw-dropping figure doesn’t just set a new public auction record; it blows past the .6 million for the legendary 1952 Mickey Mantle card sold last year and obliterates the previous basketball card high-water mark of .2 million, held by a LeBron James rookie patch autograph. And yet, in the grand scheme of sports memorabilia, this gem now stands as the runner-up only to Babe Ruth’s priceless 1932 World Series jersey, which commanded a cool .2 million. Chris Ivy, Heritage’s director of sports auctions, didn’t mince words calling it “the finest modern basketball card in the world” — and boy, did collectors respond, pushing bids across 82 rounds, far beyond the initial million estimate. Intriguingly, the auction finale coincided with Mamba Day, 8/24 — a fitting tribute to Kobe. This isn’t just a sale; it’s a moment that echoes through sports history and collector culture alike. LEARN MOREThe auction was timed to end on Mamba Day, 8/24.