Alt Has Bought the Most Expensive Solo Kobe Bryant Trading Card

The 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green Kobe Bryant card is graded a PSA 5.

Summary

• Acquired by alternative trading platform Alt for a record-breaking $3.15 million USD
• Features a rare green “Emerald” foil finish with a serial number of 009/100
• Sets a new price ceiling for any solo trading card featuring the late Lakers icon

A 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green card of Kobe Bryant has officially been purchased by the alternative investment platform Alt for a staggering $3.15 million USD. Securing the highest price ever paid for a singular piece of Bryant memorabilia in the trading card space, this specific collectible is heralded as the absolute pinnacle for basketball hobbyists. The card, graded a PSA 5, stands as one of only ten green parallels ever produced during the set’s inaugural basketball run. Within this incredibly scarce production line, only serial numbers 1 through 10 featured the distinct green emerald finish, while the remaining 90 iterations were printed in red. Landing number 009/100 cements this asset’s status in modern collecting lore.

This monumental transaction completely shatters the previous solo Bryant sales record of $2.4 million USD, which was established back in September 2025. While dual-player cards featuring both the Lakers legend and Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan have historically reached higher overall valuations — most notably an astonishing $12.9 million USD transaction for a one-of-one NBA logo patch card—this specific PMG Green variant commands unparalleled respect. Industry experts widely consider the 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green to be the ultimate “Holy Grail” of singular Bryant inserts. The astronomical valuation stems directly from its extreme scarcity and the notorious fragility of the card’s delicate foil surface, which is highly prone to edge chipping and surface wear over time.

Alt founder and CEO Leore Avidar proudly described the acquisition as both a highly strategic addition to the company’s expanding investment fund and a deeply personal milestone. Building an institutional-grade archive of sports history, the platform’s portfolio now features an array of record-setting cardboard for several modern NBA legends. Notable holdings currently sitting alongside the Bryant masterpiece include a highly coveted $6.68 million USD Stephen Curry Logoman and a pristine $1.8 million USD LeBron James rookie patch autograph. Avidar noted that the fund specifically targets the generation of elite Hall of Famers that followed Jordan, actively capitalizing on their rapidly growing status as serious, blue-chip financial assets in the alternative investment market.