Kobe Bryant rookie cards have been hobby royalty for decades, and his untimely death in January of 2020 only magnified his stature among collectors.
From the moment the Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe with the 13th pick in the June 1996 NBA Draft — and, really, even before — as a high schooler, Kobe had high expectations heaped on him.
Those pressures exploded less than a month later when the Hornets traded Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac.
And, just like that, the Lakers had their new face of the franchise, the “kid” who was going to lead them back to the top of the NBA heap.
Not only that, but young Kobe was being hailed as the “Next Michael Jordan,” an impossible yoke to bear that he nevertheless handled with great aplomb while doing little to dispel the idea with his play on the court — increased minutes and scoring averages over his first several seasons, and an NBA title after his third.
From there, it was just up, up, up, with two scoring titles and four more championships to accompany his 18 All-Star and 15 All-NBA selections.
And, sure, there were controversies and even criminal problems along the way, from Kobe’s not-so-friendly banter with teammate Shaquille O’Neal to his much publicized sexual assault incident in a Colorado hotel room.
Through it all, though, Kobe continued his march toward the Hall of Fame and managed to carve out his own unique spotlight in the sport, separate and different from Jordan’s, O’Neal’s, LeBron James’, and everyone else’s.
Bryant retired after the 2015-16 season as a lifetime Laker (draft notwithstanding), which of course helped to elevate his profile in the game and hobby even further.
Collectors sure took note, and we made his first cards in the 1996-97 sets like Topps, Bowman, Flair, and Upper Deck among the hottest of all hoops cards right from the tip, and, just like the man himself, we — and his cards — never looked back.
Today, Kobe Bryant rookies remain among the hottest of all basketball cards, and you can get an eyeful anytime you want to over on eBay.
To help whet your appetite for that show, then, here are the hottest, most watched Kobe Bryant rookie cards on eBay right now. It’s a fun list to watch, and updated every few minutes … so check back often!
(NOTE: The section below contains affiliate links to eBay listings for the card shown.)

1996 Skybox E-X2000 Credentials #30 Kobe Bryant RC Rookie HOF /499 PSA
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Watchers: 107 # of Bids: 26Current Bid: $3400 Auction Ends: 30-Mar-2023 02:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996 FLAIR SHOWCASE #31 ROW 0 KOBE BRYANT RC PSA 10 POP 1/68 Mamba 5 Time Champ
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Watchers: 106 # of Bids: 34Current Bid: $1580 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 02:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant Rookie Card RC High Grade Possible 9.0 10
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Watchers: 84 # of Bids: 32Current Bid: $570 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 01:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996-97 Flair Showcase - Row 0 Kobe Bryant (RC) BGS 9.5 (w/10) True Gem Mint+
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Watchers: 74 # of Bids: 23Current Bid: $1040 Auction Ends: 26-Mar-2023 16:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
HUGE NATIONAL TREASURES ROOKIE PATCH AUTO LEBRON JAMES PRIZM RPA SPORTS CARD LOT
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Watchers: 69 # of Bids: 43Current Bid: $330 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 01:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
2000-01 KOBE BRYANT Upper Deck Pros & Prospects Signed Auto Game Worn Patch Card
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Watchers: 65 # of Bids: 17Current Bid: $910 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 01:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996-97 Fleer Metal Precious Metal #181 Kobe Bryant RC Rookie HOF SGC 9.5
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Watchers: 55 # of Bids: 22Current Bid: $1225 Auction Ends: 30-Mar-2023 02:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
HUGE ROOKIE PATCH AUTO GRADED SLAB PSA AUTOGRAPH RPA SPORTS CARD COLLECTION LOT
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Watchers: 54 # of Bids: 18Current Bid: $77.59 Auction Ends: 26-Mar-2023 04:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996-97 Topps Draft Pick Redemption Kobe Bryant RC Rookie HOF SGC 9.5
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Watchers: 52 # of Bids: 21Current Bid: $256 Auction Ends: 30-Mar-2023 02:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
2011 Panini Gold Standard KOBE BRYANT On Card AUTO /49 REFRACTOR 24k🔥RARE SSP🔥
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Watchers: 48 # of Bids: 15Current Bid: $260 Auction Ends: 03-Apr-2023 02:04 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
HUGE ROOKIE PATCH AUTO GRADED SLAB PSA AUTOGRAPH SPORTS CARD COLLECTION LOT 200
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Watchers: 47 # of Bids: 24Current Bid: $86 Auction Ends: 26-Mar-2023 00:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
KOBE BRYANT 1996/97 TOPPS #138 RC ROOKIE CARD LOS ANGELES LAKERS PSA 10 GEM MINT
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Watchers: 46 # of Bids: 36Current Bid: $464 Auction Ends: 28-Mar-2023 02:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996 Topps NBA 50 Basketball 138 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card Graded PSA 9 MINT
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Watchers: 45 # of Bids: 17Current Bid: $500.01 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 01:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
800+ VINTAGE PSA GAME USED GU JERSEY INSERT ROOKIE RC SPORTS CARD COLLECTION LOT
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Watchers: 43 # of Bids: 13Current Bid: $320 Auction Ends: 30-Mar-2023 00:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
Lot Of 18 Kobe Bryant Basketball Cards Rookie Insert Jordan No Reserve
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Watchers: 42 # of Bids: 11Current Bid: $43 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 00:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
HUGE ROOKIE PATCH AUTO GRADED SLAB PSA AUTOGRAPH SPORTS CARD COLLECTION LOT 200
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Watchers: 42 # of Bids: 49Current Bid: $132.5 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 02:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
Lot Of 12 Kobe Bryant 1996 Rookie Cards Topps Skybox Fleer No Reserve
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Watchers: 39 # of Bids: 17Current Bid: $102.5 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 01:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996 Ultra Kobe Bryant PSA 9 Rookie Card
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Watchers: 38 # of Bids: 9Current Bid: $42 Auction Ends: 26-Mar-2023 03:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
HUGE 7200+prizm Sports Cards lot PATCH/AUTO/ROOKIE KOBE JORDAN 2000+inserts
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Watchers: 32 # of Bids: 16Current Bid: $175.5 Auction Ends: 29-Mar-2023 17:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
ESTATE SALE! LEBRON JAMES PSA 10 KOBE BRYANT CARD HIGH SCHOOL MICHAEL JORDAN $$
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Watchers: 31 # of Bids: 23Current Bid: $83 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 23:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
HUGE ROOKIE PATCH AUTO GRADED SLAB PSA AUTOGRAPH RPA SPORTS CARD COLLECTION LOT
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Watchers: 31 # of Bids: 6Current Bid: $61 Auction Ends: 27-Mar-2023 03:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996 Upper Deck #58 Kobe Bryant RC Rookie HOF PSA 10 GEM MINT
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Watchers: 31 # of Bids: 23Current Bid: $177.5 Auction Ends: 28-Mar-2023 02:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996-97 NBA Hoops Grant Hill's All-Rookie Team #3 Kobe Bryant RC HOF PSA 6
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Watchers: 29 # of Bids: 12Current Bid: $81 Auction Ends: 30-Mar-2023 01:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
HUGE NBA CARD LOT (250+) ROOKIES AUTO PSA VARIATIONS PATCH #ED SP plus more LOOK
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Watchers: 29 # of Bids: 24Current Bid: $84 Auction Ends: 25-Mar-2023 17:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
1996 Bowman's Best Rookie #R23 Kobe Bryant RC Rookie PSA 10 Gem Mint
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Watchers: 28 # of Bids: 14Current Bid: $350 Auction Ends: 25-Mar-2023 16:03 See full listing on eBay (affiliate link) |
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