CHICAGO – On Wednesday, August 24, the ultimate collection of Kobe Bryant rookie cards will appear at Hindman Auctions in a single-owner sale titled 8.24: The Definitive Collection of Kobe Bryant Rookie Cards. It will represent one of the most comprehensive offerings of the legendary athlete’s rookie cards to ever come to market. The collector set out on a mission to obtain every Kobe Bryant rookie card imaginable, and the result was this distinctive selection of nearly 150 cards, arrayed in 81 lots to honor Bryant’s incredible 81-point performance in 2006. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
“We are thrilled to be able to present a collection that captures such an integral part of the career of one of the most influential sports figures of the 21st century,” said Hindman’s Specialist for Sports Memorabilia, James Smith. “Basketball card collections of this caliber are few and far between, and we are eager to see how bidders respond to cards from a basketball icon.”
Cards from Kobe Bryant’s rookie year are viewed as among the most valuable items in sports memorabilia, as they commemorate the beginning of one of the game’s greatest careers. Bryant would go on to be the cornerstone of the NBA’s marquee franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers, for two decades, winning five titles along the way. While reasonable fans can debate Bryant’s standing among the best basketball players on the court, off the court it’s difficult to argue that any player has had a bigger impact on modern sports than Bryant. His famed Mamba Mentality has been cited as inspiration by many of this generation’s greatest athletes.
Leading the auction is a 1996-97 Skybox E-X2000 Credentials Kobe Bryant rookie basketball card No. 30 (BGS 9 MINT), numbered 53 of 499 and estimated at $15,000-$25,000. Released as part of the highly sought-after E-X2000 collection, it is arguably the most coveted Bryant rookie card and features a notably innovative design with its die cut image of Bryant, foiled borders and its cloud background.
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