- The Washington Times - Wednesday, February 23, 2022

A basketball card of the late Kobe Bryant from the 1990s was recently sold for $2 million, breaking the record for the most expensive card of the former Lakers star.

The 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Emerald Kobe Bryant card was purchased privately last week, online trading card company PWCC Marketplace announced Tuesday. The card has an overall condition score of 8.5 from Beckett Grading Service, which makes it PWCC’s highest-scored card. 

“This is arguably Kobe’s best card in existence,” Jesse Craig, director of business development at PWCC, said in a statement. “It’s more desirable than even a Kobe Bryant rookie card or a Kobe Bryant autograph. The grade on this is also the highest that exists, with only one other BGS 8.5 in the world.”

The card, which is also coveted because of its emerald variation with only 10 of each issue in existence, shows Bryant, wearing his initial No. 8, passing a basketball. 

The previous record for a Bryant card was $1.8 million when his rookie card was sold in March 2021. 

“These Precious Metal Gems variants are arguably the most desired insert card in the entire world,” Craig said. “These set the tone for the insert market going forward. It’s just incredibly difficult to find them in any condition, and because of their delicate nature, to find one in such good condition is incredibly rare.”

Bryant, who played 20 seasons in Los Angeles before retiring in 2016, died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26, 2020, at 41 years old. 

• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.

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