Sports legends are defined by their iconic feats on the field, overcoming challenges and elevating not only their performance during pivotal moments but also inspiring teammates to reach an untouchable collective level. In the NBA, several figures have left indelible marks on the hardwood, yet only a select few have transcended the sport entirely.
Michael Jordan – “His Airness” – and Kobe Bryant, tragically killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, are two such icons. Now, a rare NBA card featuring both of their autographs is heading to auction, expected to command an astounding $6 million. Should it reach that figure, it would set a record as the most expensive basketball card ever sold.
The card, issued by Upper Deck in 2007, bears the company’s signature dual blue logo and showcases the faces and upper torsos of both legends, framed in a striking design. Each autograph is penned in vivid blue ink, with “Kobe x Jordan” inscribed along a dark base at the bottom, further emphasizing its exclusivity.
The story behind the dual signatures
Kobe Bryant signed just 11 cards featuring this dual logo before his tragic passing alongside his daughter Gianna. Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest of all time, signed only eight. This particular card – the only one bearing both signatures – stands as a singular artifact bridging two eras of basketball greatness.
A record-setting auction looms
Heritage Auctions’ Summer Platinum Night Sports event will oversee the sale. Bidding has already reached $2.9 million, with expectations it will surpass the previous high mark of $5.9 million set by a Stephen Curry logoman card sold in July 2021.
The auction, scheduled for August 23, is anticipated to draw intense interest from wealthy collectors eager to secure this unparalleled piece of sports history. Beyond LeBron James, no active player rivals the iconic stature of Jordan and Bryant, making this card an ultimate trophy for any enthusiast.
Chris Ivy, Heritage’s director of sports auctions, underscored the card’s significance:
This is unquestionably the best of [all Logomans] due to its status as the only one bearing this pair of autographs documenting a brotherhood of elite-tier legends.
The auction will also feature another remarkable collectible: an 8-by-8-foot slab of hard maple taken from Chicago’s United Center court, where Jordan cemented much of his legacy. The wood bears an inscription honoring his accolades: “Air Jordan, 5x MVP, 6x Finals MVP, 10x Scoring Title, HOF 2009.”
That piece starts at $155,000, with projections soaring toward $500,000. Whoever secures these treasures will own not only extraordinary memorabilia but tangible fragments of basketball history, items destined for display in a museum-like setting or a private collection worthy of the legends themselves. It’s the time for you to have it. Are you ready?
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