A basketball card featuring NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant has shattered records, selling for an astounding $19.9 million AUD ($12.932 million USD) last weekend. The sale, conducted by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, marks the card as the most expensive sports card ever sold, according to the auction house.
The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman card is a unique piece of memorabilia, showcasing images of the two iconic players alongside their signatures and NBA logo patches from their jerseys. Despite the card’s monumental sale, the identity of the buyer remains undisclosed.
Unprecedented Demand for a Unique Artifact
Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage, highlighted the card’s exceptional appeal. “The demand for this card is astronomical, which makes sense, because it has everything, including photos, jersey patches, and signatures from two of the greatest players who ever stepped on the court,” Ivy stated in a previous announcement.
The card is part of the “Dual NBA Logo Autographs” series produced by Upper Deck between 2004 and 2009. Each card in the series was released as a limited edition of one, featuring various basketball stars. However, the Jordan-Bryant card is singular in its pairing, making it particularly coveted among collectors, especially following Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing in 2020.
Historical Context and Record-Breaking Comparisons
Before this sale, the most expensive sports card was a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card, which fetched $12.6 million in 2022. Prior to that, a Honus Wagner card held the record at $6.6 million in 2021. The recent sale of the Jordan-Bryant card not only surpasses these figures but also eclipses the previous basketball card record, set by a Steph Curry Logoman card from his rookie season, which sold for $5.9 million in 2021.
“The Dual Logoman card offered in this auction is the only example created that includes only Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant – making it the most sought-after example of the incredible Upper Deck Logoman series,” stated Ivy.
Cards featuring a league’s logo are particularly prized among collectors. This trend is evident in the record prices fetched by cards of athletes like Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Mahomes, and Luka Dončić, which also feature their respective league logos.
Beyond Sports Cards: The Most Expensive Memorabilia
Despite the record-breaking nature of the Jordan-Bryant card, it is not the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold. That distinction belongs to a jersey worn by Babe Ruth during the 1932 World Series, which sold for $24.12 million in August 2024. Ruth’s jersey is famed for being worn when he allegedly “called his shot” against the Chicago Cubs.
Implications and Future Prospects
The sale of the Jordan-Bryant card underscores the growing market for sports memorabilia, particularly items associated with legendary athletes. As interest in such collectibles continues to rise, experts anticipate further record-breaking sales in the future.
According to industry analysts, the combination of nostalgia, rarity, and the enduring legacy of athletes like Jordan and Bryant fuels the high demand and escalating prices for these collectibles. As the market evolves, collectors and investors alike will be watching closely for the next opportunity to acquire a piece of sports history.
With this sale, the bar is set higher than ever before, prompting speculation on what the next record-breaking sports memorabilia item might be. As collectors continue to seek out rare and unique items, the world of sports memorabilia remains a dynamic and exciting field.
