The highest fee in trading card history was reached on Saturday night for a unique card that was sold at auction featuring the signatures of both Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant.
Going for $12.932 million, the 1-of-1 NBA trading card, officially labelled the ’2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Jordan & Bryant card’, surpassed the previous record held since 2022. Jordan’s Logoman patch features the gold logo worn during the 1996-97 season.
On that occasion, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card was sold for $12.6 million. When Upper Deck first released Exquisite, they charged a then mind-blowing $500 for a five-card pack/box. That product line went on to produce many of the most valuable modern basketball cards.
However, given the hype, that price has surged in recent times.
Signed card “holy grail” for collectors
Now, Panini’s National Treasures & Flawless both go for $3,000-plus per box upon release.
Chris Ivy, Heritage’s director of sports auctions, explained this phenomenon to ESPN: “Exquisite was first, Exquisite paved the way. It’s the pinnacle as far as modern card collectors are concerned, and this is the only time there’s been Jordan and Kobe autographed Logomans. Another one can’t be created. It’s always been looked at by modern basketball collectors as a holy grail.”
He also explained why, despite the 6/10 condition rating, the Jordan-Bryant card went for so much: “Grades matter as far as pricing goes for standard-issue cards, but this is a 1-of-1, so the grade is less important overall to how the card performed.”
📈 NEW BASKETBALL RECORD 📈
The Kobe Bryant x Michael Jordan Exquisite Dual Logoman Auto 1/1 has already become the most expensive basketball card EVER, hitting $5,307,000 in bids (with Buyer’s Premium) at @HeritageAuction. 🤯
This passes the previous record of $5.2M that… pic.twitter.com/4jmPReQPlk
— The Collectibles Guru (@gurucollects) August 14, 2025
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However, despite the money paid, it is not the highest fee ever paid for a piece of sporting heritage. That title goes to the Babe Ruth 1932 World Series “called shot” jersey, which sold for $24.12 million last year.
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