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Aug 24, 2025 3:43 AM EDT
In 2022, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card graded SGC 9.5 sold for $12.6 million. Considered the best-conditioned copy of the card in existence, it held the record as the most valuable sports card ever … until Sunday morning, that is.
On Heritage Auctions, a 1-of-1 card that features two logomans and the autographs of both Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant surpassed the selling price of the historic Mantle item to be the most expensive sports card ever.
Unique Michael Jordan-Kobe Bryant Sells for Nearly $13 Million
Bidding for the 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant ended on early Sunday morning — on Mamba Day — fetching a total of $12,932,000.00, including buyer’s premium.
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan.
A side-by-side photo of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan during their playing days. — Source: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images / Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It already became the most expensive basketball card when it hit $5.3 million at the auction over a week ago. The previous high for a basketball card was $5.2 million, from a private sale of a 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James Gold RPA that is numbered out of 23 and graded BGS 9.0.
The Jordan-Bryant card, graded PSA 6, had an estimated value of $6 million, so the item fetching more than double its expected price is certainly staggering. However, it only highlights how huge the sports card market is.
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The sale is also good news for the basketball card space, which had been consistently dominated by baseball in the hobby for a long time now.
The Most Expensive Sports Cards Ever
While a basketball card is now the most expensive sports card in history, the top five is still largely dominated by baseball cards.
2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant PSA 6: $12.932 million
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 SGC 9.5: $12.6 million
1909 Sweet Caporal T-206 Honus Wagner SGC 2: $7.25 million
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth Rookie SGC 3: $7.2 million
1909 Sweet Caporal T-206 Honus Wagner SGC 3: $6.6 million
It remains to be seen if another basketball card will join the top five in the near future. It’s worth noting, however, that a LeBron James card was recently sold for $4.25 million — signaling that the basketball card market is in good health.
About the Author
Angelo Guinhawa
Senior Editor, Athlon Sports
Angelo Guinhawa is a trending sports writer and senior editor for Athlon Sports. He specializes in basketball coverage, with a focus on the NBA and WNBA, though he has also reported on football (NFL), baseball (MLB) and soccer (MLS, EPL, La Liga).